Cao Surname

Surname Overview

Two Main Origins

The Cao surname has two main lines of origin, from Gaoyang and Ji, and has been widely used for more than 2,400 years.

Reference: 曹姓起源分布与家谱家族

Origins

Gaoyang and Ji Lines

One line descends from An, son of Lu Zhong and a descendant of Zhuanxu; the Cao tribe took its surname from the place Cao and its jujube totem. The other line descends from Shuzhen Duo, the younger brother of King Wu of Zhou, who was enfeoffed in Cao; his descendants took the state name as their surname.

Reference: 曹姓起源分布与家谱家族

Historical Records

Classical Records

The Yuanhe Xingzuan, Tongzhi: Shizulue, and other historical works record that the Cao surname mainly originated from the Ji surname of the Zhou dynasty; after the Cao state fell, many members of its ruling clan and people took Cao as their surname.

Reference: 曹氏族谱字辈、曹姓辈分表与寻根溯源指南-族谱网

Migration and Distribution

Before the Qin dynasty, the Cao surname was concentrated mainly in Gansu, Shandong, and northern Jiangsu. During the Qin and Han periods it spread across the provinces north of the Yangtze and East China; it reached Guangdong and Guangxi in the late Tang and early Song, and Taiwan in the early Qing.

Reference: 曹姓起源分布与家谱家族

Notable People

Notable Figures

Notable people with the Cao surname include Cao Cao, Cao Pi, Cao Zhi, Cao Xueqin, Cao Can, Cao Chong, Cao Ren, and Cao Zhen.

Reference: 曹姓起名_曹姓名字大全_曹姓男孩女孩名字推荐 - 圆桌起名

Genealogy and Generation Names

Genealogical Generation Names

One Yangzhou Cao branch uses the generation sequence “Jing, Guo, Liang, Dong, Shou, Shi, Yi, Qi, Zi, Mu, Hong, Yun, Zhen, Ru, Ding, Ji,” followed by “De, Yi, Yu, Qing, Xue, Li, Ming, Yang, Xi, Er, Xia, Fu, Chang, Fa, Qi, Xiang.”

Reference: 曹氏族谱字辈、曹姓辈分表与寻根溯源指南-族谱网