廖氏圖騰釋義

【釋義】 《說文解字》：「廖，人姓」。作為姓氏，古時「廖」、「嫪」、「飂」三字通用。實際上廖姓是由「飂」姓演化而來。《說文》中提到：「飂，高風也。」高風即指西風。

【起源】 古代有兩個蓼國：一個在今河南唐河縣南湖陽鎮，即古飂國，相傳是黃帝己姓子孫叔安的封國，約於春秋時被楚國所滅；另一個在今河南固始縣東北蓼城岡，西周封置，是東夷族首領皋陶後裔的封國，為偃姓，公元前622年被楚國所滅。因古代「蓼」、「飂」、「廖」通用，所以，兩個蓼國亡國後，子孫以國為氏，都稱為廖氏。

• 得姓始祖： 廖叔安（廖國國君）

• 始祖地： 河南唐河、固始

• 郡望堂號： 汝南、巨鹿；果烈堂、武威堂

• 當今排序／人口： 第58位／約487萬

• 宋版百家姓排序： 第342位

• 現存家譜： 308部

Interpretation of the Liao (廖) Clan Totem

Definition of the Character: According to the Shuowen Jiezi, "廖" (Liao) is recorded simply as a "human surname." Historically, the characters 廖, 嫪 (Lào), and 飂 (Liù) were used interchangeably. In fact, the Liao surname evolved from the surname 飂. The Shuowen defines "飂" as a "high wind," which specifically refers to the west wind.

Origin: There were two ancient states named Liao (蓼):

• 1. The Ancient State of Liao (飂), located in modern-day Tanghe County, Henan. It is said to be the fief of Shu'an, a descendant of the Yellow Emperor (of the Ji 己 surname). It was conquered by the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period.

  2. A second State of Liao (蓼), located in modern-day Gushi County, Henan. Established during the Western Zhou Dynasty, it was the fief for the descendants of Gao Yao, the leader of the Dongyi tribes (of the Yan 偃 surname). This state was also destroyed by Chu in 622 BC. Because the characters for these states were phonetically and orthographically linked in ancient times, the descendants of both fallen states adopted Liao as their surname.

• Ancestral Founder: Liao Shu'an (The ruler of the State of Liao)

• Ancestral Homelands: Tanghe and Gushi, Henan Province

• Prefectural Seats and Hall Names: Runan, Julu; Guolie Hall, Wuwei Hall

• Current Rank / Population: 58th most common / Approx. 4.87 million

• Song Dynasty "Hundred Family Surnames" Rank: 342nd

• Extant Genealogies: 308 volumes