The most common one, Jīn 金, literally means "gold" and is 29th[1] in the list of "Hundred Family Surnames".

The legend behind the Jin surname is as follows: The Yellow Emperor's son, Yi Zhi (Shaohao), eventually succeeded him.

On the same day he was installed as leader, a golden phoenix flew down and perched on top of a house exactly opposite of where he sat.

Some of his descendants adopted Jin as their surnames and left off the words Tian Shi ("skies").

Jìn (晋 family name originate from Táng Shū Yú (唐叔虞) the brother of King Wu of Zhou.