Kim (Korean surname)

Kim
Family name
Pronunciation Kim, Gim
Meaning Gold, iron
Region of origin Korea
Language(s) of origin Korean
Kim
Hangul 김
Hanja 金
Revised Romanization Gim
McCune–Reischauer Kim

Kim (occasionally romanized as Gim)[1] is the most common surname in the Korean Peninsula, accounting for nearly 22% of the population. Kim is written as "김" gim in Korean. ("김" solely by itself has no specific meaning unless specified by its underlying hanja or derived from context.) The hanja for Kim can also be transliterated as Hangul: 금 geum "metal, iron, gold". The Kim family is also the ruling family in the Demoratic Peoples Republic of Korea (North Korea)

Origin

Kims are descended from the Great Huns: They are the north Asian people, including Mongols, Turks and Koreans. Old Koreans are derived from the Hun that belongs to altaic language. Also known used to be known as "Xiongnu".

Clans

As with other Korean surnames, different lineages, known as bon-gwan or clans, 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.[2]

Major clans

21.6% of Korean people bear the family name Kim
  Kim, Gim, Ghim
  Lee, Yi, Rhee, Yie, Jee
  Park, Pak
  Choi, Choe
  Jung, Jeong, Chung, Cheong

Uiseong

The Uiseong Kim (Hangul: 의성김씨 , hanja: 義城金氏 ) Clan traces its lineage back to the last prince of Silla, who later became a Monk.

Andong

There are two Andong Kim clans (Hangul: 안동김씨; Hanja: 安東金氏) distinguished as Gu (Hangul: 구; Hanja: 舊) and Shin (Hangul: 신; Hanja: 新) that have 2 separate progenitors.

Some of the notable Gu Andong Kim clan members were General Kim Si-min and Prime Minister Kim Sa-hyeong, who was involved with the Gangnido map.

The Shin Andong Kim clan[3] was one of the powerful clans that dominated the later part of Joseon. One of the most powerful members from the clan was the Honorable Kim Josun, who was the father-in-law to Sunjo of Joseon. Kim Josun's daughter was Queen Sunwon.

Gimhae (Kimhae)

According to a story recorded only in the Samgungnyusa, in 48 CE, Princess Heo Hwang-ok travelled from a country called Ayuda to Korea, where she married Suro of Geumgwan Gaya and gave birth to ten children, thus starting the Kim dynasty of Geumgwan Gaya, the capital of which was in present-day Gimhae.

Famous ancient members of this clan, aside from the kings of Geumgwan Gaya, include the Silla general Kim Yu-sin. In Later Silla, members of the Gimhae Kim family were admitted to all but the highest level of the Silla bone rank system.

This clan is by far the most populous of all Korean clans. The 2000 South Korean census found it to add up more than four million people.

Distribution of ancestral lines of the Kim surname. (1988)

Gyeong Seong

Gyeong Seong Kim (Hangul: 경성김씨 , Hanja:京城金氏) originated from Seoul in South Korea. This family living in Seoul of Korea separated from Gimhae in the 1910s.

Gyeongju

The Gyeongju Kims (Hangul: 경주김씨 , hanja: 慶州金氏 [4]) trace their descent from the ruling family of Silla. The founder of this clan is said to have been Kim Alji, an orphan adopted by King Talhae of Silla in the 1st century AD. Alji's seventh-generation descendant was the first member of the clan to take the throne, as King Michu of Silla in the year 262.

This clan is also extremely populous. In the South Korean census of 2000, more than 1.7 million citizens claimed to be Gyeongju Kims.

Nagan

The Nagan Kim clan (Hangul: 낙안김씨 , hanja: 樂安金氏 ) is extremely rare. Its progenitor, Kim Sujing (Hangul: 김수징 , hanja: 金粹澄 ), was a descendant of the last king of Silla and established their ancestral home in Suncheon. In the South Korean census of 2000, less than 10,000 citizens claimed to be Nagan Kims.

Hamchang

The Hamchang Kim (Hangul: 함창김씨 , hanja: 咸昌金氏 ) trace their origin to the founder of the little-known Gaya confederacy state of Goryeong 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

The Gwangsan Kim clan (Hangul: 광산김씨 , hanja: 光山金氏 [5]) was one of the most prominent clans during Joseon. The Gwangsan Kims are the descendants of Heung Gwang (흥광, 興光), who was the third prince of Sinmu of Silla, its 45th monarch.

Yaseong

Yaseong clan (Hangul: 야성김씨 , hanja: 野城金氏 ) is from Yeongdeok County. The name Yeongdoek replaced an earlier name, Yaseong, which means "City in the Wilderness" and dates its origins back to Silla.

Cheongpung

Cheongpung Kim clan (Hangul: 청풍김씨 , hanja: 淸風金氏 [6]) 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.

Yeonan

Yeonan Kim clan (Hangul: 연안김씨 , hanja: 延安金氏 ) was an aristocratic family clan that had members in high government positions during the Joseon. Six members of the clan were prime ministers.

Gangneung

Gangneung Kim clan (Hangul: 강릉김씨 , hanja: 江陵金氏 ) originated from Gangneung, Gangwon Province, South Korea. The progenitor was Kim Juwon (김주원, 金周元) who was a descendant of Muyeol of Silla.

Sangsan

Sangsan Kim clan (Hangul: 상산김씨 , hanja: 商山金氏 ) originated from Sangju in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The progenitor was Kim Su (김수, 金需) and the clan had members that participated in the government of Joseon.

Ulsan

Ulsan Kim clan (Hangul: 울산김씨 , Hanja:蔚山金氏) originated from Ulsan in South Korea. One of the members of this clan, Kim Inhu, was one of the 18 Sages of Korea and honored as a Munmyo Bae-hyang, (문묘배향, 文廟配享).

Seoheung

Seoheung Kim clan (Hangul: 서흥김씨 , hanja: 瑞興金氏 ) was one of the smaller Kim clans during the Joseon. The progenitor was Kim Bo (김보, 金寶) and one of the members was Kim Gwoeng-pil (김굉필, 金宏弼), who was one of the 18 Sages of Korea and honored as Munmyo Bae-hyang, (문묘배향, 文廟配享).

Wonju

Wonju Kim clan (Hangul: 원주김씨 , hanja: 原州金氏 ) might be one of the smallest Kim clans during the Joseon. They had two members that became prime ministers during that period.

Other clans

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ↑ In a study by the National Institute of the Korean Language based on 2007 application data for South Korean passports, it was found that 99.3% of people with this surname spelled it in Latin letters as Kim in their passports; only 0.6% spelled it as Gim. 성씨 로마자 표기 방안: 마련을 위한 토론회 [Plan for romanisation of surnames: a preparatory discussion]. National Institute of the Korean Language. 25 June 2009. p. 57. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  2. ↑ "성씨, 본관별 가구 및 인구". Archived from the original on September 7, 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-04.
  3. ↑ 조선왕조실록, 정조 대왕 행장, Joseon Annals, King Jeongjo's life history record after death. c. 1800
  4. ↑ 조선왕조실록, Joseon Annals, Nov. 2, 1734, No. 2
  5. ↑ 조선왕조실록,순종실록부록,순종 18년8월21일. Joseon Annals, Aug. 21, 1925. No. 1
  6. ↑ 조선왕조실록, 정조 대왕 행장, Joseon Annals, King Jeongjo's life history record after death. c. 1800
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