Lin

林 — Forest, grove

16,600,000

Population

#18

Country Rank

1.19%

of Population

Chinese Names

Culture

Origin & History

The Lin surname derives from Bi Gan, a royal prince of the Shang Dynasty who was executed by the tyrant King Zhou of Shang around 1050 BC. His pregnant wife fled to a forest (林), and her child was named Lin in honour of that refuge. The surname is extremely common in Fujian and Guangdong provinces and among overseas Chinese communities in Southeast Asia.