NameCensus.

UK surname

Yin

A Chinese surname referring to the shady or hidden side of a hill or mountain.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hillingdon, Sefton and Bolton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Yin is 244 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

244

2016, ranked #17,096

Peak year

2016

244 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 244 in 2016, ranked #17,096.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Yin surname distribution map

The map shows where the Yin surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Yin surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Yin over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1997 modern 68 #30,810
1998 modern 65 #31,477
1999 modern 76 #30,546
2000 modern 89 #29,173
2001 modern 91 #28,670
2002 modern 105 #27,123
2003 modern 118 #25,146
2004 modern 122 #24,812
2005 modern 119 #25,193
2006 modern 128 #24,267
2007 modern 149 #22,318
2008 modern 147 #22,720
2009 modern 168 #21,290
2010 modern 201 #19,387
2011 modern 188 #20,067
2012 modern 214 #18,358
2013 modern 220 #18,324
2014 modern 240 #17,387
2015 modern 233 #17,627
2016 modern 244 #17,096

Geography

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Where Yins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hillingdon, Sefton, Bolton, Barnet and Southwark. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hillingdon 002 Hillingdon
2 Sefton 010 Sefton
3 Bolton 017 Bolton
4 Barnet 009 Barnet
5 Southwark 027 Southwark

Forenames

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First names often paired with Yin

These lists show first names that appear often with the Yin surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Yin

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Yin, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Yin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Yin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Yin is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Yin is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Yin falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Yin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Chinese

This describes the area pattern most associated with Yin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Yin

The surname "Yin" has its origins in China, where it can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is believed to have been derived from the Chinese word "yin," which means "shady" or "cloudy." This name was likely given to someone who lived in a shaded or wooded area, or perhaps had a more subdued or reserved personality.

During the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the name "Yin" was recorded in various historical documents and records, indicating its presence in various regions of China. One notable example is the "Yin Family Genealogy," a collection of records detailing the lineage and history of the Yin clan.

The earliest recorded instance of the name "Yin" can be found in the "Book of Surnames" (Baijiaxing), a comprehensive work on Chinese surnames compiled during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 AD). This book lists the Yin surname as originating from the ancient state of Lu, which was located in present-day Shandong Province.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the surname "Yin." One of the earliest was Yin Zhi (1021-1088 AD), a renowned scholar and calligrapher during the Song Dynasty. Another prominent individual was Yin Yuzhang (1592-1673 AD), a prominent Confucian scholar and official during the Ming Dynasty.

In more recent times, Yin Haiguang (1900-1949 AD) was a Chinese revolutionary and military leader who played a significant role in the Chinese Civil War. Yin Tao (1891-1969 AD) was a Chinese educator and philosopher who made significant contributions to the field of education in China.

Additionally, the name "Yin" has been associated with various place names throughout China, such as Yinxian County in Shandong Province and Yinchuan, the capital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. These place names may have influenced the distribution and prevalence of the Yin surname in certain regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Yin surname: questions and answers

How common is the Yin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 244 in 2016. That gives Yin a modern rank of #17,096.

What does the Yin surname mean?

A Chinese surname referring to the shady or hidden side of a hill or mountain.

What does the Yin map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Yin bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.