Gao Family History

Chinese:: Mandarin form of the surname 高 meaning ‘high’ in Chinese: (i) said to be borne by descendants of Gao Yuan (高元) an official during the reign of the legendary Huang Di the ‘Yellow Emperor’ (c. 27th century BC). (ii) from Gao (高) the name of a fief (located in Yuxian in Henan province) granted to Prince Gao son of the Duke Wen of Qi (the 10th recorded ruler of the state of Qi died 804 BC). (iii) from the second element of the personal name Zi Gao (子高) style name of Prince Qi son of the Duke Hui of Qi (ruler of the state of Qi died 599 BC). (iv) borne by descendants of Yuan Jingan and Yuan Wenyao who were endowed with the surname Gao (高) by Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi (526–559 AD). (v) adopted in place of the surname 徐 by Gao Long (高隆) who inherited his foster father's surname during the Northern Qi dynasty (550–577 AD). (vi) adopted as a surname by the Emperor Mu-Rong Yun (died 409 AD) in the Later Yan dynasty (384–407 AD). (vii) adopted as a surname by some families in the Xianbei and Gaoli (Korean) ethnic groups in northern China. Mandarin form of the surname 郜: from Gao (郜) the name of a state (located in Chengwu in Shandong province) granted to the 11th son of the virtuous King Wen of Zhou (1152–1056 BC). After it was annexed by the state of Song during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC) the name of the state was adopted as a surname. Mandarin form of the surname 皋 meaning ‘marsh’ in Chinese: (i) said to be traced back to Gao Yao (皋陶) the official in charge of penalty during the reign of the legendary Emperor Shun (c. 23rd century BC); (ii) from the first element of the personal name Gao Ru (皋如) an official in the state of Yue during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (iii) from Gao (皋) the name of an ancient tribe or a small state (possibly located in northern China) later annexed by the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022