Yin Family History

Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 殷 meaning ‘plentiful’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from the placename Yin (殷) the name of the capital (located in present-day Henan province) of the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC). Pan Geng the 19th king of the Shang dynasty moved the original capital Yan (located in present-day Shandong province) to Yin. Thus the Shang dynasty was also known as the Yin dynasty. After the Shang dynasty was overthrown by King Wu of Zhou (c. 1087–1043 BC) people kept the name of the state as their surname. (ii) from Yin Shui (殷水 ‘River Yin’) the name of a river in Shangshui in Henan Province. People who lived along the river acquired 殷 (Yin) the name of the river as their surname. Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 尹 a term for the official title in ancient Chinese: (i) from the placename Yin (尹) the name of a fief (said to have been located in Shexian in Shanxi province or Xin’an in Henan province) which was granted to Yin the son of the legendary king Shao Hao (c. 26th century BC). (ii) from the personal name of Shi Yin (師尹) literally meaning ‘head of officers’ the name of an official post during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC). (iii) from the second element of Ling Yin (令尹) the name of an official post in charge of the military in the state of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). This post was held by a prince of the state of Shen called Cheng who migrated to the state of Chu when he took up the post. Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 印 meaning ‘seal stamp’ or ‘print’ in Chinese: from Zi Yin (子印) style name of Lun son of the Duke Mu of Zheng (ruler of the state of Zheng 648–606 BC). Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 陰 referring to ‘yin’ in Chinese philosophy: (i) from the personal name of Yin Jing (陰兢) an official in the late Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC). (ii) from the placename Yin (陰) the name of a fief (located in present-day Henan province) during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC). (iii) from Yin Dafu (陰大夫 ‘Yin Counsellor’) a title given to Guan Xiu a descendant of Guan Zhong (a famous official in the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC)). Guan Xiu was born in the state of Qi and went to the state of Chu where he was given the title Yin Dafu. Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 銀 meaning ‘silver’ in Chinese: (i) from the name of Wan-Yan Yinshu (完顏銀術) a famous governor of a district (in present-day Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region) during the Jin dynasty (1115–1234 AD). (ii) the surname is also traced back to minority ethnic groups in China. Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 鄞: from Yin (鄞) the name of an ancient fief (located in present-day Zhejiang province).7: Chinese: Cantonese form of the surnames 言 燕 鄢 and 彦 see Yan 6-9. Also variant Romanization of the surname 嚴 see Yan 8: Chinese: variant Romanization of the surname 袁 see Yuan 9: Burmese: from a personal name usually forming part of a compound name from yin ‘gentle charming’. — Note: Since Burmese do not have hereditary surnames this name was registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US.10: Cambodian: written យិន of Chinese origin (probably corresponding to one of the surnames above).