Yin (Chinese: 尹; pinyin: Yǐn; Jyutping: Wan5; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ún / Ín) is a Chinese surname. In 800 BCE, Bo Jifu, a renowned judge during the reign of King Xuan of Zhou, held the position of Yin (equivalent to First Minister or most favored Minister) and changed his name to Yin Jifu. During the era of the Imperial Examination System, three other magistrates took on the surname Yǐn (尹) to denote their Imperial rank and favoured status. It is the 100th name on the Hundred Family Surnames poem.
The Korean surname Yun and the Vietnamese surname Doãn are derived from Yin and traditionally written in the same Chinese character.
A 2013 study found it to be the 79th most common surname, being shared by 3,460,000 people or 0.260% of the population, with the province with the most being Hunan.
Notable people
Yin Changheng (尹昌衡; 1884–1953), Qing Dynasty military leader
Yin Changji (尹昌吉; born 1995), Chinese footballer
Yin Chengxin (尹成昕; born 1995), Chinese synchronized swimmer, Olympic silver medalist
Yiin Chii-ming (尹啟銘; born 1952), Taiwanese politician
Yin Chung-jung (尹仲容; 1903–1963), Taiwanese government official
Yin Congyao (尹聪耀; born 1997), Chinese footballer
Yin Depei (尹德沛; born 1991), Chinese footballer
Yin Fu (尹福; 1840–1909), creator of the Yin Style Baguazhang, bodyguard to the Empress Dowager Cixi and personal trainer of the Emperor
Yin Guangjun (尹广俊; born 1992), Chinese footballer
Yin Hailin (尹海林; born 1960), Chinese former politician
Hang Yin (尹航; born 1976), Chinese-American biochemists and professor
Yin Hang (尹航; born 1997), Chinese race walker
Yin Haoyu (尹浩宇; better known as Patrick Finkler; born 2003), Thai-German actor, singer, dancer, songwriter, model
Yin Hong (尹弘; born 1963), Chinese politician
Yin Hongbo (尹鸿博; born 1989), Chinese footballer
Ivy Yin (尹馨; born 1978), Taiwanese actress
Yin Jiaxu (尹家绪; born 1956), Chinese retired business executive
Yin Jifu (尹吉甫; 826–778 BC), Zhou Dynasty government official
Yin Junhua (尹军花; born 1990), Chinese boxer, Olympic silver medalist
Yin Kesheng (尹克升; 1932–2011), Chinese politician
Wan Kuok-koi (尹國駒; popularly known as Broken Tooth Koi; born 1955), former leader of the Macau branch of the 14K triad
Wan Kwong (尹光; born 1949), Vietnamese-born Hong Kong singer
Yin Li (尹力; born 1962), Chinese politician
Yin Lichuan (尹丽川; born 1973), Chinese writer, poet, filmmaker
Yin Linping (尹林平; 1908–1984), Chinese politician
Yin Lu (尹路; born 1989), Chinese footballer
Yin Meng (尹萌; born 1984), Chinese volleyball player
Yin Menglu (尹梦璐; born 2002), Chinese para badminton player, Paralympic gold medalist
Yin Mingshan (尹明善; born 1938), Chinese businessman, founder of Lifan Industrial Corporation
Yin Mo (尹默; 200s–234), Shu Han official and Confucian scholar
Samuel Yin (尹衍樑; born 1950), Taiwanese billionaire businessman and philanthropist
Terence Yin (尹子維; born 1975), Hong Kong-American actor, singer, producer, media relations specialist
Yin Weimin (尹蔚民; born 1953), Chinese politician
Xi Yin (尹希; born 1983), Chinese-American theoretical physicist
Yin Xiangjie (尹相杰; born 1969), Chinese singer, host, actor
Yin Xiaolong (尹小龙; born 1985), Chinese footballer
Wan Yeung-ming (尹揚明; born 1958), Hong Kong actor
Yin Yue (尹约), Chinese songwriter, producer, writer, editor-in-chief
Yin Zhe (尹哲; 1916–2005), Chinese politician
Yin Zheng (尹正; born 1986), Chinese actor
Yin Zhuo (尹卓; born 1945), Chinese Navy rear admiral
Yin Zizhong (尹自重; 1909–1985), Chinese musician
In Sip Choo (尹習之; born 1953), Malaysian Doctor
