Surname Overview
Pronunciation and Status
The surname Liao is pronounced Liáo and is currently relatively rare.
Liáo Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 9Liáo / Liao
Origins
Origin Tradition
One origin tradition holds that the surname came from the ancient state of Liao and was descended from its ruler Shuan.
Historical Records
Documentary Attestation
The surname is recorded in the Xutongzhi, in the section on clans and surnames.
Migration and Distribution
Distribution
The surname is found in Songjiang in Shanghai, Qingyuan in Liaoning, Yutai in Shandong, Yuncheng in Shanxi, Yiyang in Hunan, Yifeng in Jiangxi, and Hejiang in Sichuan.
Notable People
Historical Figures
In the Ming dynasty, Liao Gui served as magistrate of Yongchun County, and Liao Han was a Hongzhi-period successful examination candidate.
Research Notes
Limit of Origin Evidence
The relevant record also states that although the Xutongzhi records the surname, its origin is not detailed there.
Continue your family research
Start with ancestral counties, villages, personal names and dates. Record genealogy titles, volumes, editions and catalog identifiers. A shared surname does not prove a shared lineage; compare branch records.
Surname attestation references
These catalogs or datasets attest written names, not every origin or lineage claim on this page.
This page includes automatically organized material. Check the references and original family documents.
Add or correct information
Submit the information and a reference link for possible inclusion on this page.