Surname · Chinese origin
Lin
Meaning
The surname Lin means Forest (林).
Origin
Chinese
Type
clan name
Variants
1
The origin of the surname Lin
Lin is the character 林, “forest.”
What kind of surname is Lin?
Lin is a clan name surname. It belongs to the Chinese naming tradition — you can read how Chinese surnames were formed on our Chinese last names page.
Variants & spellings of Lin
You may also see this surname written as:
- Lam
Other Chinese surnames
Other clan name surnames
Family names formed the same way, from different cultures.
Frequently asked questions
What does the surname Lin mean?
The surname Lin means Forest (林). Lin is the character 林, “forest.”
Where does the surname Lin come from?
Lin is a surname of Chinese origin.
What kind of surname is Lin?
Lin is a clan name surname.
What are other spellings of Lin?
Variant spellings of Lin include Lam.
What are other Chinese surnames?
Other Chinese surnames include Deng, Gao, Huang, Liang, Liu, Luo.