Type Surname (from location)
Usage Chinese
Scripts (Chinese) (Traditional Chinese)
Pronounced Pron. CHOW  [key·IPA]

Meaning & History

From Chinese (zhào), which refers to an ancient city-state in what is now Shanxi province. According to legend, King Mu rewarded his chariot driver Zaofu with the city, at which time Zaofu adopted this surname. The later historic state of Zhao, which existed from the 5th to 3rd centuries BC, was named after this city.

This was the surname of Chinese emperors of the Song dynasty.

Related Names

VariantChiu
Other Languages & CulturesCho, Jo(Korean)
User SubmissionZhao

Categories

Entry updated April 25, 2021