See the whole storyOrigin of my surname

The surname Ao originates from Tai'ao, the teacher of the ancient Emperor Zhuanxu. It is a surname derived from an ancestor's name. Legend has it that Zhuanxu had a teacher named Tai'ao, also known as Da'ao. Tai'ao's descendants adopted his name as their surname, thus forming the Ao surname.

Originating from the surname Mi, it comes from the title of a deposed ruler of the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period, belonging to the category of surnames derived from ancestral titles. In the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period, rulers who were deposed or killed and thus did not receive a posthumous title were all called "Ao," and their descendants were also known as the Ao clan.

Originating from the Sinicization of Manchus, the surname Ao was adopted. Manchu surnames that were changed to Ao include: Aojia, Eji, Guarjia, Wuxile, as well as those that joined the Manchu ethnic group such as Aola (Daur), Aoledor (Daur), Aldan (Daur), Eno (Daur), and Aolatoxin (Daur).

Originating from the Xuanyuan clan, the surname Ao originated from the fiefdom of the descendants of the Yellow Emperor. It is a surname derived from the name of the state. In the early Western Zhou Dynasty, King Wu of Zhou, Ji Fa, enfeoffed the descendants of the Yellow Emperor in Ao (present-day Xingyang, Henan), establishing the Great Ao State. Later, it was destroyed by the Zheng State, and the descendants of the Ao State adopted the name of their fiefdom as their surname.

The surname originated from the Sinicization of Mongolians. According to historical records such as *Qing Dynasty General History: Clan Records: Mongolian Eight Banners Surnames* and *Qing Dynasty General History: Clan Records: Appendix: Mongolian Eight Banners Surnames*: (1) The Mongolian Ongniud clan originated from the Ongniud tribe of the Zhasak Mongols, taking their tribal name as their surname. They lived for generations in Kharachin (present-day Kharachin Banner, Chifeng, Inner Mongolia). Later, some Manchus adopted it as a surname, pronounced Wengnot Hala in Manchu. Among the Han surnames adopted by them was Ao. (2) The Mongol Usi clan, also known as Wuxin or Wuxile, originated from the Bargut tribe of Mongolia. They lived for generations in Hechemu (present-day Xinbin, Liaoning) and Xilamuleng (present-day Muling, Jidong, and Mishan areas of Heilongjiang). Later, the Manchu people adopted it as a surname. In Manchu, it is Usi Hala, meaning "female otter." The Han surnames they adopted are mostly Ao or Wu. (3) The Mongol Teji clan, also known as Taiji or Tangji, originated from the Borjigin clan, a golden family of Mongolia. They lived for generations in Zhakuta. Later, the Manchu people adopted it as a surname. In Manchu, it is Tegi Hala, meaning "prince" or "descendant." After the mid-Qing Dynasty, most adopted Han surnames such as Ao, Yun, E, and Zhao. (4) The Mongolian Wenggade clan later changed their surname to the single-character Chinese surname Ao. (5) The Mongolian Aolegaonude clan later changed their surname to the single-character Chinese surname Ao. (6) The Mongolian Aotaogetu clan later changed their surname to the single-character Chinese surname Ao.

Originating from the Sinicization of Manchus and the adoption of Han surnames. According to historical records such as *The General History of the Qing Dynasty: Clan Records: Manchu Eight Banners Surnames*: (1) The Manchu Aochen clan, whose Manchu name was Aocen Hala, lived for generations along the banks of the Heilongjiang River and later adopted the Han surname Ao. (2) The Manchu Wegi clan, whose Manchu name was Wegi Hala, meaning "forest," lived for generations in Yehe (present-day Lishu, Jilin), Ula (present-day Yongji, Jilin), Huifa (present-day Huinan, Jilin), Hada (present-day Kaiyuan, Liaoning), and along the Songhua and Heilongjiang Rivers. Many later adopted Han surnames such as Ao, E, Chen, and Huang. (3) The Manchu Aogiya clan, whose Manchu name is Aogiya Hala, originated from Han Chinese ancestors. They were captured by the Liaodong Xianbei Wuhuan tribe at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty and assimilated into the Xianbei. Later, they gradually evolved into Liaodong Jurchens and lived in Macha (now Hunjiang, Jilin) for generations. Later, the Xibe people used it as a surname. After the mid-Qing Dynasty, most of them adopted the Han surname Ao.