The Xin Family Name#

Family Name: Xin, Pronunciation: xīn

Distribution of the Xin Family Name#

According to "Junwang Baijiaxing," the Xin family originated from Longxi and Yamen. Longxi Commandery was established during the Warring States period by King Zhaoxiang of Qin. It was named after its location west of the Long Mountains, with its administrative center in Didao (now south of Lintao County, Gansu Province). During the Three Kingdoms period, the commandery was moved to Xiangwu (equivalent to the area east of Dongxiang, Gansu Province and the surrounding regions of Longxi). Yamen Commandery was established by the State of Zhao during the Warring States period, with its administrative center in Shanyuan (now south of Youyu, Shanxi Province); during the Wei Dynasty of the Three Kingdoms, it was moved to Guangwu (now west of Dai County, Shanxi Province).

Origins of the Xin Family Name#

The Xin family name has five possible origins:

1. It originated from the Si family, which changed its name from Shen (Shēn). According to "Yuanhe Xingzuan" and "Guangyun," King Qi of Xia granted a fief to his son in Shen (the ancient city is now southeast of Heyang County, Shaanxi Province), establishing the state of Shen. Later descendants took the name of the place as their surname. As "Shen" and "Xin" are similar in pronunciation, the prefix "Shen" was removed, resulting in the Xin family name.
2. It originated from the Gaoxin family, which changed its name to Xin.
3. It originated from descendants who lived in the area of present-day Cao County, Shaanxi Province.
4. It was a granted surname.
5. It originated from other ethnic groups that adopted the Xin name, such as the Manchu people in the Qing Dynasty, who lived in Jinzhou, and the Goryeo people in the Qing Dynasty.

Ancestor of the Xin Family Name

The ancestor of the Xin family is Qi, son of Dayu and mother Tu Shan. Qi, the founding monarch of the Xia Dynasty, once intended to abdicate in favor of Boyi from the Dongyi tribe but secretly prepared to pass the throne to his own son. After Dayu's death, Qi seized power and killed Boyi. He then eliminated other rivals and established the first slave-owning state in Chinese history, the Xia Dynasty. The hereditary system was established thereafter.

Migration and Distribution

The Xin family name originated in present-day Heyang, Shaanxi Province, and was prominent during the Xia Dynasty before the fall of the Xia Dynasty. During the Shang Dynasty, the Xin family name is rarely mentioned in historical records. At the end of the Shang Dynasty, there was a historian named Xin Jia. During the Western Zhou Dynasty, the Xin family began to settle in present-day Shanxi Province. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the Xin family name spread to present-day Henan and Shandong provinces. During the Han Dynasty, a large community of the Xin family formed in Longxi (present-day Lintao, Gansu Province), especially the Xin Qingji family, which became highly influential. In the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties, the Xin family name became even more widespread, with many high-ranking officials. In the Yamen area, another significant community of the Xin family emerged. During the Qing Dynasty, the Xin family name also thrived in various regions.

Other Notable Individuals

• Xin Mian of the Jin Dynasty was a learned official who refused to betray his country.
• Xin Gongjing of the Eastern Han Dynasty was known for his integrity.
• In the Tang Dynasty, the Xin family name continued to prosper, with many high-ranking officials.
• During the Yuan Dynasty, the Xin family migrated to Xinjiang.
• In the Ming Dynasty, the Xin family spread throughout China, with a particular focus in Shandong Province.

Family Hall Names

Common hall names for the Xin family include "Shuangzhen Hall," "Longxi Hall," "Yamen Hall," and "Yongsi Hall."

Couplets for the Xin Family Ancestral Hall

• Couplets for the Xin Family Ancestral Hall (four-character):

  • "The family originated from the state of Shen; its members were distinguished in Longxi." (Alluding to the family's origins and prominence in Longxi.)
  • "Poetry flourished in the Eastern Han; ci-poetry reached its peak in the Song Dynasty." (Referencing famous poets from these dynasties.)

• Couplets for the Xin Family Ancestral Hall (six-character):

  • "We admire the teachings of Jiaxuan; all praise his straightforwardness." (Referring to the influence of Xin Qiji on literature.)
  • "The five brothers of the Former Liang were all talented." (Referring to the five talented brothers from the Former Liang Dynasty.)
  • "The father and son were both known for their bravery." (Refering to the brave Xin family members.)