The Xin Family Name#

Xin is the family name, pronounced as “shēn”.

Distribution of the Xin Family Name#

The administrative region associated with the Xin family name was Tianshui Commandery, which was established during the Western Han Dynasty. This corresponds to the area east of Tianshui and Longxi in present-day Gansu Province. The administrative center of Tianshui Commandery was Pingxiang, which is located in the northwest of present-day Tongwei County, Gansu Province.

Origins of the Xin Family Name#

There are four theories regarding the origin of the Xin family name:

1. The Xin family name is actually a variant of the Xin family name, as the two are pronounced similarly.
2. It originates from the Si family name, with the family name being derived from the name of a fiefdom. In the early Xia Dynasty, King Qi of Xia granted the son of Gao Xin the fiefdom of Xin (another theory suggests that King Qi granted the fiefdom to his son Yu Xin), and the Xin state was established. After the fall of the Xin state, its descendants adopted the name of the state as their family name.
3. It also originates from the Si family name, with the family name being derived from the name of a state. According to the “Records of the Grand Historian: Xia,” there was a woman from the Xin family. During ancient times, the Xin state existed, and King Tang of Shang married a woman from the Xin family; her descendants then adopted “Xin” as their family name.
4. It originates from the descendants of the ancient emperor Zhu Rong. According to the “Qianfu Lun,” Zhu Rong’s descendants were divided into eight families, including the Xin family.

For over 2,000 years, the Xin family has not been as prominent as the Xin family name. The prominent members of the Xin family have lived in the Tianshui Commandery, which is the area around present-day Tongwei County, Gansu Province.

Ancestral Founder of the Xin Family Name

The ancestral founder of the Xin family name is Xia Yu. The Xin family is actually a predecessor of the Xin family name and was a well-known family in ancient China. The family name has been in use for more than 4,600 years. According to the “Wanxing Tongpu,” the Xin family originated from the ancient state of Xin, which was closely related to the Xia Yu family. Xia Yu’s mother, Xiu Yi, was a woman from the Xin family. After the unification of China by Xia Yu, Xia Qi granted his only son the fiefdom of Xin, and the Xin family has since continued to thrive.

Migration and Distribution

The Xin family name does not rank among the top 100 most common family names in mainland China or Taiwan. The Xin family name is a derived name. In ancient times, the Yan Emperor was a famous tribal leader. One of his descendants, Zhu Rong, is credited with inventing the use of fire, ending the practice of eating raw meat and drinking blood; thus, he was revered as the God of Fire. Zhu Rong’s descendants were divided into eight major families, and the Xin family was one of them.

Hall Names

The Hall Names “Zaoyang Hall” and “Huanzhou Hall” both originated during the Ming Dynasty. Xin Ye served as the magistrate of Zaoyang County (hence the name “Zaoyang Hall”) and was known for being a good official who cared for the people. He wrote the “Huanzhou Ji” book, which is why the hall is also named “Huanzhou Hall.”

Common Couplets for Xin Family Ancestral Temples

Four-character Couplets for Xin Family Ancestral Temples:

• “Originating from Tianshui; descending from Zhu Rong.” (Alludes to the origin and administrative region of the Xin family name.)

Five-character Couplets for Xin Family Ancestral Temples:

• “A virtuous magistrate of the Ming Dynasty; a renowned calligrapher of the Qing Dynasty.” (Refers to Xin Ye of the Ming Dynasty and Xin Kai of the Qing Dynasty.)

Seven-character and Longer Couplets for Xin Family Ancestral Temples:

• “Erudite and eloquent, influencing the customs of Zaoyang; possessing both natural beauty and literary talent.” (Refers to the contributions of Xin Ye and other notable individuals from the Xin family.)

The Xin family believes that Xia Yu is the ancestral founder of the Xin family name.