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Zhao Family History

Zhao Surname Meaning

Chinese:: Mandarin form of the surname 趙 originally meaning ‘walk quickly’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from the placename Zhao (趙) (located in present-day Zhaocheng in Shanxi Province) the name of a fief granted by King Mu of Zhou (reigned 976–922 BC) to Zao Fu a famous charioteer during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC). In 403 BC a descendant of Zao Fu Zhao Ji (趙籍) established the state of Zhao (趙).

(ii) also borne as a surname by members of certain minority ethnic groups in ancient China. (iii) traced back to Zhao Liang (趙梁) an official during the reign of the King Xia Jie (the last king of the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC)).

Mandarin form of the surname 招 meaning ‘beckon gesture’ or ‘attract (bad things)’ in Chinese: (i) from the personal name Zhao (招) style name of the brother of the Duke Ai of Chen (ruler of the state of Chen reigned 568–534 BC) who was exiled to the state of Yue (located in present-day Jiangsu and Zhejiang province) because he assassinated the crown prince Yan Shi son of the Duke Ai of Chen.

(ii) from the second element of the personal name Bu Zhao (步招) personal name of a person who lived in the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC).

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


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Where is the Zhao family from?

You can see how Zhao families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Zhao family name was found in the USA in 1920. In 1920 there were 2 Zhao families living in New Jersey. This was about 50% of all the recorded Zhao's in USA. New Jersey had the highest population of Zhao families in 1920.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Zhao surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What Zhao family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 12 census records available for the last name Zhao. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Zhao census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

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Passenger Lists

There are 130 immigration records available for the last name Zhao. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 1 military records available for the last name Zhao. For the veterans among your Zhao ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Zhao lifespan?

Between 1989 and 2004, in the United States, Zhao life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1992, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Zhao in 1989 was 67, and 65 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Zhao

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Zhao ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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