The Yi Family Name#

Family Name: Yi, Pronunciation: yī

Regions where the Yi Family Name is Found#

According to “Junwang Baijiaxing” (The Origins of Hundred Family Names), the Yi family originated from Chenliu County. “Xingshiz kao lüe” (A Brief Study of Family Names) mentions that the Yi family also had its roots in Chenliu, Henan, and Shanyang:

1. Chenliu: Chenliu County was established during the Qin Dynasty by Emperor Qin Shi Huang and was later reorganized as Chenliu Commandery during the Han Dynasty. It is located in the present-day Kaifeng area of Henan Province.
2. Henan Commandery: This commandery was established by Emperor Gao of Han and is situated in the vicinity of present-day Luoyang, Henan Province.
3. Shanyang Commandery: During the Western Han Dynasty, Shanyang Commandery was located in the area of present-day Jinxian County, Shandong Province; during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, it was in the area of present-day Huai'an, Jiangsu Province.

Origins of the Yi Family Name#

Origin 1: The Yi family name traces its origins to the Yi Qi clan, which descended from the ancient emperor Yao. The name of the clan was derived from the name of their residence. According to legend, Emperor Yao was born on Mount Yi Qi (now in Shunping, Hebei Province) and was raised by the family of Marquis Yi Changru, hence the name Yi Qi. His descendants adopted the name Yi as their family name and have passed it down through generations. Another theory suggests that Emperor Yao was born by the Yi River, and to commemorate his birthplace, his descendants took the name Yi.

Origin 2: The Yi family name also has its roots in the Si clan, descending from Yi Yin, a minister of the Shang Dynasty. The name was derived from the name of his residence.

Origin 3: Another origin of the Yi family name is related to official positions. During the Western Zhou Dynasty, an official named Yi Qi adopted the name of his official title.

Origin 4: The Yi family name originated from the Xianbei tribe during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, as a result of cultural assimilation and name changes.

Origin 5: The Yi family name also has a connection with the Hui ethnic group, as a result of cultural assimilation and name changes. According to the text “Huijiao Minzu Shuo” (The Theory of the Hui Ethnic Group), descendants of Yi Sima Yi adopted the name Yi.

Origin 6: The Yi family name also has its roots in the Oroqen tribe, as a result of cultural assimilation and name changes.

Migration and Distribution: The Yi family name originated in the Yi River basin of Henan. They were initially active in the Central Plains region and were found in present-day Shandong and Shanxi during the Han and Tang dynasties, with Chenliu Commandery (present-day Kaifeng, Henan) being their ancestral homeland. Since the Song Dynasty, the Yi family has been distributed across Shandong, Hebei, Tianjin, Beijing, Jiangsu, Fujian, Guangdong, Yunnan, and the Northeast regions of China. Although the population with the Yi family name is not large, it is widely spread, with a particular concentration in Hebei. Currently, the Yi family name does not rank among the top 300 most common family names in China.

Hall Names (Tanghao):
“Rensheng Tang” (Ren means “trustworthiness”): Yi Yin served as a minister to King Tang, defeated Jie, and saved the people, considering it his responsibility to bring peace to the world. Mencius described him as “the most trustworthy among the sages” (the one who took it upon himself to bring peace to the world).