Zhao
The origin of the surname Zhao
Zhao is the character 趙, the name of an ancient state.
How Chinese surnames work
Chinese surnames — the “family name” — come first, before the given name, and a relatively small set of names is shared by enormous numbers of people (Wang, Li and Zhang are among the most common surnames on earth). Each is written with a single Chinese character carrying its own meaning, and many trace back thousands of years to ancient clans, states, noble titles or places. The character is the surname, so its meaning is fixed by the specific hanzi.
Variants & spellings
- Chao
Frequently asked questions
What does the surname Zhao mean?
The surname Zhao means An ancient state (趙). Zhao is the character 趙, the name of an ancient state.
Where does the surname Zhao come from?
Zhao is a surname of Chinese origin.
What kind of surname is Zhao?
Zhao is a clan name surname.
How common is the surname Zhao in the United States?
Zhao ranks #3,187 among U.S. surnames (2010 U.S. Census), recorded for about 10,324 people.