Name and pronunciation
鳥, written 鸟 in simplified Chinese, is explicitly listed as a surname by Zdic under niǎo. This page uses Niǎo for lookup and retains the existing niao address.
Niao (鳥 / 鸟) Surname
Evidence for the Chinese surname Niao: dictionary attestations, alternative readings, reported locations and limits of genealogical claims.
Records checked: 2026-09-15
Documentary records
Zdic cites the Xiao-rhyme section of Wanxing Tongpu, which attributes the surname to Xingyuan. This is an indirect classical attestation; the original printed editions were not inspected for this page.
Origin traditions
A tradition transmitted through Xingxi and Xingkao links the surname to Niao Ming, a minister of Fuxi. This is an origin tradition, not a demonstrated genealogy connecting all present-day families.
Regional leads
The Hao86 compilation reports Jingxian in Hebei, Datong and Xinzhou in Shanxi, and Hancheng in Shaanxi. These are leads for local research, not a comprehensive census or a basis for a current national ranking.
Readings and distinctions
The secondary compilation also lists diào and differs between the names Niao Ming and Niao Peng. These details require checking against original editions and family usage; they do not justify merging this surname into another.
Research and genealogy notes
This review did not establish a shared ancestor, universal clan hall, commandery or generation-name sequence. Record ancestral locations, dates, genealogy titles, volumes and catalog identifiers before connecting generations.
References
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