Migration and Distribution (Information is missing) The Yin surname is not included among the top 100 surnames in the Mainland and Taiwan. The Yin surname originated from the Ji surname. In ancient times, during the Zhou Dynasty, there was a state called Zheng. The ruler of Zheng was Duke Mu of Zheng. One of Duke Mu's sons was named Ziyin. The descendants of Ziyin took the character "Yin" as their surname and passed it down from generation to generation. For example, Yin Duan, an official in the state of Zheng, was the grandson of Ziyin. The ancestors of the Yin surname can be traced back to the royal family of the Zhou Dynasty. After King Wu of Zhou established the Zhou Dynasty, he enfeoffed a noble from his clan to the area of Zheng, established the state of Zheng, and conferred the title of Duke on him. And the ancestors of the Zhou Dynasty kings can be traced back to the ancient Yellow Emperor. Therefore, people with the Yin surname are also descendants of the Yellow Emperor and of the dragon lineage. Houji (Ji Qi) of the Zhou clan is also an ancestor of the Yin surname. The Zhou clan was an ancient tribe with a long history. The Zhou people were well - known for their agriculture. Their ancestor Qi served as the agricultural official under Emperor Yao and was known as Houji because of his proficiency in growing grains. Later, Qi became a subordinate official of Emperor Shun together with Yu the Great and Shang Xie, and assisted Yu the Great in controlling the floods.

### Yin Xi His courtesy name was Gongduo. He was a native of the State of Qin during the Warring States period, and his birth and death dates are unknown. He served as the official in charge of Hangu Pass. When Laozi traveled westward, Yin Xi saw the purple aura in the sky and knew that a sage was about to pass by. When Laozi arrived, he imparted the "Dao De Jing" of about five thousand characters to Yin Xi and then left. Yin Xi's self - written book is called "Guan Yin Zi". ### Yin Wen He lived from the reign of King Xuan to King Min of the State of Qi during the Warring States period, and his birth and death dates are unknown. The "Tian Xia Pian" in "Zhuangzi" mentioned him together with Song Xing. He was included in the School of Names in the "Yi Wen Zhi" of the "Han Shu". He wrote two chapters of "Yin Wen Zi".

Yin Hao (? - 356), styled Shenyuan, was a native of Changping, Chenjun in the Jin Dynasty. He had profound insights and a broad - minded attitude, was fond of the "Laozi" and the "Book of Changes", and was well - known far and wide. Initially, he served as a secretary - general under Yu Liang, and later was appointed as the General of Jianwu. As the court intended to pacify the regions along the Guan and He rivers, Yin Hao was made the General of the Central Army and was put in charge of military affairs in the five prefectures of Yang, Yu, Xu, Yan, and Qing, taking it as his mission to pacify the Central Plains. After suffering a defeat in the expedition against Yao Xiang, he was demoted to a commoner. He would spend the whole day writing in the air, forming the four characters meaning "What a strange thing!".