Save Type Surname (from nickname) Usage Chinese Scripts 刁(Chinese) Pronounced Pron. /tjɑʊ̯/ [key·simplify] Meaning & History From Chinese 刁 (diāo) referring to the ancient state of Diao, which existed during the Zhou dynasty in what is now Shaanxi province. It was adopted due to being homophonous with the character 雕, which was the actual name of the state.