Yin Surname

Surname Overview

Two Main Origins

The Yin surname mainly has two branches, from the Ji and Ji surnames. The Yi-surname Yin branch has a history of more than 4,000 years, while the Ji-surname Yin branch has a history of about 2,900 years.

Reference: 尹姓起源分布与家谱家族

Origins

Origin from Yincheng

Yin, son of Shaohao, served as Gongzheng and was enfeoffed in Yincheng. His descendants continued the office and later adopted Yin, the name of the place, as their surname.

Reference: 尹氏家谱网 提供14个省区市的119部尹氏家谱、尹氏族谱

A Zhou-Dynasty Official Title

Another Zhou-dynasty branch of the Yin surname came from an official title: Shiyin was an office among the Three Excellencies, and the Zhou dynasty had Yin Jifu.

Reference: 尹氏家谱网 提供14个省区市的119部尹氏家谱、尹氏族谱

Commanderies and Clan Halls

Prestige Regions and Hall Names

Yin genealogies include such hall names as Tianshui, Qingfeng, Ningyuan, Sihao, Chongde, Yongsi, Baigui, Duncui, and Muqing Hall.

Reference: 尹氏家谱网 提供14个省区市的119部尹氏家谱、尹氏族谱

Migration and Distribution

Historical Distribution and Migration

Before the Qin dynasty, the Yin surname was concentrated mainly in Henan, Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Shandong. From the Qin-Han period through the Northern and Southern Dynasties, it spread to many regions and formed prominent clans in Tianshui and Xizhou in Gansu. During the Song, Yuan, and Ming periods, its population mainly migrated from the north toward the southeast, with Jiangxi becoming its largest province in the Ming period.

Reference: 尹姓起源分布与家谱家族

Genealogy and Generation Names

A Common Generation Poem

A widely circulated common generation poem among the Yin surname is: “Chu, Shang, Ting, Zhen, Xue; Guo, Chuan, Cheng, Zu, De; Wan, Dai, Qi, Hui, Huang. Qing, Yu, Zhang, Wen, Cai; Mao, Lin, Zhao, Gui, Fang.”

Reference: 尹氏家谱字辈大全：尹姓字辈排行、各地派语汇总 - 族谱网