Lin (Surname) Information
Lin is a pinyin transcription of one of several Chinese surnames, with 林 (pinyin Lín) being overwhelmingly the most common. The literal meaning of this surname is "forest" or "woods".
The majority of people with this surname are concentrated in the south-eastern coastal regions of Fujian and Taiwan. Among the overseas Chinese, the surname Lin (also transcribed as Lam, Lum, Lim or Liem) may be more common than in China because many overseas Chinese have origins in Fujian. This is due to the migrating Fujian Chinese seeking their fortunes particularly in Southeast Asia. In Hong Kong and Vietnam, the name most often takes the form "Lam".
Lin is the second most common surname in Taiwan, with a population of 9% Taiwanese (2.1 million, 2005 estimate), behind only Chen. In mainland China (except Fujian), Lin is less common.
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Name origin
During the reign of Shang Zhou ("纣王" in Chinese), 1154 BC to 1122 BC, the last king of the Shang dynasty (1783 BC to 1122 BC) had three of his uncles advising him and his administration. The king's uncles were Bi Gan (also spelled Pi Kan), Qi Zi, and Wei Zi. Together the three men were known as "The Three Kindhearted Men of Shang" in the kingdom.[1] Bi Gan was the son of Prince Ding, son of Emperor Shang and, thus, was King Zhou's uncle.
Unfortunately, Zhou was a cruel king, and the state's citizens suffered tremendously. His three uncles could not persuade him to change his ways. Failing in their duty to advise the king, Wei Zi resigned. Qi Zi faked insanity and was relieved of his post. Only Bi Gan stayed on to continue advising the king to change his ways. "Servants who are afraid of being killed and refrain from telling the truth are not righteous," he said. This put him in danger of incurring the king's wrath. Bi Gan stayed at the palace for three days and nights to try to persuade the bloodthirsty and immoral king to mend his ways.[2]
The stubborn king would not relent and had his uncle, Bi Gan, arrested for treason. Upon hearing this, his pregnant wife (surname Chen) escaped into the forest to protect her unborn child from death. She knew, in time, the king would execute Bi Gan and his entire family. The baby was born in the forest. Alone with no one to help, she grabbed hold of two trees and gave birth to a baby boy whom she named Jian. When she reached the nearest town, she gave her child the surname Lin (Chinese character depicted by two trees).
Before long, Shang Zhou was overthrown and killed by Zhou Wu Wang (Zhou Dynasty, 1134 BC to 256 BC). Zhou Wu Wang knew about the courageous court adviser Bi Gan and sought his wife and child. When he found them, he honoured them in respect of Bi Gan. The mother and child were restored back into the royal family. The new king conferred the surname Lin (meaning woods or forest) on Bi Gan's son, because he was born in some woods.[3]
Different versions of the name
- A Korean surname 임 Im (Korean name) is the Korean equivalent of Lin. There are two clan branches of 임 - the first being 수풀-림(Supul-Im) and the second, 맡길-임(Matgil-Im).
- The Vietnamese surname, Lâm, was formerly written using the same Chinese character.
- In Singapore, apart from the common spellings "Lim" and less common "Lam", is the extremely rare spelling "Lynn", not related to the Irish and English surname with the same spelling. The Singaporean "Lynn" family still uses the 林 character.
- According to an unofficial count undertaken by the American company infoUSA, "Lam" is the third most common surname found in Canadian telephone directories.[4]
- A rare Chinese surname which is also transcribed Lin is 藺 (pinyin Lìn).
- A common Japanese surname, Hayashi, is written with the same character 林, also meaning forest.
- Indonesians of Chinese ancestry with this surname usually spell it as "Liem."
- Prominent royalists Thai-chinese family with this surname are bestowed by member of the royal family some example includes "Limthongkul" "Sirilim" and many more
Notable people surnamed Lin
In Chinese tradition, the surname is always stated "before" the given name, though Chinese living in Western countries will often put their surname after their given name.
Regional Chinese dialect differences in pronunciation of Mandarin "Lin" are: Lam, Lim, Liem, and Rin.
Lin:
- Justin Lin American movie director
- Lin Biao, Chinese Communist military and political leader
- Lin Brigitte, (林青霞), (real name- Lin Ching Hsia), Taiwanese actress
- Lin Chih Ying, (林志穎), (stage name- Jimmy Lin), Taiwanese actor
- Lin Chi Ling, (林志玲), Taiwanese model, actor
- Lin Cho Liang, Taiwanese-American violinist
- Lin Dan (林丹), men's singles badminton player, People's Republic of China
- Lin Di, pipa player with Chinese rock band Cold Fairyland
- Lin Hwai-min, choreographer and founder of Taiwan's Cloud Gate Dance Theater
- Lin Jeremy Shu-How, American basketball player of Taiwanese descent
- Lin Jun Jie, Singaporean singer and songwriter
- Lin Kevin, (林義傑), marathon runner
- Lin Li Hui (林立慧), (stage name- Shu Qi), Taiwanese actress
- Lin Maya, artist and architect
- Lin Sang, People's Republic of China athlete
- Lin Sen, Taiwanese leader
- Lin Shicheng, Shanghai born pipa player
- Lin Xin Ru (Ruby Lin), (林心如), Taiwanese actress
- Lin Yang-kang, Taiwanese politician
- Lin Yi Chen (Ariel Lin), Taiwanese actress
- Lin Yu-fang, a Taiwanese politician
- Lin Youren, musician Chinese guqin player
- Lin Yutang, Chinese writer
- Lin Wei Ling, (林韋伶), (stage name- Estrella Lin), Taiwanese singer
- Lin Zexu, 19th century official and diplomat
Lam:
- Lam Adrian, coach
- Lam Barry, (林百里), founder and chairman of Quanta Computer
- Lam Bowie, Hong Kong actor and singer
- Lam Bun, radio commentator
- Lam Bun-Ching, concert pianist and composer
- Lam Carol, ex-US Attorney
- Lam Chet, singer/songwriter
- Lam Dale, choreographer
- Lam David, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, Canada
- Lam Derek, fashion designer
- Lam Eman, musician
- Lam Fung (Raymond Lam), Hong Kong entertainer
- Lam George (林子祥), singer
- Lam James, author and consultant
- Lam Karena (林嘉欣), actress
- Lam Kor-wan, serial killer
- Lam Nora, Chinese Christian Ministry and the author of "China Cry"
- Lam Pat, rugby player
- Lam Richard, lyricist
- Lam Ringo, film director
- Lam Sandy (林憶蓮), Hong Kong Cantopop singer
- Lam Sarah, actress
- Lam Stephen, government official
- Lam Tony, politician
- Lam Wifredo, Cuban artist
- Lam Yinling, news broadcaster
Lim:
- Lim Eng Beng, (林鷹鳴), a Chinese/Filipino professional basketball player
- Lim Alfredo, Filipino politician
- Lim Zeryl, a Filipino actress
- Lim Bo Seng, World War II anti-Japanese Resistance fighter based in Singapore and British Malaya
- Lim Catherine, Malaysian-born Singaporean author
- Lim Chin Siong, Singaporean trade union leader and politician
- Lim Chong Eu, retired Malaysian politician
- Lim Eun Ji, South Korean pole vaulter
- Lim E Hong, Dominic, (林毅锋）, Virtue Theorist and Philosopher, renowned Martial artist from Singapore
- Lim Giong, Taiwanese musician and songwriter and actor
- Lim Goh Tong, Malaysian tycoon
- Lim Guan Eng, Malaysian politician, current Chief Minister of Penang (2008–present)
- Lim, Ken, Singaporean record producer and composer
- Lim Kit Siang, Malaysian politician, known as Mr. Opposition
- Lim Kwong Yew (Norman Kwong), former Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, Canada
- Lim Moses, TV and movie actor (e.g. "Just Follow Law"), food gourmet and entrepreneur from Singapore
- Lim Peter, Singaporean billionaire
- Lim Yew Hock, second Chief Minister of Singapore
- Liem Sioe Liong (Sudono Salim), Indonesian tycoon
- Liem Swie King, Indonesian badminton player
Lim:
- Lim Chang Yong, (林昌勇), South Korean Baseball Pitcher
- Lim Dong Hyek, (林東赫), South Korean classical pianist
- Lim Dong Min, (林東珉), South Korean classical pianist
- Lim Jeong Hee, (J-Lim), (林正姬), South Korean female musician
- Lim Jeong Hyun, (林正玄), South Korean Guitarist
- Lim Su Jeong, (林秀晶), South Korean Actress
- Lim Su Jeong, (林秀貞), South Korean Female Taekwondo practitioner
- Lim Su Jeong, South Korean Female Muay Thai kickboxer.
- Lim Ye Jin, (林藝眞), South Korean actress
Im:
- Im Dong Hyun, (林东贤), a South Korean archer
- Im Joong Yong, (林重容), South Korean football player
- Im Sang Soo, (林相洙), South Korean film director and screenwriter
- Im Seul Ong, (林瑟邕), a South Korean singer from 2AM
- Im Tea Bin (also known as Im Danny), (stage name- Tae Bin), Korean-American, South Korean singer from 1TYM
- Im Yoon Ah, (林允兒), (stage name- Yoona), South Korean female actress, singer from Girls' Generation
Yim:
- Yim Jae Beom, (official name- Lim Jae Bum), (林在范), South Korean rock singer
- Yim Sung Ah, South Korean professional golfer
Rin:
- Rin Kaiho, (林海峰), professional Go player
Fictional:
- Lin Chong, character in the Chinese novel The Water Margin (Shuihu Zhuan)
- Lin Daiyu, major character in the Chinese novel Dream of the Red Chamber
See also
- Lam, Variant of Chinese mandarin Lin
- List of common Chinese surnames
References
- ^ http://forest.awardspace.com/lintree.html?topic=lintree1st
- ^ http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200609/06/eng20060906_300239.html
- ^ http://www.yutopian.com/names/08/8lin16.html
- ^ "Common surnames". CBC.ca (CBC News). 2007-07-26. http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/name-change/common-surnames.html. Retrieved 2008-01-27. "...the source is a Nebraska-based company called infoUSA, which claims to have put together a directory of every telephone listing in Canada."
External links
- Lin Family Tree, Part 1 (Chinese)
- Lin Family Tree, Part 2 (Chinese)
- Origin of Lin*, Lim*, Lam*, Lum*
- History of a Chinese surname: Lin
- Chinese surname LIN
- Eulogy for Pi Kan
Categories: Chinese-language surnames | Surnames
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