Cao Family History

Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 曹 meaning ‘government department’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from the first element of the personal name of Cao An (曹安) the founder of the state of Zhu (located in Zouxian in Shandong province). After the state was annexed by the state of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC) Cao (曹) was adopted as a surname. (ii) from Cao (曹) the name of a state (located in Dingtao in Shandong province) granted to Zhenduo the 13th son of the virtuous King Wen of Zhou (1152–1056 BC). After the state was annexed by the state of Song Cao (曹) was adopted as a surname. (iii) from one of the 'Nine Sogdian Surnames’ also known as ‘nine surnames of Zhaowu’ because their ancestors came from Zhaowu an ancient city in present-day Gansu province in northwestern China. During the Sui and Tang dynasties (581–987 AD) there were nine Sogdian states in Central Asia one of which was called Cao (曹) in Chinese. Between 649 and 655 AD these states submitted to Emperor Gaozong of Tang (628–683 AD). At this time descendants of people from the state of Cao (曹) acquired the surname Cao (曹). Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 操 meaning ‘conduct behavior’ in ancient Chinese: possibly from names of official posts. Vietnamese: from the Chinese surname 高 see Gao Portuguese (Cão) and Galician: equivalent of Spanish Cano .

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