Interpretation of the Deng Clan Totem 

[Definition] The original meaning of "Deng" (鄧) is a place name. In Bronze Inscriptions (Jinwen), "Deng" was represented by the character "Deng" (登 - to climb or ascend). In the Shuowen Jiezi, "Deng" is annotated as "to board a carriage." It is believed the original intent of the character depicted "two hands holding an object used to board a vehicle."

[Origin] Around the 13th century BC, King Wuding of the Shang Dynasty enfeoffed his uncle in Deng (present-day Dengzhou, Henan), establishing the Marquisate of Deng and granting the surname "Man" (曼). During the Zhou Dynasty, the Man-Deng State was a significant vassal state of a different surname in the south. In the Spring and Autumn period, having offended the State of Chu, the lineage reached Marquis Qi of Deng, at which point the state was conquered by King Wen of Chu in 678 BC. His descendants adopted the state's name as their surname, forming the Deng clan.

• Ancestral Founder: Deng Bowen

• Ancestral Homeland: Dengzhou, Henan

• Prefectural Seats (Junwang) and Hall Names: Nanyang, Anding; Qianshu Hall, Luoyang Hall

• Current Ranking / Population: 27th / Approx. 8.21 million

• Song Dynasty "Hundred Family Surnames" Rank: 180th

• Extant Genealogical Records: 392 volumes