Surname Overview
Three Main Lineages
The Tao surname mainly derives from three lineages: Yiqi, Gui, and Zi.
Tao Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 2,601,340Tao / Tao
Origins
The Yiqi Lineage
The Yiqi lineage descends from Emperor Yao. Yao first lived in Tao and later moved to Tang, giving rise to the name Tao-Tang; its descendants included Tao-Tang and Tao. This lineage had Danyang as its commandery seat and has a history of more than 4,000 years.
Historical Records
Lexical and Oracle-Bone Records
Shuowen Jiezi explains Tao as a raised hill formed again, and records that Tao Hill had Yao City, where Yao once lived, hence Yao's title Tao-Tang. The Tao-Tang lineage also frequently appears in Shang oracle-bone inscriptions.
Commanderies and Clan Halls
Commandery and Hall Names
Danyang is recorded as a commandery seat associated with the Tao surname. Common hall names include Wuliu Hall, Wuben Hall, and Guang'an Hall, found respectively among branches in Runzhou of Zhenjiang, Wujin, and Chongming in Shanghai.
Migration and Distribution
Historical Distribution
Before the Qin period, the Tao surname was mainly active in Shandong and Henan. During the Han and Jin periods it spread to the middle and lower Yangtze region; during the Tang and Song periods it was active in the northwest and west; during the Ming and Qing periods it appeared in Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan.
Genealogy and Generation Names
Genealogies and Generation Poems
Tao genealogies have simple records dating from the Southern Dynasties. Tao Maolin compiled a genealogy during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period; a relatively complete genealogy and set of clan rules formed during the Wanli era of the Ming dynasty, underwent revisions during the Ming and Qing dynasties, and was largely completed during the Guangxu era. Generation poems differ among branches.
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Surname attestation references
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