靳姓
The Jin surname, pronounced "jìn", has multiple origins including from the official Jin Shang in the State of Chu, who took his fief's name; from ethnic minorities like the Xiongnu; and from Ming Dynasty name changes. Its ancestral founder is Jin Shang, with prominent lineages from the Hexi region.
The Jin Family Name
Family Name: Jin (Jìn) Pronunciation: jìn
Distribution of the Jin Family Name
- Hexi Commandery: The Hexi Commandery was established during the Tang Dynasty; it is located in present-day Mengzi County, Yunnan Province. It is also found in Fenyang County, Shanxi Province. According to “Xingzi Bianzheng” (A Study on Family Names), “Descendants of Jin Shang from the State of Chu adopted the name of the place where they were granted land as their family name.”
Origin of the Jin Family Name
There are three theories regarding the origin of the Jin family name:
- From the Mi (mǐ) Family: During the Warring States period, there was a high-ranking official in the State of Chu named Jin Shang. He was well-liked by King Huai of Chu and the queen. Later, Jin Shang was granted a fief in the area of Jin (around present-day Songxiang County, Hunan Province). He took the name of the place as his family name. Qu Yuan, another prominent official in Chu and a relative of King Huai, was jealous of Jin Shang’s influence. After Jin Shang’s death, his descendants adopted his fief as their family name, which has been passed down through generations. Many prominent Jin families originated from the Hexi region.
- From Ethnic Minorities: During the period of the Sixteen Kingdoms, the Xiongnu tribe had individuals with the Jin surname. One of them, Jin Huai, even declared himself king.
- Name Change: At the end of the Ming Dynasty, some people changed their family name from their original one to the Zhu family to avoid disasters and took the Jin surname through their maternal uncle.
Ancestral Founder of the Jin Family Name
Jin Shang is considered the ancestral founder of the Jin family name. According to “Xingzi Bianzheng,” descendants of Jin Shang, a prominent official in the State of Chu during the Warring States period, adopted the name of the place where they were granted land as their family name. The prominent Jin families originated from the Hexi region. Other records, such as “Tongzhi·Shizhu Lue” and “Fengsu Tong,” also confirm that Jin Shang was the founding ancestor of the Jin family, who lived around 2300 years ago in the State of Chu. The Jin family is an ancient one in northern China, with prominent families residing in the Hexi Commandery, which is now Linfen County, Shanxi Province.
Hall Names (Tanghao)
The main hall names associated with the Jin family include “Hexi Tang” (Hexi Hall). In Zhangji Township, Taikang County, Henan Province, there is a Jin family with the lineage sequence “Sixue Qingru Shufu” (Thoughts, Learning, Joy, and Prosperity like a Fragrant Tree).