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- "Lin" is a transliteration of 林. For other transliterations, see 林.
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 province of Fujian, China, 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 in Vietnam, the name most often takes the form "Lam". Lin is the 2nd most common surname in Taiwan, with a population of 9% Taiwanese (2.1 million, 2005 estimate), only behind Chen. In mainland China (except Fujian) Lin is less common.
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 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.
A rare Chinese surname which is also transcribed Lin is 藺 (pinyin Lìn).
A Japanese common surname, Hayashi, is written with the same character 林, also meaning forest.
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Origin of the Lin surname
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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 3 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 3 men were known as "The Three Kindhearted Men of Shang" in the kingdom.
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 3 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.
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. In the forest the baby was born. 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.
According to historical records, people who carry the surname Lin are the descendents of Bi Gan, a loyal subject of King Zhou from the Shang Dynasty.
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 as follow: Lam, Lim, Liem, Rin,
Lin:
- Lin Biao, Chinese Communist military and political leader
- Lin Birgitte, Taiwanese actor
- Lin Chi-ling, Taiwanese Model
- 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 Jun Jie, Singaporean singer and songwriter
- Lin Kevin, (林義傑), marathon runner
- 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), 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 Zexu, 19th century official and diplomat
Lam:
- Lam Adrian, coach
- Lam Anthony, firefighter
- 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 (Lam Yik Lin), Hong Kong Cantopop singer
- Lam Sarah, actress
- Lam Stephen, government official
- Lam Tony, politician
- Lam Wifredo, Cuban artist
- Lam Yinling, news broadcaster
Lim:
- Lim Alfredo, Filipino politician
- 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 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), Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, Canada
- Lim Moses, TV and movie actor (e.g. "Just Follow Law"), food gourmet and entrepreneur from Singapore
- Lim Yew Hock, second Chief Minister of Singapore
- Lim Su Jeong, South Korean female martial artist
Liem:
- Liem Sioe Liong (Sudono Salim), Indonesian tycoon
- Liem Swie King, Indonesian badminton player
Rin:
- Rin Kaiho, (林海峰), professional Go player
Fictional:
- Lin Chong, character in the 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
External links
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