Bao Surname

Surname Overview

Bao, pronounced bào, is listed as the 62nd surname in the Hundred Family Surnames.

Reference: 《百家姓》第62姓：鲍，鲍姓来源、分布地域与名人介绍 | 速查君

Origins

Main Origins

One branch originated from the Si surname and took its name from a state or fief: during the Spring and Autumn period, Jing Shu, a prince of Qi and a descendant of Yu the Great, received Bao as his fief after serving in Qi and adopted Bao as his surname. Another branch was changed from the Xianbei compound surname Siliufa.

Reference: 《百家姓》第62姓：鲍，鲍姓来源、分布地域与名人介绍 | 速查君

Historical Records

Early Recorded Lineages

By the Western Han, a Bao lineage was present in Gaicheng of Bohai. Bao Xuan, Bao Yong, and Bao Yu held offices in succession; in the Eastern Han, Bao Hui was known together with Bao Yong as the “Two Baos.”

Reference: 鲍姓起源分布与家谱家族

Commanderies and Clan Halls

Commandery Seats

The Bao surname is associated with Shangdang Commandery in Shanxi, Donghai Commandery and Taishan Commandery in Shandong, and Henan Commandery in Henan.

Reference: 《百家姓》第62姓：鲍，鲍姓来源、分布地域与名人介绍 | 速查君

Migration and Distribution

Before the Qin period, the Bao surname was mainly active in Shandong. During the Song period it was concentrated mainly in Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Shandong, and Jiangsu; during the Ming period it was concentrated mainly in Zhejiang and Anhui, forming distribution areas centered on Zhejiang-Anhui-Jiangsu and Shaanxi.

Reference: 《百家姓》第62姓：鲍，鲍姓来源、分布地域与名人介绍 | 速查君

Notable People

Historical Figures

Bao Zhao, courtesy name Mingyuan, was from Donghai and was a literary figure and poet of the Southern Song. His seven-character yuefu poems had a particularly strong influence on later generations; his representative work is “Imitating the Difficult Road to Travel.”

Reference: 《百家姓》第62姓：鲍，鲍姓来源、分布地域与名人介绍 | 速查君