Current evidence record
Zhào is retained because its written form appears in a modern surname dataset. This confirms the recorded form, not a complete historical lineage.
Zhào Surname
Surname profileZhào / Chao
Surname Profile
Surname TypeSingle-character surname
Verified scopeSurname form and the fields listed below
Surname pronunciationZhào
Wade-GilesChao
Origin / ancestor《山西人口姓氏大全》收載，未詳其源。：据中華古今姓氏大辭典
Distribution山西忻州、山西榆次等
Pending further studyClan hall, Commandery
Population reference and scope
No independently verified current population total is available.
Verified fields
- Surname pronunciation
- Zhào
- Wade-Giles
- Chao
- Origin / ancestor
- 《山西人口姓氏大全》收載，未詳其源。：据中華古今姓氏大辭典
- Distribution
- 山西忻州、山西榆次等
Items still unverified
Clan hall, Commandery remain unverified. Migration routes and generation names also require branch-specific records.
Research boundary
The ordinary meaning or reading of this character must not be used to infer its surname pronunciation or origin. A claim should be added only when a gazetteer, genealogy, inscription, historical surname work or other dated record explicitly names this surname.
References for the recorded name
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Surname attestation references
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