Origins of the Shen (沈) surname
Chinese sources record 11 separate lines of origin for the Shen (沈) surname, and name 2 commanderies of origin (junwang). Each is summarised below with its source.
Originated from the Ji (姬) surname
Ji Zai (季载), the tenth son of King Wen of Zhou (Zhou Wenwang, 周文王), was enfeoffed by King Cheng (Chengwang, 成王) in the State of Shen (Shen Guo, 沈国) for his meritorious service in suppressing the Rebellion of the Three Guards (San Jian Zhi Luan, 三监之乱). Later, the State of Shen was annexed by the State of Cai (Cai Guo, 蔡国), and its descendants adopted 'Shen' as their surname.
Originated from the Mi (羋) surname
Prince Zhen (Zi Zhen, 公子贞), son of King Zhuang of Chu (Chu Zhuangwang, 楚庄王), was enfeoffed at Shen Yi (沈邑). His descendants adopted the name of this fief as their surname.
Originated from the Si (姒) surname
During the Spring and Autumn period (Chunqiu Shiqi, 春秋时期), descendants of Shen Zi (沈子) adopted their ancestor’s personal name as their surname.
Originated from Shaohao Jintianshi (少昊金天氏)
Tai Tai Shi (台骀氏), a descendant of Shaohao (少昊), established the ancient State of Shen (Gu Shen Guo, 古沈国), which was later annexed by the State of Jin (Jin Guo, 晋国); the surviving people adopted the former state’s name as their surname.
Originated from the Mongol ethnic group’s Shen Gu (沈穀) clan
The Shen Gu (沈穀) clan of the Jurchen Shan Zhi Kun (Shan Zhi Kun Bu, 山隻昆部) during the Jin dynasty (Jin Chao, 金代) later merged into the Mongol ethnic group; during sinicization, they adopted their clan name as their Han Chinese surname.
Originated from the Mongol ethnic group’s Sen Jide (森吉德) clan
The Mongol Sen Jide (森吉德) clan commonly adopted the Han surname 'Shen' during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Originated from the Manchu ethnic group’s Du Shan (都善) clan
The Manchu Du Shan (都善) clan originated from the Jurchen Tu Dan (Tu Dan, 徒单) clan of the Jin dynasty; many members adopted the Han surname 'Shen' in the late Qing dynasty.
Originated from the Manchu ethnic group’s Yan Ji Li (颜济哩) clan
The Manchu Yan Ji Li (颜济哩) clan resided traditionally in Shenyang (沈阳) and other areas; many members adopted the Han surname 'Shen' after the late Qing dynasty.
Originated from the Manchu ethnic group’s Shen Jia (申佳) clan
The ancestors of the Shen Jia (申佳) clan were Han Chinese; at the end of the Eastern Han dynasty (Dong Han, 东汉), they were captured by the Wuhuan (乌桓) and subsequently assimilated into the Xianbei (鲜卑) and Liaodong Jurchen (辽东女真), later adopting the Han surname 'Shen'.
Originated from the Xibe (锡伯) ethnic group
In the Kangxi reign (Kangxi, 康熙) of the Qing dynasty, Xibe soldiers stationed in Dandong (丹东), Liaoning, left descendants who, in the late Qing dynasty, uniformly adopted the Han surname 'Shen'.
Other ethnic minorities
Members of ethnic minorities including the Korean (Chaoxianzu, 朝鲜族), Tujia (Tujiazhu, 土家族), and Hui (Hui Zu, 回族) peoples gradually adopted the Han surname 'Shen' under Tang-to-Qing dynasty policies of indirect rule (jimi, 羁縻) and replacement of native chieftains with imperial officials (gaitu guiliu, 改土归流).
Commanderies of origin (junwang)
- Runan Commandery (汝南郡)
- Wuxing Commandery (吴兴郡)
Hall names (tanghao)
- Runan Hall (汝南堂)
- Wuxing Hall (吴兴堂)
- Mengxi Hall (梦溪堂)
- San Yi Hall (三易堂)
- Jiu Si Hall (九思堂)
- Su Yong Hall (肃雍堂)
- Cheng Yu Hall (承裕堂)
- Zhong Qing Hall (忠清堂)
- Shu Ben Hall (树本堂)
- Wen Su Hall (文肃堂)
- Yong Si Hall (永思堂)
- Ju Shun Hall (聚顺堂)
- Xu Lun Hall (叙伦堂)
- Dun Lun Hall (敦伦堂)
- Qi Shi Hall (憩石堂)
- Liu Yi Hall (六宜堂)
- San Shan Hall (三善堂)
- Qing Jun Hall (清俊堂)
- Xiang Mu Hall (享睦堂)
- Si Zhi Hall (四支堂)
- Ba Yun Hall (八韵堂)
- Dun Mu Hall (敦睦堂)
- Zhui Yuan Hall (追远堂)
- Yu Huai Hall (聿怀堂)
- Yuan Yuan Hall (渊源堂)
- Song Fang Hall (诵芳堂)
- Yu Qing Hall (余庆堂)
- Shi De Hall (世德堂)
- Shi Jian Hall (师俭堂)
- Wu Ben Hall (务本堂)