View source for Shěn

{{distinguish|text=[[Shēn (surname)]] ''(申)'', [[Shèn (surname)]] ''(慎)'' or [[Shan (surname)]] ''(单)''}}
{{Infobox surname
| name            = Shen (沈)
| image           = [[File:Shen animation.gif]]
| image_size      =
| caption         =
| pronunciation   = Shěn (Mandarin)<br /> Sim (Hokkien) <br />Shum (Cantonese)<br />Shim (Hakka)<br />Shim (Korean) [심]<br />Thẩm (Vietnamese)
| language        = Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean
| languageorigin  = [[Old Chinese]]
| origin          =
| derivation      =
| meaning         = to sink
| variant         = Sim, Sam, Sheem, Sum, Sham
| cognate         =
| derivative      =
| seealso         = [[Cen (surname)|Shum]], [[Shim (Korean surname)|Shim]]
| family          =
}}
'''Shěn''' is the Mandarin Hanyu [[pinyin]] [[romanization of Chinese|romanization]] of the [[Chinese surname]] {{linktext|沈}}.
Shen is the 14th surname in the [[Song dynasty|Song]]-era ''[[Hundred Family Surnames]]''.
==Romanisation==
沈 is romanised as '''Sum''', '''Sem''', '''Sam''', or '''Shum''' in [[Cantonese]]; '''Sim''' in [[Hokkien]]; '''Shim''' in [[Hakka]]; '''[[Sim (Korean name)|Shim]]''',  (심) in [[Korean language|Korean]]; and '''Thẩm'''/'''Trầm''' in [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]].
Less commonly, the same character can also be pronounced [[Zhen (surname)|Zhen]], which indicates a different origin from Shen.<ref name="Tsuwee!">Tan, Thomas Tsu-wee. ''Your Chinese Roots''. {{ISBN|981-204-481-7}}.</ref>
==Distribution==
Shen was the [[list of common Chinese surnames|52nd-most-common]] surname in the [[China|People's Republic of China (China)]] in 2020 according to the [[Ministry of Public Security (China)|Ministry of Public Security]] and ranked 40th in the [[list of common Taiwanese surnames|100 most common]] surnames in the [[Taiwan|Republic of China (Taiwan)]] in 2018 by the [[Ministry of the Interior (Taiwan)|Ministry of the Interior]]. In the [[South Korea|Republic of Korea]] 沈/심 ranked 32nd amongst the top 100 South Korean surnames in 2015.<ref name="Korea">https://kosis.kr/statHtml/statHtml.do?orgId=101&tblId=DT_1IN15SD {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> (According to China's 2013 Fuxi Cultural Research (中華伏羲文化研究會), there are approximately 5.5 million 沈's accounting for 0.41% of the [[Han Chinese]] population and placed 49th out of the 400 Chinese surnames in [[Mainland China]]. The highest concentration of 沈 is in the Eastern Chinese coastal provinces of [[Jiangsu]] and [[Zhejiang]] which represents about 36% of all 沈's in China. A remaining 37% of all 沈's in China inhabit these 7 neighbouring provinces & cities of [[Shanghai]], [[Anhui]], [[Henan]], [[Guangdong]], [[Hubei]], [[Guizhou]] and [[Shandong]]. As of the top 30 cities in China, top ranking last names rank 沈 as 6th most common in [[Hangzhou]] during 2011<ref name="Hangzhou-1">{{cite web |url=https://www.douban.com/group/topic/23803598/ |title=中国省会十大姓氏排名 |url-status= |access-date=17 June 2021}}</ref> and 8th most common in Shanghai during 2018.<ref name="Shanghai">{{Cite web|url=http://sh.sina.cn/news/2019-03-05/detail-ihsxncvf9850218.d.html|title=上海公安公布沪版百家姓 本市户籍人口在用姓氏1705个|date=March 5, 2019|website=sh.sina.cn}}</ref>
In 2015, [[South Korea]]’s population of 沈 is less than 1% of the country’s population or 272,049 people.  In 2009, [[Singapore]]’s population of 沈 accounted for 0.9% of the city’s population  or 23,800 people. In 2006, [[Hangzhou]]'s population of 沈 was 3.09% of the city's population or 202,358 people.<ref name="Hangzhou-2">{{cite web |url=http://qjwb.thehour.cn/html/2006-10/02/content_1228324.htm |title=钱江晚报 |url-status= |access-date=17 June 2021}}</ref>
Although Chinese make up the largest part of America's [[Asian and Pacific Islander]] population,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/census_2000/cb02-cn59.html |work=[[United States Census Bureau]]|title=Census 2000: Chinese Largest Asian Group in the United States|date= 4 March 2002|accessdate= 29 March 2012}}</ref> none of the romanizations of "沈" appeared among the 1000 most common surnames during the AD [[2000 US census]] although "shen" ranked #3690, "shum" ranked #13,730, "shim" ranked #7576, "tham" ranked #21,829.<ref name="US">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/genealogy/www/data/2000surnames/index.html|work=[[United States Census Bureau]]|title=Genealogy Data: Frequently Occurring Surnames from Census 2000}} {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091221003828/http://www.census.gov/genealogy/www/data/2000surnames/index.html |df=dmy-all |date=2009-12-21}}". 27 September 2011. Accessed 29 March 2012.</ref> In the [[1990 US census]] however, "shen" ranked #10,565, "shum" ranked #22,632, "shim" ranked #9771, "tham" ranked #28,237.<ref name="PBS">[[US Census Bureau]]. Op. cit. [[Public Broadcasting Service]]. "[http://www.pbs.org/pov/apps/thesweetestsound/popularity-index/popindex.php?name=shen&Submit=Submit How Popular Is Your Last Name?]" Accessed 6 April 2012.</ref>
==Origins==
As is common with Chinese surnames, the modern Shen family arose from various unrelated sources.
One origin traces it to the [[Shěn (state)|Shen]] (沈) kingdom in [[Runan County]], [[Henan]]. These people were descended from [[Shao Hao]], whose grandson was [[Zhuanxu]]'s teacher and fathered [[Yun Ge]] and [[Tai Dai]]. Tai Dai was granted [[Shanxi]] for his achievements in controlling the flooding of the [[Yellow River]] and his descendants divided into four "kingdoms": the Shen, the [[Yi (surname 易)|Yi]], the [[Ru (surname)|Ru]], and the [[Huang (surname)|Huang]]. Electing not to participate in the northern kingdoms' campaign against [[state of Chu|Chu]] in 506 BC, Shen was invaded and destroyed by [[state of Cai|Cai]]. The rulers and vassals of the former state then bore the [[Chinese clan name|clan name]] Shen to distinguish themselves.
Another group descended from the rulers and vassals of the revived state of Shen after [[King Cheng of Zhou|King Cheng]] granted it to the [[Zhou dynasty|Zhou]] prince Ran Ji for suppressing the rebellion following the death of his brother [[King Wu of Zhou|King Wu]].
A third group derived from the [[Mi (surname)|Mi]] ({{linktext|芈}}) [[Chinese ancestral name|family]] of [[state of Chu|Chu]] during the [[Spring and Autumn period]]. Chu had conquered the area of Shen and, in 506 BC, its [[governor]] was [[Shenyin Shu]]{{spaced ndash}}a Chu [[sima (office)|field marshal]] from a [[cadet branch]] of the royal house. He was killed in the [[Battle of Boju]] that year,<ref>"[http://www.zhxswhyjzx.com/Item/Show.asp?m=1&d=919 沈尹戍] [Shenyin Shu]". {{in lang|zh}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mod.gov.cn/big5/hist/2009-07/22/content_4005805.htm |title=柏舉之戰 [Battle of Boju] |publisher=Ministry of Defense |date=22 July 2009 |access-date=8 November 2011 |language=zh |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425142249/http://www.mod.gov.cn/big5/hist/2009-07/22/content_4005805.htm |archive-date=25 April 2012}}</ref> opposing a [[state of Wu|Wu]] invasion led by [[Wu Zixu]] and [[Sun Tzu]]. In his memory, some of his descendants and vassals adopted the [[Chinese clan name|clan name]] Shen for his fief, while others became the [[Ye (surname)|Ye]] after the [[Ye (Chinese city)|fief]] granted to Shenyin Shu's son [[Shen Zhuliang]], better known as the Duke of Ye (葉公, ''Ye Gong'').<ref name="origin">"[http://big51.chinataiwan.org/zppd/XSDG/XSYL/200805/t20080530_651997.htm 葉姓來源及郡望堂號] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425150646/http://big51.chinataiwan.org/zppd/XSDG/XSYL/200805/t20080530_651997.htm |df=dmy-all |date=2012-04-25}}." {{in lang|zh}}</ref>
==Branches==
The [[You (surname)|You]] clan ({{linktext|尤}}) is said to be a branch of the Shen clan, having simply removed the side-water [[radical (Chinese)|radical]] 氵 from their surname sometime in the 10th century due to conflict with a different Shen ({{linktext|审}}) ruling family in [[Fujian Province]].<ref name="Tsuwee!"/> Owing to this, the You and Shen continued to be unable to intermarry, just as if they were still a single clan.
The side-water [[radical (Chinese)|radical]] ({{linktext|氵}}: shuǐ) plus ({{linktext|冘}}: yín) results in the Chinese character surname ({{linktext|沈}}: shěn).
==Historical figures==
*[[Shen Kuo]] (沈括), ancient polymathic scientist
*[[Shen Yue]] (沈約), poet, statesman, and historian
*[[Shen Zhou]] (沈周), Chinese painter in the [[Ming dynasty]]
*[[Shen Faxing]] (沈法興), official of the Chinese [[Sui dynasty]]
*[[Shen Lun]] (沈倫), scholar-official
*[[Shen Wansan]] (沈万三), businessman during the beginning of Ming dynasty
*[[Michael Shen Fu-Tsung]] (沈福宗), First Qing Chinese to have visited Europe
*[[Shen Wuhua]] (沈婺華), empress of Chen China
*[[Shen Miaorong]] (沈妙容), empress of the Chinese Chen dynasty
*[[Shen Quan]] (沈铨), Chinese painter during the Qing dynasty
*[[Shen Guangwen]] (沈光文), scholar, poet, educator
*[[Shen Baozhen]] (沈葆禎), Chinese official during the Qing dynasty
*[[Shen Song]] (沈崧), chancellor of the Chinese [[Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period]] state [[Wuyue]]
*[[Shen Shou]] (沈壽), Chinese embroiderer during the late Qing and early Republican period
*[[Shen Zemin]] (沈泽民), one of the earliest members of the [[Chinese Communist Party]]
*[[James Shen]] (沈劍虹), Taiwanese diplomat
*[[Shen Hongying]] (沈鸿英), Chinese general & military governor of Guangdong
*[[Shen Jinjian]] (沈金鑑), politician of the Republic of China
==Modern people with the surname==
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
===China===
*[[Chung-Chang Shen]] (沈仲章), Chinese  linguist, folklorist, ethnomusicologist, and antiquarian
*[[Shen Congwen]] (沈从文), one of the greatest modern Chinese writers
*[[Shen Dingcheng]] (沈定成), a Chinese businessman and oil and gas executive
*[[Shen Dingyi]] (沈定一), a 1920s-era Chinese revolutionary and intellectual
*[[Shen Duo]] (沈铎), a Chinese competitive swimmer
*[[Shen Fu (director)]] (沈浮), Chinese film director
*[[Shen Hongfei]] (沈宏非), a writer, producer and food columnist in China
*[[Shen Jinlong]] (沈金龙), current commander of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy.
*[[Shen Jingsi]] (沈静思), a Chinese volleyball player.
*[[Shen Jun (businessman)]] (沈军), a Chinese billionaire businessman, founder of East Money Information
*[[Shen Junru]] (沈钧儒), a Chinese lawyer, political figure
*[[Shen Longyuan]] (沈龙元), a Chinese football player
*[[Shen Peiping]] (沈培平), a former Chinese politician from Yunnan province
*[[Shen Shaomin]] (沈少民), an artist based in Sydney, and Beijing
*[[Shen Sinyan]] (沈星扬), an American physicist and classical composer
*[[Shen Shixi]] (沈石溪), a bestselling children's author
*[[Shen Teng]] (沈腾), a Chinese comedian and actor
*[[Shen Tianfeng]] (沈田峰), a Chinese football player
*[[Shen Tianhui]] (沈天慧), renowned chemist and professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University
*[[Shen Tong]] (沈彤), a Chinese American social activist, impact investor, writer
*[[Shen Wei]] (沈伟), Chinese-born American choreographer, visual artist, and director
*[[Shen Xiaoming]] (沈晓明), a Chinese politician, serving since 2017 as the Governor of Hainan
*[[Shen Yanfei]] (沈燕飞), a Chinese-born table tennis player
*[[Shen Yongping]] (沈勇平), a Chinese filmmaker
*[[Shen Yue]] (沈月), a Chinese actress
*[[Shen Yueyue]] (沈跃跃), a Chinese politician
*[[Shen Zhihua]] (沈志华), a professor of history at East China Normal University
*[[Shen Zulun]] (沈祖伦), a politician of the People's Republic of China
===Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia & Singapore===
*[[Shen Chang-huan]] (沈昌煥), Minister of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan)
*[[Shen Che-Tsai]] (沈哲哉), a Taiwanese painter
*[[Shen Chun-shan]] (沈君山), Taiwanese academic
*[[Shen Jong-chin]] (沈榮津), Minister of Economic Affairs (Taiwan)
*[[Shen Lyu-shun]] (沈呂巡), a Taiwanese diplomat
*[[Shen Weijun]] (沈炜竣), a Singaporean actor and singer
*[[Shen Yi-ming]] (沈一鳴), Deputy Minister of National Defense (Taiwan)
*[[Stephen Shen]] (沈世宏), Minister of Environmental Protection Administration of the Republic of China
*[[Jess Sum]] (沈卓盈), an actress in Hong Kong under TVB
*[[Lydia Shum]] (沈殿霞), a Hong Kong comedian, MC, and actress
*[[Mina Shum]] (沈小艾), independent Canadian filmmaker
*[[Harry Shum]] (沈向洋), Executive Vice President of Artificial Intelligence & Research at Microsoft
*[[Sim Tong Him]] (沈同钦), a Malaysian politician.
*[[Sim Wong Hoo]] (沈望傅), CEO and Chairman of Creative Technology
*[[Ron Sim]] (沈財福), founder of OSIM International
*[[Jack Sim]] (沈銳華), founder of Restroom Association of Singapore, the World Toilet Organization
*[[Sim Ann]] (沈颖), Singapore Senior Minister of State
*[[Desmond Sim]] (沈？？), Singaporean playwright
*[[Edmund Sim]], Chinese-American international trade attorney of Malaysian descent
*[[Jasmine Sim]] (沈家玉), Singaporean actress
*[[Sheila Sim (Singaporean actress)]] (沈琳宸)
*[[Ken Sim]] (沈觀健), Vancouver Mayor
{{div col end}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{100 Most Common Family Names in Mainland China}}
{{101-200 Most Common Family Names in Mainland China}}
{{surname}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shen (surname)}}
[[Category:Chinese-language surnames]]
[[Category:Individual Chinese surnames]]