shèn 慎

Migration and Distribution (Lack of information) The Shen surname is not listed among the top 100 surnames in the Chinese Hundred Family Surnames in both the Chinese mainland and Taiwan. There are two theories about the origin of the Shen clan. One theory holds that the Shen clan descends from Qin Huali, a student of Mozi from the State of Wei during the Warring States period. Since Qin Huali's courtesy name was "Shenzi", his descendants adopted the surname Shen following the custom of "taking the grandfather's courtesy name as the clan name". The "Records of Worthies and Friends" states: "Qin Huali, with the courtesy name Shenzi, took his courtesy name as the surname." The other theory is that the Shen clan "took the place name as the clan name". According to the "Compilation of Surname Research", during the Spring and Autumn period, there was a place called Shen County in the State of Chu, which was the fief of Lord Bai. The descendants of the people there took the place name as their clan name, and their notable ancestry was from Tianshui. According to historical documentary research, the Shenyi in the State of Chu was located in the northwest of present - day Yingshang County, Anhui Province. The prominent clan of this surname was based in Tianshui Commandery (south - west of present - day Tongwei County, Gansu Province).