Kim | |
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Family name | |
Pronunciation | Kim, Gim |
Meaning | Gold, iron |
Region of origin | Korea |
Language(s) of origin | Korean |
Kim | |
Hangul | |
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Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | Gim |
McCune–Reischauer | Kim |
Kim (occasionally romanized as Gim) 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: geum "metal, iron, gold". The Kim family is also the ruling family in the Demoratic Peoples Republic of Korea (North Korea)
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".
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.
The Uiseong Kim (Hangul: , hanja: ) Clan traces its lineage back to the last prince of Silla, who later became a Monk.
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.