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Last name origins & meanings:

1. Chinese: from the name of Qin Valley, in present-day Gansu province. Gao Yao, a great-grandson of the legendary emperor Zhuan Xu, was a famous minister under the model emperors Yao and Shun in the 23rd century bc; he is said to have been the first to introduce laws for the repression of crime. 1300 years later a descendant of his was rewarded for his talents in animal husbandry by being granted the lordship of Qin Valley as a vassal state. Later descendants adopted the place name Qin as their surname.
2. Chinese: there are two branches of bearers of this character for the surname: one pronounced Qin, and the other Tan (see Tan), although both are represented with the same character.