Explanation of the Zhao Clan Totem

Meaning

Zhao (赵) carries the meaning of swift movement or leaping forward.

Origin

The earliest branch of the Zhao surname traces back to Zhao Liang, a minister of Xia Jie (whose capital was Zhenxun, located southwest of present‑day Gongyi, Henan).

Among the Dongyi tribes, the leader Bo Yi was granted the surname Ying (嬴) by Emperor Shun. His ninth‑generation descendant Zaofu (造父) obtained eight fine horses in the Taolin region (modern Lingbao, Henan). After training them well, he presented them to King Mu of Zhou.

King Mu once traveled west as far as Kunlun Hill. During this time, news arrived that King Yan of Xu (in today’s Sihong County, Jiangsu) had rebelled. At this critical moment, Zaofu drove the king’s chariot at extraordinary speed—said to cover a thousand li in a single day—allowing King Mu to return swiftly to Haojing and launch a timely campaign that defeated the rebellion.

Because of Zaofu’s great merit, King Mu rewarded him with Zhao City (north of present‑day Hongtong County, Shanxi). From then on, Zaofu’s descendants adopted Zhao as their clan name.

Ancestral Founder of the Surname

Zaofu (造父)

Ancestral Homelands

• Hongtong, Shanxi

• Gongyi, Henan

Prominent Clans / Halls

• Tianshui, Yingchuan

• Tianshui Hall, Banbu Hall

Modern Ranking / Population

• 9th most common surname in China

• Approximately 26.7 million people

Ranking in the Song Dynasty’s Hundred Family Surnames

• 1st

Existing Genealogies

• 590 volumes preserved today