葉氏圖騰釋義 

【釋義】 葉的本義是樹葉。在金文中，「葉」像一棵樹，上有枝葉，下有根系。《說文解字》記載：「葉，草木之葉也。」葉是一個形聲字。

【起源】 春秋時期，楚國左司馬沈尹戌在與吳國軍隊交戰時戰死。楚昭王將其子沈諸梁封為「葉」邑尹，使其食邑於葉地（今河南葉縣南）。因楚國邊境邑大夫皆稱「公」，故沈諸梁被尊稱為「葉公」。葉公在位時勤政愛民，且曾靖難救危（平定白公勝之亂），後代子孫以封邑為氏，這就是葉氏。

• 得姓始祖： 葉公沈諸梁（葉子高）

• 始祖地： 河南葉縣

• 郡望堂號： 南陽、下邳；崇信堂、佛嶺堂

• 當今排序／人口： 第41位／約632萬

• 宋版百家姓排序： 第257位

• 現存家譜： 653部

Interpretation of the Ye Clan Totem 

[Definition] The original meaning of "Ye" (葉) is a leaf. In Bronze Inscriptions (Jinwen), the character resembles a tree with branches and leaves above and a root system below. The Shuowen Jiezi states: "Ye refers to the leaves of plants and trees." Etymologically, it is a phono-semantic compound character.

[Origin] During the Spring and Autumn period, Shen Yin Xu, the Left Minister of War for the State of Chu, died in battle against the army of the State of Wu. King Zhao of Chu subsequently enfeoffed Shen Yin Xu’s son, Shen Zhuliang, as the governor of Ye (Ye Yi Yin), granting him the land of Ye (south of present-day Ye County, Henan) for his sustenance. Since senior district officials in Chu were titled "Gong" (Duke), Shen Zhuliang became known as Ye Gong (the Duke of Ye). Ye Gong was known for his diligent governance and love for the people, as well as for his role in suppressing rebellions and saving the state from crisis. His descendants later adopted the name of the fief as their surname, forming the Ye clan.

• Ancestral Founder: Ye Gong Shen Zhuliang (also known as Ye Zigao)

• Ancestral Homeland: Ye County, Henan

• Prefectural Seats (Junwang) and Hall Names: Nanyang, Xiapi; Chongxin Hall, Foling Hall

• Current Ranking / Population: 41st / Approx. 6.32 million

• Song Dynasty "Hundred Family Surnames" Rank: 257th

• Extant Genealogical Records: 653 volumes