Chinese surname · rank 382

晋

晋 is read as jìn.

Pinyin

jìn

Script forms

Simplified 晋 · Traditional 晉

Basic meaning

advance, increase; promote

Five element

Earth

Origin

Time: Western Zhou tradition, 1046-771 BCE

Place: Tang / Jin state territory in modern Shanxi, especially Pingyang / Linfen, Taoyang and Jin River traditions; later Jingzhao, Hanzhong, Henan, Xuchang, Shaanxi Changan, and minority changed-surname contexts

Origin note

Jin/晋 is a classic state-name surname. The strongest layer traces it to the Western Zhou Ji-lineage state: Tang Shuyu was enfeoffed at Tang, his son Xiefu moved or renamed the polity as Jin, and after the Jin state was partitioned by Han, Zhao, and Wei, some descendants or former subjects used Jin as a surname. Later surname history also includes some Hui, Yi, Manchu, and other changed-surname bearers, but those are later adoption layers rather than the ancient core. The everyday meaning of 晋 as advance or promotion is shown separately from this origin story.

Historical figures

Historical figures to enrich

This surname page is ready for a fame-ranked figure list. Later passes can add generals, poets, rulers, artists, scholars and modern public figures with source links.

Sources checked

23mofang surname library: Jin/晋 - Tang Shuyu, Xiefu, Jin-state destruction, early attestations, and minority changed-surname layers
Wikipedia: Jin/晋 surname - Yuanhe Xingzuan / Tongzhi Shizu Lue Ji-lineage state-name origin
Han Dian: Jin/晋 - Jin state, surname listing, and dictionary meaning layer
Wikipedia: Jin state - Tang Shuyu, Xiefu, Western Zhou Jin-state historical context
China surname site: Jin/晋 - Ji-lineage / Shuyu state-name surname summary
Jiapu.tv: Jin surname origin - Tang Shuyu, Xiefu, Jin water, and Three Families partition narrative

晋 🔊

Origin note

Historical figures

Historical figures to enrich

Sources checked

晋