Last Name Jiau

The surname Jiau (also spelled as Kiou or Kio) is of Chinese origin. It belongs to the Hakka ethnic group, one of the major Han Chinese subgroups. The Hakkas have a rich history and were originally from northern China but migrated southward over centuries due to agricultural expansion and political reasons. Surnames like Jiau were often passed down from generation to generation, serving as a means of identification within this large community. Like many Chinese surnames, the origin of Jiau is associated with folklore and mythology rather than historical records. However, without specific context or additional information, it's challenging to provide a more detailed explanation about its individual origins.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Jiau

The meaning and origin of the last name Jiau

The surname Jiau is primarily of Chinese origin, specifically from the Cantonese-speaking regions. It is written as 裘 or 姬 in traditional Chinese characters and 除 or 蒋 in simplified Chinese characters. The name translates to "ruler" or "king," indicating a historical significance for families bearing this surname, often associated with nobility or high social status.

The Jiau clan can be traced back to the Xia Dynasty (21st century – 16th century BCE), one of the earliest dynasties in Chinese history. The name is also associated with prominent figures such as Jia Yi, a famous scholar and poet from the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE).

Over time, variations in written characters and dialects have led to different pronunciations of the surname in various regions. For instance, it is pronounced "Zhou" in Mandarin, "Jao" in Taiwanese Hokkien, and "Yew" in Cantonese. Despite these differences, the name Jiau remains a common Chinese surname with a rich historical background.

Geographical distribution of the last name Jiau

The surname Jiau is predominantly found in East and Southeast Asia, specifically among the Chinese population. More specifically, it is most commonly traced to the province of Fujian in China, where it is one of the many Hokkien or Minnan surnames. However, significant populations of people with the surname Jiau can also be found in Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, reflecting the diaspora of Chinese communities over centuries. The Jiau surname, like many Asian surnames, is often written differently depending on the language or region, such as Gao, Kaou, or Kio, making it challenging to pinpoint exact distributions without a standardized spelling.

Variants and spellings of the last name Jiau

The surname Jiau (also spelled as Chiow, Chiu, Zhao, Zhou, or Ju) originates from China and is common among Chinese speakers. Some variations may include Jiou, Chiao, and Zhuo, which are phonetic spellings in other languages. In different romanization systems, the same Chinese characters can be written as Jiau, Chiow, Chiu, Zhao, or Zhou. Additionally, it is important to note that Chinese names are traditionally written with the family name first followed by the given name, so a person named Jiau might also be referred to as Xiao Jiau (meaning "Little Jiau") if 'Xiao' is their given name. However, the exact spelling may vary depending on the individual or family's preference and the specific romanization system used.

Famous people with the last name Jiau

Notable individuals sharing the surname Jiau include:

1. Jia Yueting – A Chinese entrepreneur and founder of numerous companies, such as LeTV and Faraday Future, who is often referred to as China's Elon Musk due to his ventures in clean technology and electric vehicles.

2. Jia Qingguo - A renowned professor, political scientist, and former diplomat from the People's Republic of China. He has served as a Special Advisor on Asia Pacific to the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

3. Jia Zhangke – An acclaimed Chinese film director, producer, and screenwriter who is considered one of the leading figures of the Sixth Generation of Chinese filmmakers. His films often explore social change in contemporary China.

4. Jia Wenjun – A Chinese-born Canadian composer, pianist, and educator known for his work in both Western classical music and Chinese traditional music. He has received numerous awards and recognition for his compositions.

Genealogical research on the last name Jiau

The Jiau surname originates from China and is a variant of the more common Jiang or Zhang surnames. It is one of the oldest and most widely distributed surnames in China, with over 34 million bearers worldwide according to the Hundred Family Surnames genealogical research. The name Jiau comes from the ancient Chinese character "芥" which originally meant 'mallow', a type of plant. Over time, it is believed that this character evolved into the character for 'to increase' or 'to grow', reflecting the aspirations and ambitions of those who bore the surname. Notable individuals with the Jiau surname include Jia Yueting, founder of the electric vehicle company Future Mobility Corporation, and Zhang Jia Du, a renowned ancient Chinese poet. The Jiau clan has been documented in various historical records dating back to the Han Dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE).

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "Jiau"
• Global distribution of the surname on Forebears.io
• Wikipedia Article

About the author :

NomOrigine Team
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
Last updated : 12 June 2025

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