Yao / Yao
The Yao surname is pronounced yáo and is relatively uncommon today. It is found in Chenghai and Gaoyao in Guangdong, Hejiang in Sichuan, Shanghang and Qingliu in Fujian, Guichi in Anhui, Jingxian in Hebei, Taiyuan in Shanxi, and Yongdeng and Huixian in Gansu; it occurs among the Han and Tujia peoples.
One account traces the surname to the descendants of the ancient Emperor Yao: Yao was the younger son of Emperor Ku, surnamed Yiqi, named Fangxun, and styled Taotang; later descendants took his posthumous title as their surname. The surname is also found among Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Mongolians.
The Yao surname is recorded in the Clan Records sections of the Zheng Tongzhi and Xu Tongzhi. Zheng Qiao notes that it descended from Emperor Yao and was adopted by a collateral descendant, with prominence in Hejian and Shangdang.
The commanderies of prominence are Hejian and Shangdang, with independent hall names including Qingjian. Hejian roughly corresponded to the Hejian area of central Hebei, while Shangdang broadly covered southeastern Shanxi.
Tang Yao originally lived around present-day Tang County in Hebei, later moved to Taiyuan, and after becoming the leader of a tribal confederation moved again to the Linfen area of Shanxi. The Yao surname later had its commanderies of prominence at Hejian and Shangdang.
In the Northern Wei, Yao Xuan rose to Grand Agricultural Minister; the Northern Qi had Yao Jie and Yao Fen; the Eastern Wei had Yao Xiong; and the Sui had Yao Jun su, who served as Protector of Hedong.
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