nterpretation of the Rao (饶) Surname Totem

【Meaning】

The original meaning of Rao (饶) is "to be full" or "satisfied." It refers to being plump or well-fed. By extension, it signifies the abundance of resources (richness and fertility) and carries the connotation of affluence and sufficiency. The Rao people naturally adopted "abundance" as their clan's original totem of worship and used "Rao" as their clan name and emblem.

【Origins】

1. From the Gui (妫) Surname: This lineage originates from the descendants of Emperor Shun. Shang Jun, the son of Emperor Shun, had a younger son who was enfeoffed in Rao (present-day Raoyang, Hebei). During the Warring States period, it became a city under the State of Qi, where a descendant known as the Lord of Rao (Rao Jun) served the Qi monarch. In the 4th year of King Xiaocheng of Zhao, Rao was annexed by the State of Zhao, and the descendants adopted the state name as their surname.

2. From the Ying (赢) Surname: During the Warring States period, King Daoxiang of Zhao enfeoffed Lord Chang'an in Rao (Raoyang, Hebei). Lord Chang'an belonged to the Ying surname and the Zhao clan. His descendants subsequently adopted the name of their fief, Rao, as their family name.

Historical & Demographic Profile

Category

Details

Founding Ancestors

Son of Shang Jun (Grandson of Emperor Shun), Ying Bu

Ancestral Homeland

Raoyang, Hebei Province

Prefectural Mansions (Junwang)

Linchuan, Raozhou

Hall Names (Tanghao)

Huifeng Hall, Penglai Hall

Modern Ranking / Population

Ranked 181st / Approx. 730,000 people

Song Dynasty Ranking

Ranked 150th in the Hundred Family Surnames

Extant Genealogies

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