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Kim (Korean surname)

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Kim
Pronunciation[kim][1]
Language(s)Korean
Origin
MeaningGold, iron, metal
Region of originKorea
Kim
Hangul
김
Hanja
Revised RomanizationGim
McCune–ReischauerKim

Kim(Korean:김;Hanja:Kim) is the most commonsurnamein Korea. As of the 2015 South Korean census, there were 10,689,959 people by this name inSouth Koreaor 21.5% of the population. Although the surname is always pronounced the same, dozens of differentfamily clans(bon-gwan) use it. The clan system in Korea is unique from the surname systems of other countries.[2][3]Kim is written as김(gim) in bothNorthand South Korea. The hanja for Kim,Kim,can also be transliterated as금(geum) which means 'gold, metal, iron'. Whileromanizedas Kim by 99.3% of the population, other rare variant romanizations such as Gim, Ghim, and Kin make up the remaining 0.7%.[4]

Origin

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The first historical document that records the surname dates to 636 and references it as the surname of Korean KingJinheung of Silla(526–576). In theSillakingdom (57 BCE – 935 CE)—which variously battled and allied with other states on the Korean peninsula and ultimately unified most of the country in 668—Kim was the name of a family that rose to prominence and became the rulers of Silla for 586 years.[5]Many scholars have suggested thatKim Al-chi(Alti) may have been the chief of a "gold" (altin) clan of Korea andManchuria,whose story is similar to the legend of Alji Geo-seo-khan.[6][7]

Clans

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21.6% of Korean people bear the family name Kim. However, they all come from different family clans and have different ancestors.
Kim, Gim, Ghim
Lee, Yi, Rhee, Yie
Park, Bark, Pak, Bhak
Choi, Choe
Jung, Jeong, Chung, Cheong

As with other Korean surnames, different clans, known asbon-gwan,are inherited from a father to his children. These designate the region of Korea or paternal ancestor from which they claim to originate.

The 2000 South Korean census listed 348 extant Kim lineages.[8]

Major clans

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Uiseong

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The Uiseong Kim (의성김씨;Nghĩa thành Kim thị) clan traces its lineage back to Kim Seok, also known as Kim Jung-seok, the son ofGyeongsun of Silla.[9]

Andong

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Main article:Andong Kim clan
Family seal of the Andong Kim clan

There are two Andong Kim clans (안동김씨;An đông Kim thị), distinguished as Gu (구;Cũ) and Shin (신;Tân), that have two separate progenitors.

Some of the notable Gu Andong Kim clan members were GeneralKim Si-minand Prime Minister Kim Sa-hyeong, who was involved with theGangnidomap, as well asRoyal Noble Consort Hwiwas banished for witchcraft.[10]

The Shin Andong Kim clan[11]was one of the powerful clans that dominated the later part ofJoseon.One of the most powerful members from the clan wasKim Jo-sun,who was the father-in-law toSunjo of Joseon.Kim Josun's daughter wasQueen Sunwon.

Gimhae (Kimhae)

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Main article:Gimhae Kim clan
Family seal of the Gimhae Kim clan

The origin of the clan traces back toSuro of Geumgwan Gayawho had ten children, thus starting the Kim dynasty ofGeumgwan Gaya,the capital of which was in present-dayGimhae.Famous ancient members of this clan, aside from the kings of Geumgwan Gaya, include the Silla generalKim Yu-sin.InLater Silla,members of the Gimhae Kim family were admitted to all but the highest level of the Sillabone rank system.

This clan is by far the most populous of all Korean clans. According to the 2015 South Korean census, there were 4,456,700 Gimhae Kim clan members in South Korea.

Distribution of ancestral lines of the Kim surname (1988)

Gyeongju

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Family seal of the Gyeongju Kim clan

TheGyeongjuKims (경주김씨;Khánh Châu Kim thị)[12]trace their descent from the ruling family of Silla. The founder of this clan is said to have beenKim Al-chi,an orphan adopted by KingTalhae of Sillain the 1st century CE. Alji's seventh-generation descendant was the first member of the clan to take the throne, as KingMichu of Sillain the year 262. According to the South Korean census of 2015, there were 1,800,853 Gyeongju Kims in South Korea.

Nagan

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The Nagan Kim clan (낙안김씨;Nhạc an Kim thị) is small. Its progenitor, Kim Sujing (김수징;Kim túy trừng), was a descendant of the last king of Silla and established their ancestral home inSuncheon.In the South Korean census of 2000, less than 10,000 citizens claimed to be Nagan Kims.

Hamchang

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TheHamchangKim clan (함창김씨;Hàm xương Kim thị) trace their origin to the founder of the little-knownGaya confederacystate ofGoryeong Gaya,King Taejo. His alleged tomb, rediscovered in the sixteenth century, is still preserved by the modern-day members of the clan. This clan numbered only 26,300 members in the 2000 South Korean census.

Gwangsan

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Main article:Gwangsan Kim clan
Gwangsan Kim clan family seal

TheGwangsan Kim clan(광산김씨;Quang sơn Kim thị)[13]was one of the most prominent clans during Joseon. The Gwangsan Kims are the descendants of Kim Heung-gwang (김흥광, kim hưng quang ), who was the third prince ofSinmu of Silla,its 45th monarch.

Yaseong

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The Yaseong Kim clan (야성김씨;Dã thành Kim thị) is fromYeongdeok County.The name Yeongdeok replaced an earlier name, Yaseong, which means 'city in the wilderness', and dates its origins back to Silla.

Cheongpung

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The Cheongpung Kim clan (청풍김씨;Thanh phong Kim thị)[11]was one of the aristocratic families during the Joseon. Two queens were from this clan during that period. Several members of the clan also became prime ministers.

Yonan

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Main article:Yonan Kim clan

TheYonanKim clan was an aristocratic family clan that had members in high government positions during the Joseon era. Six members of the clan were prime ministers. The founder of the Yonan Kim clan wasKim Sŏm-han(김섬한;Kim xiêm hán), a descendant ofKim Al-chi.[14]

Gangneung

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Main article:Gangneung Kim clan
Gangneung Kim clan family seal

The Gangneung Kim clan (강릉김씨;Giang Lăng Kim thị) originated fromGangneunginGangwon Province.The progenitor wasKim Chu-wŏn,who was a descendant ofMuyeol of Silla.

Sangsan

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The Sangsan Kim clan (상산김씨;Thương sơn Kim thị) originated fromSangjuinNorth Gyeongsang Province.The progenitor was Kim Su (김수;Kim cần) and the clan had members that participated in the Joseon government.

Ulsan

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The Ulsan Kim clan (울산김씨;Úy sơn Kim thị) originated fromUlsaninYeongnam.One of the members of this clan,Kim Inhu,was one of the 18 Sages of Korea and honored as aMunmyoBae-hyang (문묘배향;Văn miếu xứng hưởng).

Seoheung

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The Seoheung Kim clan (서흥김씨;Thụy hưng Kim thị) was one of the smaller Kim clans during the Joseon. The progenitor was Kim Bo (김보;Kim bảo) and one of the members wasKim Gwoeng-pil(김굉필;Kim hoành bật), who was one of the 18 Sages of Korea and honored as Munmyo Bae-hyang (문묘배향;Văn miếu xứng hưởng).

Wonju

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TheWonjuKim clan (원주김씨;Nguyên châu Kim thị) might be one of the smallest Kim clans during the Joseon. They had two members that became prime ministers during that period.

Jeonju

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Main article:Jeonju Kim clan

According to the South Korean census of 2015, there were 56,989 members of the Jeonju Kim clan in South Korea. Its progenitor,Kim T'ae-sŏ,was descended from the last king of Silla, Gyeongsun of Silla. South Korean artistKim Hee-chulis from the Jeonju clan, as are theNorth KoreanleadersKim Il Sung,Kim Jong Il,andKim Jong Un.

Other clans

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Family seal of Gimnyeong Kim clan
  • Ansan Kim,안산김씨
  • Bu-an Kim,부안김씨
  • Cheongdo Kim,청도김씨
  • Cheongju Kim,청주김씨
  • Daegu Kim,대구김씨
  • Dogang Kim,도강김씨(Gangjin Kim,강진김씨)
  • Eon-yang Kim,언양김씨
  • Gaeseong Kim,개성김씨
  • Geumsan Kim,금산김씨
  • Gimnyeong Kim,김녕김씨
  • Gongju Kim,공주김씨
  • Go-ryeong Kim,고령김씨
  • Go-seong Kim,고성김씨
  • Gwangju Kim,광주김씨
  • Gyeongseong Kim,경성김씨
  • Hanyang Kim,한양김씨(Korean adoptees)
  • Jinju Kim,진주김씨
  • Joong-hwa Kim,중화씨
  • Naju Kim,나주김씨
  • Pungcheon Kim,풍천김씨
  • Pungsan Kim,풍산김씨
  • Samcheok Kim,삼척김씨
  • Seoha Kim,서하김씨
  • Seonsan Kim,선산김씨
  • Suncheon Kim,순천김씨
  • Suwon Kim,수원김씨
  • Ye-an Kim,예안김씨
  • Yeongdong Kim,영동김씨(Yeongsan Kim,영산김씨)
  • Yeong-gwang Kim,영광김씨

Notable people

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Further information:List of people with the Korean family name Kim

See also

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References

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  1. ^King, Ross; Yeon, Jaehoon (2015)."2.2 Korean Names".Elementary Korean Second Edition.Tuttle Publishing.ISBN9781462914548.
  2. ^"본관 ( bổn quán )"[Family Origin].Encyclopedia of Korean Culture(in Korean).Retrieved2023-08-26.
  3. ^"2015년 인구주택총조사 전수집계결과 보도자료"[Results of the 2015 Census of Population and Housing survey]. Korean Statistical Information Service.Retrieved28 May2019.
  4. ^성씨 로마자 표기 방안: 마련을 위한 토론회[Plan for romanisation of surnames: a preparatory discussion].National Institute of Korean Language.25 June 2009. p. 60.Retrieved11 April2023.
  5. ^"신라 왕실 연대표"[Chronicles of the Silla Royal Family].Wonkwang University Department of History(in Korean). Archived fromthe originalon 30 December 2019.Retrieved29 March2019.
  6. ^"Kim bỉnh mô 의 khảo cổ học 여행 – 그리스-알타이-신라를 이어 준 hãn huyết mã 의 질주"[Kim Myung-soo's Ancient Learning Tour – The gallop of ancient horses that connected Greece, Altai, and Silla].Monthly Chosun(in Korean). September 2003.
  7. ^"Đại phụ công húy kim át trí ra đời nói chuyện (대보공휘김알지 탄생설화)".경주김씨 사승공파 소개(in Korean). 19 July 2020. Archived fromthe originalon 2022-09-03.Retrieved1 December2022.
  8. ^"성씨, 본관별 가구 및 인구".Archived fromthe originalon September 7, 2006.Retrieved2006-10-04.
  9. ^Kim, Henry Cu (1987).The writings of Henry Cu Kim: autobiography with commentaries on Syngman Rhee, Pak Yong-man, and Chŏng Sun-man.Honolulu, Hawaii: University of Hawaii Press. p. 7.ISBN0824811593.
  10. ^Thế Tông thật lục[Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty]. Vol. 45. 1454.
  11. ^ab조선왕조실록, 정조 대왕 행장, Joseon Annals, King Jeongjo's life history record after death. c. 1800
  12. ^조선왕조실록, Joseon Annals, Nov. 2, 1734, No. 2
  13. ^조선왕조실록,순종실록부록,순종 18년8월21일. Joseon Annals, Aug. 21, 1925. No. 1
  14. ^"연안김씨".Doopedia(in Korean).Retrieved30 April2024.
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