Rao Family History

Italian: from a shortened form of the ancient Germanic personal name Radulfo composed of the elements hrōd ‘fame renown’ + wulf ‘wolf’. Compare the English name Ralph . Indian (southern and western states of India and Orissa): name found in several communities based on Sanskrit rājā ‘king’. The element -rao is freely added to male personal names in certain communities of Maharashtra Goa and Andhra Pradesh. Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 饒 meaning ‘rich abundant’ in Chinese: (i) from Rao (饒) the name of a fief (located in Raoyang in Hebei province) granted to Chang’an Jun (‘Lord of Chang’an’) by King Daoxiang of Zhao (ruler of the state of Zhao died 236 BC) during the late Warring States period (475–221 BC). (ii) from Rao (饒) the name of a fief (located in Qingzhou in Shandong province) granted to an official in the state of Qi during the Warring States period (475–221 BC). (iii) from Rao (饒) the name of an ancient state during the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC). (iv) said to be borne by some descendants of the legendary emperor Yao (c. 24th century BC).

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