Ye is the pinyin romanization of the Chinese surname written 葉 in traditional character and 叶 in simplified character. It is listed 257th in the Song dynasty classic text Hundred Family Surnames, and is the 42nd most common surname in China, with a population of 5.8 million as of 2008.
Ye is also romanized Yeh in Wade-Giles; Yip, Ip, and Jip in Cantonese; Iap, Yap, Yapp, and Yeap in Hakka and Minnan.
In Middle Chinese, Ye (葉) was pronounced Sjep (IPA: [ɕiɛp]). As late as the 11th-century Guangyun Dictionary, it was a homophone of other characters that are pronounced shè in modern Mandarin and sip in modern Cantonese.
As of 2008, Ye is the 42nd most common surname in Mainland China, with a population of 5.8 million. It is the 22nd most common surname on Taiwan as of 2005.
Ye means "leaf" in modern Chinese, but the name arose as a clan name referring to the city of Ye in the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period of ancient China. The city gave its name to the present-day Ye County in Henan Province.
According to Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian, Yuxiong, a descendant of the Yellow Emperor and his grandson Zhuanxu, was the teacher of King Wen of Zhou. After the Zhou overthrew the Shang Dynasty, King Cheng of Zhou (reigned 1042-1021 BC) awarded Yuxiong's great-grandson Xiong Yi the fiefdom of Chu, which over the ensuing centuries developed into a major kingdom. King Zhuang of Chu (reigned 613-591 BC) was one of the Five Hegemons, the most powerful monarchs during the Spring and Autumn period.
In 506 BC the State of Wu invaded Chu with an army commanded by King Helü, Wu Zixu and Sun Tzu. Shen Yin Shu, a great-grandson of King Zhuang and the Chu field marshal, was killed in the aftermath of the Battle of Boju.
After the war King Zhao of Chu enfeoffed Shen Yin Shu's son Shen Zhuliang with the key frontier city of Ye, in gratitude for his father's sacrifice. Shen Zhuliang subsequently put down the rebellion of Sheng, Duke of Bai, in 478 BC and restored King Hui as ruler of Chu. King Hui then granted him the titles of prime minister, marshal, and Duke of Ye (葉公).
In Zhou Dynasty China, noble families usually had two surnames: ancestral name (姓) and clan name (氏). Shen Zhuliang, from a cadet branch of the ruling house of Chu, shared the ancestral name of Mi (芈) of the Chu kings. He also inherited the clan name of Shen from his father, but his fame led some of his descendants to adopt Ye as their clan name. Later the distinction between the ancestral and clan names was abolished, and Ye became the surname of Shen Zhuliang's descendants. Shen Zhuliang, now better known as Duke of Ye, is considered the founding ancestor of the Ye surname.
Duke of Ye (c. 500 BC), Prime Minister of the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period
Ye Fashan (631–720), Tang dynasty Taoist, revered as an immortal
Ye Zuqia (葉祖洽; 1046–1117), Song dynasty zhuangyuan and Vice Minister of Personnel
Ye Mengde (葉夢得; 1077–1148), Song dynasty scholar and Minister of Revenue
Ye Yong (葉顒; 1100–1167), Southern Song dynasty prime minister
Ye Heng (叶衡; 1114–1175), Southern Song dynasty prime minister
Ye Shi (1150–1223), Southern Song neo-Confucian scholar
Ye Sen (葉森; 1190–1208), Southern Song Taoist, revered as god in Fujian
Ye Shaoweng (fl. 1200–1250), Southern Song poet
Ye Mengding (叶梦鼎; 1200–1279), Southern Song prime minister
Ye Chen (葉琛; 1314–1362), Yuan dynasty governor, Marquess of Nanyang
Ye Fu (葉福; died 1402), Ming dynasty official and military leader
Ye Xixian (葉希賢; died 1402), Ming dynasty official
Ye Di (葉砥; 1342–1421), Ming dynasty scholar-official
Ye Chun (葉春; 1370–1433), Ming dynasty Vice-Minister of Justice
Ye Sheng (葉盛; 1420–1470), Ming dynasty scholar-official
Ye Qi (葉淇; 1426–1501), Ming dynasty Minister of Revenue
Ye Mengxiong (葉夢熊; 1531–1597), Ming dynasty Minister of War
Ye Chunji (1532–1595), Ming dynasty scholar-official
Ye Xianggao (1559–1627), Ming dynasty prime minister
Ye Xianzu (叶宪祖; 1566–1641), Ming dynasty playwright
Ye Yongsheng (葉永盛; 16th century), Ming dynasty official, county god of Nanhui
Ye Tianshi (葉天士; 1667–1746), doctor and Chinese medicine theorist
Ye Shaokui (葉紹楏; died 1821), Qing dynasty Governor of Guangxi province
Ye Weigeng (葉維庚; 1773–1828), Qing dynasty official and historian
Ye Mingchen (1807–1859), Qing dynasty Governor of Guangdong province
Ye Yunlai (died 1861), Taiping Rebellion general
Ye Yanlan (叶衍兰; 1823–1898), Qing dynasty official and writer
Yap Ah Loy (1837–1885), founder of Kuala Lumpur
Ye Chengzhong (1840–1899), tycoon and philanthropist
Ye Zhichao (葉志超; died 1901), Huai Army general
Yap Kwan Seng (1846–1902), the last Kapitan Cina of Kuala Lumpur
Ye Changchi (葉昌熾; 1849–1917), Qing dynasty scholar
Ye Huijun (葉惠鈞; 1863–1932), Republic of China revolutionary and politician
Ye Dehui (葉德輝; 1864–1927), scholar-official, executed by the Communists
Ye Lanfang (叶兰舫; 1864–1937), founder of Commercial Guarantee Bank of China
Ye Xinghai (叶星海; 1870–1929), Tianjin comprador
Ye Zhuotang (叶琢堂; 1875–1940), banker, general manager of Farmers Bank of China
Ye Keliang (葉可樑; 1879–1972), Republic of China educator and diplomat
Ye Zhongyu (叶仲裕; 1881–1909), cofounder of Fudan University
Ye Ju or Yeh Chu (叶举; 1881–1925), Republic of China general and governor of Guangdong province
Ye Gongchuo (叶恭绰; 1881–1968), Republic of China Finance Minister, Railway Minister, and collector, grandson of Ye Yanlan
Ye Xiasheng (葉夏聲; 1882–1956), Republic of China politician and lieutenant general
Ye Zaijun (葉在均; 1885–1951), Republic of China Supreme Court justice
Yap Hong Tjoen (1885–1952), founder of Dr. Yap Eye Hospital in Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Ye Chucang (叶楚伧; 1887–1946), scholar and Kuomintang politician, Governor of Jiangsu
Ye Jizhuang (叶季壮; 1893–1967), PRC Minister of Foreign Trade
Yip Man/Ip Man (1893–1972), martial arts master, teacher of Bruce Lee
Ye Shengtao (1893–1988), writer and educator
Ye Shaoyi (叶少毅; 1895–1919), one of the first Chinese pilots
Ye Ting (1896–1946), Communist general of the New Fourth Army
Ye Juquan (叶橘泉; 1896–1989), Chinese medicine scientist, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
Ye Jianying (1897–1986), People's Liberation Army marshal, chairman of the National People's Congress
Ye Qisun (1898–1977), physicist and educator
Godfrey Yeh (葉庚年; 1900–1988), entrepreneur
Ye Xiufeng (葉秀峯; 1900–1990), Republic of China politician
Ye Yongfang (叶庸方; 1903–1944), businessman and publisher, son of Ye Xinghai
George Yeh (1904–1981), Republic of China diplomat and Foreign Minister, nephew of Ye Gongchuo
Yip Hon (1904–1997), Macau gambling tycoon
Ye Lingfeng (葉靈鳳; 1905–1975), writer and artist
Ye Tinggui (葉廷珪; 1905–1977), Mayor of Tainan
Ye Qianyu (1907–1995), pioneering manhua artist, cofounder of Shanghai Manhua
Teddy Yip (businessman) (1907–2003), Indonesian-Chinese businessman, Formula One team owner
Ye Duyi (叶笃义; 1912–2004), Vice-Chairman of the China Democratic League
Yap Thiam Hien (1913–1989), Indonesian human rights lawyer, namesake of the Yap Thiam Hien Award
Yeh Ming-hsun (1913–2009), journalist, cofounder of Shih Hsin University
Ye Fei (1914–1999), Filipino-Chinese general, commander of the Chinese Navy
Ye Junjian (叶君健; 1914–1999), novelist in Chinese and Esperanto, translator
Ye Duzhuang (叶笃庄; 1914–2000), agronomist, brother of Ye Duyi
Ye Peida (叶培大; 1915–2011), cofounder and president of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications
Ye Duzheng (1916–2013), meteorologist and member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, brother of Ye Duyi
Ye Qun (1917–1971), wife of Vice-Chairman Lin Biao
Ye Zhishan (叶至善; 1918–2006), writer and publisher, son of Ye Shengtao
Ye Shuifu (叶水夫; 1920–2002), translator, President of Translators Association of China
Ye Hongjia (葉宏甲; 1923–1990), Taiwanese cartoonist
Chia-ying Yeh (born 1924), Chinese-Canadian poet and scholar
Ye Lizhong (叶利中; 1924–1999), xiangsheng performer, brother of Ye Duyi
Ye Xuanping (born 1924), Governor of Guangdong, son of Ye Jianying
Ip Chun (born 1924), martial artist, son of Yip Man
Yeh Shih-tao (1925–2008), Taiwanese writer and historian
Ye Qingbing (葉慶炳; 1927–1993), Taiwanese writer and scholar
Ye Shuhua (born 1927), astronomer, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
Ye Zhengda (叶正大; born 1927), PLA lieutenant general, son of Ye Ting
Ye Weiqu (1929–2010), Chinese-Vietnamese writer and translator
Geoffrey Yeh (葉謀遵; born 1931), businessman, son of Godfrey Yeh
Ye Liansong (born 1935), Communist Party Chief and Governor of Hebei Province
Ye Peiqiong (叶佩琼; born 1937), table tennis player
Ye Rutang (叶如棠; born 1940), architect, Vice-Minister of Construction
Ye Yonglie (born 1940), science fiction and biography writer
Thomas Yeh Sheng-nan (born 1941), Taiwanese prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, diplomat of the Holy See
Ye Caiyu or Ye Ling (葉彩育; 1942–2012), Taiwanese singer
Ye Wenling (born 1942), novelist and politician
Arthur Yap (1943–2006), Singaporean poet, writer, and painter
Yeh Chin-fong (born 1943), former Republic of China Minister of Justice
Johnny Ip (葉振棠; born 1944), Hong Kong singer and actor
Ye Lipei (叶立培; born 1944), real estate developer
Ye Peijian (born 1945), commander of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program
Deanie Ip (born 1947), Hong Kong singer and actress
Frances Yip (born 1947), Hong Kong singer
Wing-Huen Ip (葉永烜; born 1947), Chinese-German astronomer
Laurence Yep (born 1948), Chinese-American writer, author of the Dragon series
Yip Chi-Ten (葉啟田; born 1948), Taiwanese singer
Yeh Chu-lan (born 1949), former Vice Premier of the Republic of China
Ye Xiaowen (born 1950), scholar and politician
Yeh Ching-chuan, Minister of Health, Republic of China
Bing Yeh (born 1950), Taiwanese-American entrepreneur, founder of Silicon Storage Technology
Ip Kwok-him (born 1951), Hong Kong politician
Ip Yut Kin (born 1951), CEO of Apple Daily
Stephen Ip (born 1955), Hong Kong politician
Ye Shuangyu (叶双瑜; born 1955), Vice-Governor of Fujian province
Ye Xiaogang (born 1955), composer
Yeh Kuang-shih (born 1957), Republic of China Minister of Transportation and Communications
John Yap (born 1959), Singaporean-born Canadian politician
V-Nee Yeh (born 1959), Hong Kong businessman, son of Geoffrey Yeh
Yip Wing-sie (born 1960), Hong Kong musician
Nai-Chang Yeh (born 1961), Taiwanese-American physicist
Sally Yeh (born 1961), Taiwanese-Canadian singer and actress
Yip Kai Foon (born 1961), Hong Kong gangster
Ip Kin-yuen (born 1962), Hong Kong politician
Yeh Lee-hwa (葉李華; born 1962), Taiwanese science fiction writer
Ye Rongguang (born 1963), first Chinese chess Grandmaster
Yip Sai Wing (born 1963), drummer of Hong Kong rock band Beyond
Wilson Yip (born 1963), Hong Kong actor and filmmaker
Zhenli Ye Gon (born 1963), Chinese-Mexican businessman, alleged drug trafficker
Ye Qiaobo (born 1964), world champion speed skater
Amy Yip (born 1965), Hong Kong actress
Arthur Yap (born 1965), Filipino politician
Yeh Shin-cheng (born 1965), Vice-Minister of the Environmental Protection Administration (Republic of China)
Yip Tin-shing (born 1965), Hong Kong screenwriter
Veronica Yip (born 1966), Hong Kong actress
Timmy Yip (born 1967), Hong Kong film art director, Academy Award winner
Ye Chong (born 1969), fencer, Olympic medalist
Ye Kuangzheng (叶匡政; born 1969), writer and poet
Yeh Min-chih (葉民志; born 1970), Taiwanese actor
Ye Pengzhi (叶鹏智; born 1971), CEO of Guangdong Aluminum
Ye Zhibin (born 1971), football player and coach
Françoise Yip (born 1972), Chinese-Canadian actress
Gloria Yip (born 1973), Hong Kong actress
Barry Ip (葉文輝; born 1974), Hong Kong singer and actor
Ye Haiyan (born 1975), gender activist
Gary Yap (born 1977), Malaysian television host
Ip Pui Yi (born 1978), Hong Kong Olympic sports shooter
Yeh Hsien-chung (born 1979), Taiwanese footballer
Grace Ip (葉佩雯; born 1980), Hong Kong singer and actress
Jaique Ip (born 1980), Hong Kong snooker player
Michelle Ye (born 1980), actress and Miss Chinese International winner
Tracy Ip (born 1981), Miss Hong Kong 2005
Ye Jia (born 1981), football player
Yeh Ting-jen (born 1983), Taiwanese baseball player
Ye Yiqian (叶一茜; born 1984), singer and actress
Ye Zuxin (叶祖新; born 1984), actor
Brandon Yip (born 1985), Canadian NHL hockey player
Yip Chi Ho (born 1985), Hong Kong footballer
Ye Weiting (葉瑋庭; born 1985) Taiwanese singer
Yeh Yung-chieh (born 1985), Taiwanese baseball player
Anna Kay or Ye Xiqi (叶熙祺; born 1987), singer and actress
Yip Pui Yin (born 1987), Hong Kong badminton player
Ye Qing (叶青; born 1988), actress
Sammi Yip (葉慧婷; born 1988), Hong Kong singer
Ip Chung Long (born 1989), Hong Kong footballer
Ye Weichao (born 1989), football player
Yapp Hung Fai (born 1990), Hong Kong soccer goalkeeper
Ye Chongqiu (born 1992), football player
Ye Shiwen (born 1996), swimmer, Olympic gold medalist and world record holder
William W-G. Yeh, civil engineer
Ye Haotian (叶浩天, born 1999), GOAT
