Yan (surname 阎)

In 2008, (simplified Chinese: 阎; traditional Chinese: 閻) pinyin Yán was estimated to be the 75th most common surname in the People's Republic of China, shared by around 3.1 million citizens,[1] making it the most common of the surnames written “Yan” without tone markers.

The surname 闫 (閆 in traditional), also Yán, was created as a result of the Second round of simplified Chinese characters, in 1977. Although this series of simplifications was soon retracted, some people retained the simplified surname. One source even suggests that 阎 now more common, as it is shared by 4,900,000 people, and the 78th-most common name,[2] compared to 闫, shared by 3,200,000 people, or the 103rd most common name.[3] Both appear on the Hundred Family Surnames poem.

It is derived from the following sources:

• from a fief located around Xihua County, Henan, granted to Zhongyi from King Wu of Zhou. Another source claims the fief was granted by King Kang of Zhou to his eldest son
• from a fief (located around the town of Yanjing in Shanxi) granted to Yi, the prince of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period.[4]