Surname Dao - Meaning and Origin
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Dao: What does the surname Dao mean?
The last name Dao is of Chinese origin and is a popular family name among Chinese descendants. It is believed that the Dao family name can be traced back to the Shang Dynasty, which began in 1766 BC.
The meaning of the surname ‘Dao’ is “path, way and method”. The origin of the name relates to the concept of ‘Dao’ found in Chinese philosophy, which is referred to as the ‘way’ or ‘law’ of the universe that governs the order of the cosmos. It is also believed to be the path one must take in life.
In addition to the philosophical foundation of the name, it has many cultural meanings. It is believed that people who carry the surname Dao are diligent, hardworking and persevering. They are said to be thoughtful and of good moral character.
Having a strong family name like Dao is often a great source of pride for the descendants. Although Dao is a common Chinese surname, it is associated with values, tradition and strength. It is also thought of as a way for the ancestors to continue to protect, guide and bless future generations.
Order DNA origin analysisDao: Where does the name Dao come from?
The last name Dao (or Tao) is a Chinese surname found throughout the Chinese diaspora, especially in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia. It is also occasionally encountered in other areas, such as Australia, the United States, and Canada.
Dao is an extremely common surname, second only to Li in terms of frequency. Japan also has a high rate of this surname due to its close relations with Chinese civilization.
As a name in East Asia, Dao is derived from the Chinese character 道, referring to a path or pathway. In Chinese, it is written as 道 or 陶, while in Japanese it is usually written as 道 or 陶.
Most of the people who bear the surname Dao are descendants of the Chinese Han ethnic group. In the past, the Chinese people had customarily given the surname Dao to people who had a strong sense of righteousness and integrity, or who had made noteworthy contributions. Thus, the Dao surname provided a mark of distinction and large families would be proud to carry the name.
The majority of those who bear the name Dao today are likely very distant relatives who share a common ancestor. However, the last name is still found in many places around the world. It is popular in its native China, and can also be found in many places and cultures globally as a result of immigration.
Variations of the surname Dao
The surname Dao is a Chinese given name originating from the Zhou Dynasty around 1500–1000 BC. Its origin lies with the ancient states of the kingdom of Shang and Zhou in northern China. In Mandarin Chinese, the surname Dao can be spelled as either Dáo, Dǎo, Dào, or Dao4 depending on the tone and dialect when spoken and written.
However, Dao is by no means restricted in its spelling. In Chinese culture, there may be numerous ways that a given surname or surname spelling can be presented. For instance, the surname Dao can also be expressed as Tào, Táo, Tǎo, Tó, Tiáo, or Tiáo4, and Dai, Daiwáng, Daowáng, Deo, Diǎo, Diao, Tiao, Teo, Tio, Teow, Tew, Teaw, Dew, Do, Dow, Dau, Toh, Tëo, and Tāo, to name a few.
Additionally, while Dao is viewed as a Chinese given name, with the diaspora of the Chinese people, the surname has also been adopted by people of other ethnic and linguistic backgrounds. As such, variants on the surname's spelling, like Dee, Thieu, Boa, Diayo, Tieu, Deyo, Dayaw, Tiau, and Thayaw, are cognate versions of the original Dao surname that are found in spelling differences that have occurred across different cultural contexts.
Overall, the surname Dao has been in use since antiquity and continues to be found in a multitude of linguistic and cultural contexts. Thanks to the diaspora of the Chinese people and the subsequent adoption of the original surname by people from other language backgrounds, multiple variants and surnames of the same origin have emerged.
Famous people with the name Dao
- David Dao: Dr. David Dao was an American physician who became a household name after he was violently removed from a United Airlines flight in 2017.
- Diem Dao: Diem Dao is a social media influencer, event promoter, and model based in NYC.
- Nam Dao: Nam Dao is a Vietnamese-French actress, a César Award and Molière Award-winning theater actress, and the star of the stage adaptation of "La Vie de Château".
- Ching-Yun Dao: Ching-Yun Dao is a Taiwanese-American classical pianist, composer, arranger, and recording artist.
- Thuy Dao: Thuy Dao is a fashion designer and co-founder of the multi-label store, “DAO”, based in Shanghai, China.
- Khoa Dao: Khoa Dao is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
- Dang Dai Dao: Dang Dai Dao is a well-known Vietnamese singer who is part of the boyband H5N1.
- Maxime Dao: Maxime Dao is a French-Vietnamese actor, theatre director, and playwright.
- Dam Dao: Dam Dao is a Vietnamese female singer, songwriter, and composer.
- Philippe Dao: Philippe Dao is an American sports photographer and co-founder of Puka Sports, a company that helps amateur athletes prepare for college recruitment.