Gao () is an

East Asia East Asia is the eastern region of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The modern states of East Asia include China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. China, North Korea, South Korea ...

n surname of Chinese origin that can be literally translated as "high" or "tall". There are approximately 16 million living people with this surname. Some places, such as

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northe ...

, usually romanise this family name into "Kao". In

Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delta i ...

, it is romanized to "Ko". In

Macau Macau or Macao (; ; ; ), officially the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (MSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China in the western Pearl River Delta by the South China Sea. With a pop ...

, it is romanized to "Kou". In English, it is romanized to "Kauh". In 2019 it was the 19th most common surname in Mainland China. The

Korean surname A Korean name (Hangul: ; Hanja: ) consists of a family name followed by a given name, as used by the Korean people in both South Korea and North Korea. In the Korean language, ''ireum'' or ''seongmyeong'' usually refers to the family name (''se ...

, " Ko" or "Koh", is derived from and written with the same Chinese character (高).

Romanisation and pronunciation

Origin

According to ''

Lüshi Chunqiu The ''Lüshi Chunqiu'', also known in English as ''Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals'', is an encyclopedic Chinese classic text compiled around 239 BC under the patronage of the Qin Dynasty Chancellor Lü Buwei. In the evaluation of Mic ...

'', the earliest figure with the Gao surname was Gao Yuan (高元) who created dwellings in antiquity.

Zhuanxu Zhuanxu ( Chinese: trad. , simp. , pinyin ''Zhuānxū''), also known as Gaoyang ( t , s , p ''Gāoyáng''), was a mythological emperor of ancient China. In the traditional account recorded by Sima Qian, ...

, the grandson of the Yellow Emperor, was also known as Gao Yang (高陽). Another origin of Gao is the

Jiang Jiang may refer to: * ''Jiang'' (rank), rank held by general officers in the military of China *Jiang (surname), several Chinese surnames **Jiang Zemin (1926–2022), as general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party *Jiang River, an ancient riv ...

(姜) surname. According to the

Song dynasty The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the res ...

encyclopedia '' Tongzhi'', an early ancestor was Gao Xi (高傒) who was granted the surname Gao in honour of his grandfather Prince Gao (公子高). Prince Gao was the son of Duke Wen of the

state of Qi Qi, or Ch'i in Wade–Giles romanization, was a state of the Zhou dynasty-era in ancient China, variously reckoned as a march, duchy, and independent kingdom. Its capital was Linzi, located in present-day Shandong. Qi was founded short ...

whose ancestral name was Jiang (姜). Many non-Han Chinese used the surname Gao: * The

Xianbei The Xianbei (; ) were a Proto-Mongolic ancient nomadic people that once resided in the eastern Eurasian steppes in what is today Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Northeastern China. They originated from the Donghu people who splintered into t ...

clan of Lou (楼) of the Northern Wei period later changed their surname to Gao. The Yuan (元) family also adopted this surname in this period * Xú (徐) family of the

Northern Qi Qi, known as the Northern Qi (), Later Qi (後齊) or Gao Qi (高齊) in historiography, was a Chinese imperial dynasty and one of the Northern dynasties during the Northern and Southern dynasties era. It ruled the eastern part of northern China ...

period * Baipu (百濮) people of

Yunnan Yunnan , () is a landlocked province in the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 48.3 million (as of 2018). The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders the ...

(雲南) *According to ''

Samguk Sagi ''Samguk Sagi'' (, ''History of the Three Kingdoms'') is a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of Korea: Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla. The ''Samguk Sagi'' is written in Classical Chinese, the written language of the literati of ancient Kore ...

'', the king of Goguryeo regarded himself as a descendant of Chinese heroes because he called his surname "Go" (

Hanja Hanja (Hangul: ; Hanja: , ), alternatively known as Hancha, are Chinese characters () used in the writing of Korean. Hanja was used as early as the Gojoseon period, the first ever Korean kingdom. (, ) refers to Sino-Korean vocabulary, ...

: 高) as he was the descendant of Gao Yang (

: 高陽) who was a grandchild of the

Yellow Emperor The Yellow Emperor, also known as the Yellow Thearch or by his Chinese name Huangdi (), is a deity ('' shen'') in Chinese religion, one of the legendary Chinese sovereigns and culture heroes included among the mytho-historical Three Sovereig ...

and Gaoxin (

: 高辛) who was a great-grandchild of

. However, this is discredited as a mythology by

Kim Busik Kim Bu-sik, or Gim Busik (; 1075–1151) was a statesman, general, Confucian scholar and writer during Korea's Goryeo period. He was a scion of the Silla royalty and a member of the Gyeongju Kim clan. Later he was the supreme chancellor from 1136 ...

, who mentioned that the surname Ko in Korea is from

Buyeo Buyeo or Puyŏ ( Korean: 부여; Korean pronunciation: u.jʌ or 扶餘 ''Fúyú''), also rendered as Fuyu, was an ancient kingdom that was centered in northern Manchuria in modern-day northeast China. It is sometimes considered a Korean ...

origin.

Notable people

Historical

* Gao Yang Founding Emperor of

* Gao Yin Second emperor of Northern Qi * Gao Yan Third emperor of Northern Qi * Gao Zhan Fourth emperor of Northern Qi *

Gao Wei Gao Wei (高緯) (29 May 556 – November 577According to volume 10 of ''History of the Northern Dynasties'', Gao Wei was killed in the 10th month of the 6th year of the ''Jiande'' era of Yuwen Yong's reign. This corresponds to 28 Oct to 25 Nov ...

Fifth emperor of Northern Qi * Gao Heng Sixth emperor of Northern Qi * Gao Yun (Northern Yan), Founding emperor of the Northern Yan Dynasty *

Gao Cheng Gao Cheng (; 521–549), courtesy name Zihui (子惠), formally Prince Wenxiang of Bohai (勃海文襄王), later further posthumously honored by Northern Qi as Emperor Wenxiang (文襄皇帝) with the temple name Shizong (世宗), was the paramou ...

paramount official of the Chinese/Xianbei state Eastern Wei *

Gao Anagong Gao Anagong (高阿那肱) (died November 18, 580Academia Sinicabr>Chinese-Western Calendar Converter.''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 174.) was a Xianbei official of the Chinese Northern Qi dynasty. He was a close associate of the emperor Gao Wei, and la ...

official of the Northern Qi *

Gao Huan Gao Huan () (496 – 13 February 547), Xianbei name Heliuhun (賀六渾), formally Prince Xianwu of Qi (齊獻武王), later further formally honored by Northern Qi initially as Emperor Xianwu (獻武皇帝), then as Emperor Shenwu (神武皇帝 ...

paramount general of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Wei and Northern Wei's branch successor state Eastern Wei. * Gao Shaoyi imperial prince of the Chinese dynasty Northern Qi * Gao Yanzong imperial prince of the Chinese dynasty Northern Qi *

Gao Shilian Gao Jian (576 – February 14, 647), courtesy name Shilian, better known as Gao Shilian, formally Duke Wenxian of Shen (申文獻公), was a Chinese politician of the Tang dynasty. He was the uncle of Empress Zhangsun, Emperor Taizong's wife, an ...

, chancellor during the

Tang Dynasty The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, t= ), or Tang Empire, was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907 AD, with an interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdo ...

Gao Shun Gao Shun () (died 7 February 199) was a military officer serving the warlord Lü Bu during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. Although he only had 700 men under his command, his unit was nicknamed as the "camp crusher (or formation breaker ...

, Military General under Warlord

Lü Bu Lü Bu () (died 7 February 199), courtesy name Fengxian, was a Chinese military general, politician, and warlord who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of Imperial China. Originally a subordinate of a minor warlord Ding Yuan, he betray ...

during the late Han Dynasty *

Gao Jiong Gāo Jiǒng () (died August 27, 607), courtesy name Zhaoxuan (昭玄), alternative name Min (敏))) known during the Northern Zhou period by the Xianbei name Dugu Jiong (独孤颎/獨孤熲), was a Chinese military general and politician of the C ...

, official during the Sui Dynasty * Gao Yun (Northern Wei), official during the Northern Wei Dynasty *

Gao Xianzhi Gao Xianzhi, or Go Seonji, (died January 24, 756) was a Tang dynasty general of Goguryeo descent. He was known as a great commander during his lifetime. He is most well known for taking part in multiple military expeditions to conquer the Western ...

, general during the

of Korean descent * Gao Qiong, general during the

Northern Song Dynasty Northern may refer to the following: Geography * North, a point in direction * Northern Europe, the northern part or region of Europe * Northern Highland, a region of Wisconsin, United States * Northern Province, Sri Lanka * Northern Range, a ...

* Gao, guitarist

Modern

* Alice Longyu Gao, Chinese musician * Gao Chengyong (1964–2019), Chinese serial killer * Gao Dena, Donald Knuth, American computer scientist *

Gao Gang Gao Gang (; 1905 – August 1954) was a Communist Party of China (CPC) leader during the Chinese Civil War and the early years of the People's Republic of China (PRC), before becoming the victim of the first major purge within the CPC since befo ...

, a Chinese Communist leader * Gao Hanyu (also known as Kido, born 1989), Chinese actor and singer * Gao Hong, pipa player and composer * Gao Jianli, a Zhu player and friend of Jing Ke *

Gao Jixing Gao Jixing (高季興) (858 – January 28, 929), né Gao Jichang (高季昌), known for some time as Zhu Jichang (朱季昌), courtesy name Yisun (貽孫), formally Prince Wuxin of Chu (楚武信王), was the founder of Jingnan, also known as Nan ...

, a king of

Jingnan Jingnan (), also known as Nanping (南平; alternatively written as Southern Ping) and Northern Chu () in historiography, was one of the Ten Kingdoms in south-central China created in 924, marking the beginning of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kin ...

* Gao Jun, Chinese-American table tennis player * Gao Lei (born 1992), Chinese Olympic individual trampoline gymnast * Gao Lin, Chinese professional footballer * Gao Ling, Chinese badminton player * Gao Min (cyclist), Chinese cyclist * Gao Min (diver), Chinese diver * Gao Qiu, character from

Shui Hu Zhuan ''Water Margin'' (''Shuihu zhuan'') is one of the earliest Chinese novels written in vernacular Mandarin, and is attributed to Shi Nai'an. It is also translated as ''Outlaws of the Marsh'' and ''All Men Are Brothers''. The story, which is ...

* Gao Shuying, Chinese pole vaulter * Gao Song, Chinese figure skater *

Gao Weiguang Gao Wei Guang (, born 16 January 1983) is a Chinese actor and supermodel. He is known for his lead roles in hit dramas ''Candle In The Tomb: The Wrath Of Time'', ''Eternal Love Of Dream'', etc. Career 2006–2013: Modeling career Gao debut ...

(born 1983), Chinese actor and model * Gao Xie, calligraphist, painter, poet, writer, book collector *

Gao Xingjian Gao Xingjian (高行健 in Chinese - born January 4, 1940) is a Chinese émigré and later French naturalized novelist, playwright, critic, painter, photographer, film director, and translator who in 2000 was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature " ...

, 2000

Nobel Prize in Literature ) , image = Nobel Prize.png , caption = , awarded_for = Outstanding contributions in literature , presenter = Swedish Academy , holder = Annie Ernaux (2022) , location = Stockholm, Sweden , year = 1901 ...

* Gao Xiumin (actress) (1959–2005), Chinese comedy actress * Gao Xiumin (handballer) (born 1963), former female Chinese handball player * Gao Xu, poet, writer, publisher, revolutionary *

Gao Yang (shot putter) Gao Yang (born 1 March 1993) is a Chinese athlete specialising in the shot put The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" (throwing) a heavy spherical ball—the ''shot''—as far as possible. The shot put competition for men h ...

(born 1993), Chinese shot putter * Gao Yihan, intellectual * Gao Yisheng, creator of the Gao style of the Chinese Internal Martial Art of Baguazhang *

Gao Youxin Gao , or Gawgaw/Kawkaw, is a city in Mali and the capital of the Gao Region. The city is located on the River Niger, east-southeast of Timbuktu on the left bank at the junction with the Tilemsi valley. For much of its history Gao was an impor ...

(1916-1948), ace-fighter pilot of the Chinese Air Force during the War of Resistance/World War II *

Gao Yuanyuan Gao Yuanyuan (, born 5 October 1979) is a Chinese actress and model. She ranked 64th on ''Forbes'' China Celebrity 100 list in 2013, 40th in 2014, 76th in 2015, and 86th in 2017. Career Gao Yuanyuan was born in Beijing and graduated from China In ...

(born 1979), Chinese actress and model *

Gao Zhihang Gao Zhihang (; 14 May 1907 – 21 November 1937) was a flying ace of the Republic of China in the Second Sino-Japanese War. On August 14, 1937, the 4th Air Force Group commanded by Gao shot down six Japanese planes over Jianqiao, while sufferin ...

(1906-1937), ace-fighter pilot of the Chinese Air Force during the War of Resistance/World War II *

Gao Zhisheng Gao Zhisheng (born 20 April 1964) is a Chinese human rights attorney and dissident known for defending activists and religious minorities and documenting human rights abuses in China. Because of his work, Zhisheng has been disbarred and det ...

, activist * Gao Zhunyi (born 1995), Chinese footballer of Korean descent * Gao Jianing, also known as J.G. Ex-member of South Korean boy group, Cross Gene, a contestant of

Produce Camp 2019 Produce Camp 2019 (), or alternatively known as CHUANG 2019, is a Chinese male group reality television show premiered on Tencent Video on April 6, 2019 as the second season of ''Produce 101 China Produce 101 () was a Chinese reality show, ...

* Judy Gao (born 1994), New Zealand fashion designer and chess player * Curley Gao, also known as Xilinnayi Gao. Singer-songwriter, center of BonBon Girls 303, a debuted girl group of Produce Camp 2020

Kao

* Charles K. Kao (1933–2018), inventor of data transmission using optical fibre, was awarded half of the 2009

Nobel Prize in Physics ) , image = Nobel Prize.png , alt = A golden medallion with an embossed image of a bearded man facing left in profile. To the left of the man is the text "ALFR•" then "NOBEL", and on the right, the text (smaller) "NAT•" then " ...

* Jack Kao, Taiwanese actor * Kao Ming-huey, International Commissioner of the

Boy Scouts of China The Scouts of China or the General Association of the Scouts of China in full, is the national Scouting association of the Republic of China and represents the Scouting organization in Taiwan. It is a member of the World Organization of the Sc ...

Kao Yang-sheng Kao Yang-sheng (; born 11 July 1952) is a Taiwanese politician. Early life Kao obtained his bachelor's degree in philosophy from Fu Jen Catholic University. Political career Kao sat in the Legislative Yuan from 1996 to 2002, representing the ...

, former Political Deputy Minister of Council of Indigenous Peoples of the

Republic of China Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northea ...

Min Kao Min or MIN may refer to: Places * Fujian, also called Mǐn, a province of China ** Min Kingdom (909–945), a state in Fujian * Min County, a county of Dingxi, Gansu province, China * Min River (Fujian) * Min River (Sichuan) * Mineola (Amt ...

* Nicholas Kao Se Tseien (1897–2007), Catholic priest, supercentenarian * Ping-Tse Kao (1888–1970), Taiwanese astronomer

Kō

* Kō no Moronao * Kō no Moroyasu * Kō no Morofuyu

Cao

Joseph Cao Ánh Quang "Joseph" Cao (, ; vi, Cao Quang Ánh; born March 13, 1967) is a Vietnamese–American politician who was the U.S. representative for from 2009 to 2011. A member of the Republican Party, he is the first Vietnamese American and first ...

References

External links

胶州高姓来源及分布
{{Authority control Chinese-language surnames Individual Chinese surnames