Luo Family History

Chinese:: Mandarin form of the surname 羅 meaning ‘net for catching birds’ or ‘to collect’ in Chinese: (i) from Luo (羅) the name of an ancient state (located in present-day Hubei province). After it was annexed by the state of Chu during the early Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC), people from the state migrated southwards and adopted Luo (羅) as their surname. (ii) from the Po Duo Luo (破多羅) and Chi Luo (叱羅) families from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China who changed their original surnames to 羅 during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD). (iii) from the personal name Hu Se Luo (斛瑟羅) leader of an ancient Turkic tribe who are believed to have migrated to China during the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD). His descendants inherited his name Hu Se Luo (斛瑟羅) as their surname and shortened it to 羅 during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD). (iv) from the name of one of the seven families from the Bandun Man, an ethnic group residing in ancient southwestern China (located mainly in present-day Sichuan province).

Mandarin form of the surname 駱 referring to a ‘white horse with a black mane’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from the personal name Luo (駱), style name of a prince in the state of Qi (located mainly in present-day Shandong province). (ii) from the name of Da Luo (大駱), a descendant of an official during the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC). His eldest son Cheng established a state named after his father's name Da Luo (大駱) (location unknown). After it was annexed by a minority ethnic group in northwestern China during the reign of King Li of Zhou (died 828 BC), people from the state adopted Luo (駱) as their surname. (iii) from the personal name Luo (駱), personal name of a royal member in the state of Zheng (located in part of present-day Shaanxi and Henan provinces) during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC).

(iv) from the Tuo Luo Ba family (佗駱拔 also written as 他駱拔 他駱伏 地駱拔) from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China who changed their original surname to 駱 during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD). (v) a surname of the Tuyuhun ethnic group originating in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (907–960 AD).

Mandarin form of the surname 雒 meaning ‘owlet’: (i) said to be traced back to Luo Yao (雒陶), a friend of the legendary Emperor Shun (c. 23rd century BC). (ii) from Luo (雒), the name of an ancient state (possibly located in present-day Henan province) during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (iii) from the first element of Luo Shui (雒水, literally meaning ‘Luo River’), the name of a branch (located in Shaanxi province) of the Yellow River.