The Lao Family Name#

Family Name: Lao, Pronunciation: láo

Distribution of the Lao Family Name#

Wuyang Commandery: During the Sui Dynasty, Weizhou was renamed Wuyang Commandery, with its administrative center located in Guixiang (now northeast of Daming, Hebei Province). In the Tang Dynasty, it was renamed back to Weizhou. This area corresponds to the present-day counties of Daming, Cixian, Shexian, Wu'an, Linzhang, Feixiang, Weixian, Qiuxian, Cheng'an, Guangping, Guantao in Hebei Province, as well as Huaxian and Junxian in Henan Province, and Guanxian in Shandong Province.
Songyang County: In the fourth year of the Jian'an era of the Eastern Han Dynasty (199 AD), Songyang County was established from parts of Zhang'an County. In the ninth year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty (589 AD), Kuocang County was created from parts of Songyang East Township. In the fourth year of the Wude era of the Tang Dynasty (621 AD), it was renamed Songzhou; in the eighth year, the state was abolished and the county was reinstated. In the same year, Suichang County was incorporated into Songyang County. In the second year of the Jingyuan era (711 AD), Suichang was separated from Songyang. In the second year of the Qianyuan era (759 AD), Longquan County was established from parts of Nan Township, and since then, the boundaries of the county have remained relatively stable. During the Zhenyuan era of the Tang Dynasty, the county seat was moved to its current location.
Bohai Commandery: Established during the Western Han Dynasty, this region is located along the coast of the Bohai Bay in present-day Hebei and Liaoning provinces.

Origin of the Lao Family Name#

The origin of the Lao family name can be traced back to the Han Dynasty, where it originated as a surname derived from a specific mountain. Lao Mountain, a famous scenic spot located east of Qingdao, Shandong Province, was known as Lao Mountain in ancient times. The people who lived there lived in isolation and rarely interacted with the outside world. It is said that during the reign of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the alchemist Xu Fu led a group of 5,000 young men and women on a sea journey in search of immortality, setting sail from Lao Mountain. It was only during the Western Han Dynasty that the inhabitants of Lao Mountain began to interact with the outside world and became subjects of the Han Dynasty. The Han Dynasty granted them the Lao surname, which has been passed down through generations.

Migration and Distribution

The Lao family name does not rank among the top 100 most common surnames in either mainland China or Taiwan. The origin of the Lao surname is related to the place name Lao Mountain, also known as Laoshan, which is a famous mountain in Shandong, located on the east coast of Jiaozhou Bay, southeast of Jimo County. According to the "Yuanhe Xingzuan," the Lao surname was derived from the ancestors who lived in this area and took the name of the mountain as their surname. This family, which originated from Lao Mountain in Shandong, has historically centered its spread around the Bohai Sea region. The ancestral home of the Lao family can be found in Wuyang Commandery (east of Daming County, Hebei Province).

Common Couplets for Lao Family Ancestral Halls

Four-character Couplets for Lao Family Ancestral Halls:

• Originating from the Western Han Dynasty; Renowned in Wuyang. —— Anonymous
• Promoting prosperity in Luotian; Becoming famous during the Jingtai era. —— Li Wenzheng

Five-character Couplets for Lao Family Ancestral Halls:

• Benevolent governance extended to three counties; Historians referred to two Lao figures. —— Anonymous
• Virtue was widely recognized; Scholars were esteemed in the Lanting society. —— Anonymous

Six-character Couplets for Lao Family Ancestral Halls:

• Virtue benefited the people of Laiyang; Merits were honored in the imperial court. —— Anonymous
• Scholars and officials flourished; The transport commissioner showed mercy and compassion. —— Anonymous

Seven-character Couplets for Lao Family Ancestral Halls:

• Scholars and officials were educated in this family; The transport commissioner showed leniency and care for the people. —— Anonymous
• The Lao family's influence extended far and wide; Their titles were respected in the highest ranks. —— Anonymous

These couplets reflect the history and traditions of the Lao family name, highlighting its origins, achievements, and contributions to various regions throughout China.