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liàoSeptember 28, 2025

廖姓

The Liao surname has ancient, multi-origin roots from clan names, fiefs, and state names, with its most prestigious branch originating from Runan County. It spread widely across China, producing notable figures throughout history in politics and culture.

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The Liao Family

The surname is Liao, pronounced as liào.

Regions Where the Liao Family is Found

  • Runan County: Established in the fourth year of Emperor Gao of Han's reign. This area corresponds to the region between the Ying River and Huai River in present-day Henan, to the east of the Jingguang Railway, west of the Ci River and Xifei River in Anhui, and north of the Huai River. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, the administrative center was moved to Pingyu.
  • Julu County: Established in the 25th year of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's reign. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, the administrative center was moved to the southwest of present-day Ningjin.

Origins of the Liao Family

The surname Liao has multiple origins:

  1. It can originate from one's own clan name, such as being a descendant of Liao Shu An from ancient times, who took the name of his state as his surname. According to historical records, Emperor Zhuanxu had a descendant named Shu An, who was granted a fief in the state of fēi (also known as Liaoguo, located south of present-day Tanghe County, Henan). His descendants took the name of the state as their surname, which is the origin of the Liao family in Henan.
  2. It can also originate from the Ji clan, such as being a descendant of Bo Liao, a son of King Wen of Zhou, who took the name of his fief as his surname.
  3. It can originate from the Yan clan, such as being a descendant of Gao Tao, a wise minister of Yao and Shun, who took the name of the state as his surname.
  4. Some Liao families changed their surname to avoid the tyrannical rule of King Zhou of Shang and adopted the surnames of Miao or Yan.
  5. Some Liao families changed their surname from the Zhang clan after marrying into the Liao family.

The Most Prestigious Branch of the Liao Family

The most prestigious branch of the Liao family is the one from Runan County. This branch gained great prominence during the Han Dynasty. During the Qin and Han periods, members of this branch migrated to surrounding areas. For example, a branch of the Liao family from Runan County, led by Liao Hui, fled the chaos of the Qin Dynasty and moved to Henan. During the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties, another branch of the Liao family, led by Liao Hua, migrated to Sichuan from Xiangyang (present-day Xiangfan, Hubei). Other branches of the Liao family had various origins, such as changing their surname to avoid the tyranny of the Shang Dynasty or through marriage.

The Liao family has a long history and a wide distribution across China. Many famous individuals with the surname Liao have emerged throughout history, especially in fields such as politics, literature, and culture.