Origins
Surname Origins
The Guo surname may have originated from Guo, a high minister of the State of Qi, or from official titles such as Guowei and Guodafu. Some Guo families originated from surname changes among foreign peoples or ethnic minorities; Guo was also one of Baekje's eight major surnames.
Reference: 国姓起源分布与家谱家族
Manchu and Xibe Surname Changes
In the early Qing dynasty, the Manchu Eight Banners surname Guoluo was changed to Guo; among the Xibe, Guoluoluo and Guoluoluo surnames also had members who changed to Guo.
Reference: 国姓起源分布与家谱家族
Historical Records
Recorded Figures
Most Guo-surname figures recorded in historical works were associated with the Shandong area, including Guo Yuan, a Cao Wei official during the Three Kingdoms period, and Guo Yong'an, a Jin-dynasty Grand Councilor and Commander-in-Chief.
Reference: 国姓起源分布与家谱家族
Migration and Distribution
Contemporary Regional Distribution
Among 23Mofang genetic-testing users, Guo-surname users' registered ancestral regions are concentrated mainly in Shandong, Hebei, and Jilin, accounting for 28.4%, 14.9%, and 11.9%, respectively.
Reference: 国姓起源分布与家谱家族
