Interpretation of the Ying (应) Surname Totem

【Meaning】

The original meaning of 应 (Ying) is to promise, to echo, or to respond. Historically, there is a deep connection between the characters 应 (Ying) and 雁 (Yan - Wild Goose); in ancient scripts, they were often used interchangeably. When wild geese fly in an orderly formation, a lead goose calls out from high above to communicate with the flock. The others respond one by one to ensure no one falls behind as they advance. This behavior led to the extended meaning of "response" or "correspondence." The Ying people were originally a clan that relied on hunting wild geese for survival. They adopted the wild goose as their primitive totem, naming their clan and emblem after it, which eventually evolved into a state and the surname Ying.

【Origins】

1. From the Ji (姬) Surname: This lineage originates from the descendants of King Wu of Zhou (Ji Fa). After King Wu overthrew the Shang Dynasty, he enfeoffed his fourth son, Ying Shu, in Ying (present-day Zhiyang Town, Xinhua District, Pingdingshan, Henan).

2. Establishment of the State: Ying Shu was granted the title of Marquis (Ying Hou) with the rank of Earl, and he established the State of Ying (also known as the State of the Eagle). His descendants subsequently adopted the name of the state as their surname.

Historical & Demographic Profile

Category

Details

Founding Ancestors

Ying Shu (Fourth son of King Wu of Zhou)

Ancestral Homeland

Pingdingshan, Henan Province

Prefectural Mansions (Junwang)

Yingchuan, Runan

Hall Names (Tanghao)

Huaiyang Hall, Yanyi Hall, Baoben Hall

Modern Ranking / Population

Ranked 222nd / Approx. 430,000 people

Song Dynasty Ranking

Ranked 190th in the Hundred Family Surnames

Extant Genealogies

98 volumes currently preserved