Interpretation of the Yan (Yan) Surname Totem

【Meaning】

The original meaning of Yan (颜) refers to the "Yintang"—the space on the human face located between the eyebrows. The character is composed of "Yan" (彦 - meaning elegant or accomplished) and "Ye" (页 - meaning page/head). In this context, "Ye" represents the human head; in Oracle Bone Script, it was similar to the character for "Shou" (首 - head) and serves as a radical to denote the human face or forehead. It symbolizes the "countenance" or "prestige" of a person.

【Origins】

1. From the Western Zhou (Descendants of Lu Zhong): The lineage traces back to Xia, a descendant of Cao An (the fifth son of the legendary Lu Zhong). During the reign of King Wu of Zhou, Xia was enfeoffed in Zhu (present-day Zou County, Shandong), establishing the State of Zhu as a vassal to the State of Lu. A descendant named Yifu had the courtesy name Yan and was known as Duke Yan of Zhu. After the State of Zhu was annexed by the State of Chu, his descendants adopted his courtesy name, Yan, as their surname.

2. From the Lineage of Bo Qin (Duke of Zhou): Bo Qin, the eldest son of the Duke of Zhou, was enfeoffed in the State of Lu. Some of his descendants were granted the Fief of Yan, and they subsequently adopted the name of their fief as their surname.

Historical & Demographic Profile

Category

Details

Founding Ancestors

Cao Yifu, Yan Hui (Sage), Bo Qin

Ancestral Homelands

Qufu and Zou County, Shandong Province

Prefectural Mansions

Lu County, Langya, Donglu

Notable Hall Name

Fusheng Hall (Hall of the Continuator Sage)

Modern Ranking / Population

Ranked 118th / Approx. 1.64 million people

Song Dynasty Ranking

Ranked 123rd in the Hundred Family Surnames

Extant Genealogies

116 volumes currently preserved

繁體中文版本 (Traditional Chinese)

顏氏圖騰釋義

【釋義】

「顏」的本義為**「印堂」**，即人臉上兩眉之間的地方。顏字由「彥」（意指有才德的人）與「頁」組成。「頁」在古代指人的頭部，在甲骨文中與「首」字相近，作為部首用以表示人的臉部或額頭。它象徵著一個人的「容貌」與「門面」。

【起源】

1. 源於西周（陸終後裔）： 陸終第五子曹安的裔孫「挾」，在周武王時被封於「邾」（今山東鄒縣），建立邾國，為魯國的附庸。邾挾的後裔夷父，字「顏」，史稱邾顏公。邾國被楚國滅亡後，其子孫以祖父的字為姓，稱為顏氏。

2. 源於魯侯伯禽（周公之後）： 周公旦之長子伯禽受封於魯國。其後代子孫中有被封在「顏邑」者，遂以封邑名為姓，形成另一支顏氏。

歷史與人口概況

類別

詳情

得姓始祖

曹夷父、顏回（復聖）、伯禽

始祖地

山東曲阜、鄒縣

郡望

魯郡、琅琊、東魯

堂號

復聖堂

當今排序/人口

第118位 / 約164萬人

宋朝百家姓排序

第123位

現存家譜

116部