The Qin Clan#

Surname: Qin, pronounced as “qīn”.

Distribution of the Qin Clan#

• Hejian Commandery: Also known as Hejian Prefecture. It was established during the reign of Emperor Gaozu of the Western Han Dynasty (Liu Bang) and its administrative center was in Yingzhou (present-day Hejian, Hebei Province).
• Wu Commandery: In the fourth year of the Yongjian era of the Eastern Han Dynasty (129 AD), Wu Commandery was created from a division of Kuaiji Commandery. Its administrative center was in Wuxian County (present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu Province). The jurisdiction included both banks of the Qiantang River from Jiande downstream; therefore, present-day Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, was also part of Wu Commandery.
• Qinzhou: Established during the reign of Emperor Ruizong of the Tang Dynasty. With a history of over 1,400 years, its administrative center was in Qinjiang (present-day Qin County, Guangdong Province).

Origins of the Qin Clan#

The Qin surname originates from the following sources:

1. It may have originated from the Wuhuan tribe, with its name derived from the title of an imperial envoy (qīn chāi yù shǐ).
2. It could also be derived from a place name, specifically Qin Mountain, which is located along the Ru River in the ancient Gan region (now part of Dongxiang County, Fuzhou City, Jiangxi Province; the Zhejiang-Jiangxi Railway passes by this area).
3. Another origin is related to the city of Qinzhou during the Sui Dynasty.
4. Some branches of the Qin clan originated from the Jurchen people, notably from Empress Qin Ren, wife of Emperor Taizong of the Jin Dynasty (Wan Yan Wuci Mai/Wan Yan Sheng).
5. Some families adopted the surname after being granted it by imperial decree during the Mongol Yuan Dynasty.
6. There are also instances where the surname was adopted as a result of Sinicization.
7. Another origin is related to a place name, such as Qin Mountain, which is part of the ancient Gan region (now in the Fengfeng Mining Area, Wu'an City, Handan City, Hebei Province; this area is famous for its “Cishan Culture” heritage).

Founding Ancestors of the Qin Clan: Qin Zhiben and Qin Gaoyi.

Migration and Distribution The Qin clan is a multi-ethnic and multi-source group. Its population does not rank among the top 300 surnames in mainland China. In Taiwan Province, it ranks 662nd, and in the Song Dynasty version of the “Hundred Family Surnames,” it was ranked 465th. The Qin surname is not among the top 100 surnames in either mainland China or Taiwan. According to historical records, the Qin clan can be found in Wu Xing, Xin An, and Jinyun. The “Weishu” (Book of Wei) mentions a Wuhuan noble named Qin Zhishang from Yuyang. Since the “Weishu” was written approximately 1,450 years ago, the history of the Qin surname dates back at least 1,500 years. The Wuhuan tribe belonged to the Donghu ethnic group and lived near Qin Mountain during the Han Dynasty; their name was derived from this mountain. Over time, the tribe expanded and settled along the borders of present-day Hebei and Shanxi provinces, frequently raiding the Han borders. The Qin Zhishang mentioned in the “Weishu” was likely a leader of the Wuhuan tribe in Hebei, so later generations of the Qin clan could also be descendants of the Donghu people. The Qin clan that moved to the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions mostly emerged during the Song Dynasty. Today, the Qin surname is relatively rare, with members scattered across various locations in China.

Clan Halls (Tanghou):

• Hejian Hall: Established based on the ancestral homeland of Hejian Commandery.
• Wu Commandery Hall: Established based on the ancestral homeland of Wu Commandery (also known as Suzhou Hall).
• Qinzhou Hall: Established based on the ancestral homeland of Qinzhou.
• Wuan Hall: Established based on the ancestral homeland of Wuan Commandery.

Notable People with the Qin Surname:

• Qin Shan: A renowned poet from the Qing Dynasty, from Huating, Jiangsu Province. He was well-versed in literature and poetry, and his works include “Ji Tang Poetry and Prose Collection.”
• Qin Lian: A notable official from the Qing Dynasty, from Changxing, Zhejiang Province. His works include “Xubai Studio Anthology” (4 volumes), “Youwan Youcao” (6 volumes), “Wuzhong Water Conservancy” (1 volume), and “Fenjian Nanhui County Annals” (16 volumes).