There are three main sources of Yao's surname:

1. He is a descendant of Shun, one of the five emperors, and comes from Gui's surname. Shun belonged to a clan that lived in a dangerous place, so he was called Yu Shun in history. Later, Yao accepted the recommendation of Siyue and decided that Shun would succeed him as the leader and give him his two daughters as wives. According to Yao Dian, during Shun's reign, he ordered Hou Ji to sow Zhong Zhi Bai Gu according to the envoys. Digging ditches and canals to build water conservancy projects; Dredge rivers and control floods; Announce the five punishments and eliminate the four fierce families. Shun knows that people are good at their duties. According to their different talents, he lets them hold different official positions, such as appointing Yu as Sikong, who is in charge of water and soil; Appointed and abandoned as Hou Ji, in charge of agriculture; Appoint the deed as Stuart, in charge of the five religions; Hao Tao was appointed to administer the five punishments and so on. Therefore, during the reign of Shun, there was a good situation of political integrity and harmony in ancient times. The Historical Records commented on this: "The world is famous, all from the beginning of Emperor Yu."

According to legend, Shun was born in Yao Ruins, and his descendants took the land as their surname, which was called Yao's, Zheng Qiao's "Tongzhi?" "The Clan Brief" records: "Yao's surname is also Yu's surname, and Yu Di was born in Yao Ruins, so he thought it was his surname by birth". As for the exact location of Yao Ruins, there are two opinions at present. One is that it is located in the south of Fan County, Henan Province, and Zhang Shoujie's "Historical Records Justice" in the Tang Dynasty quoted the record of "Kuozhizhi": "Yao Ruins are in the east of Leize County, pu zhou." Another way of saying it is located in the northeast of Heze County, Shandong Province.

In addition, according to Zheng Qiao, Shun's surname is Gui because he lives in Guishui, so it can be inferred that Shun's surname is Gui, so Yao's surname also comes from Gui's surname.

2, from the son's surname. According to History of the Road, in the Spring and Autumn Period, Yao was a descendant of the Shang family (the surname of the Shang family was Zi), so they took the country as their surname and called it Yao.

3. Other ethnic groups were changed to Yao surname. According to relevant historical records, Yao Yizhong, the leader of Qiang nationality in the Western Jin Dynasty, was originally a descendant of the Shaodang family of Western Qiang in the Han Dynasty. They claimed to be descendants of Emperor Shun, so they changed their surname to Yao. The Book of Jin records: "Yao Yizhong Nan 'an (where he is now in the southeast of Longxi County, Gansu Province) and Chiting (in the west of Longxi County) are Qiang people. First, there was a descendant of Yu, and Yu named Shun's youngest son in Xirong, and the world was a Qiang chieftain. After that, it burned between Taohan and Taohan. "

from its birth to the Spring and Autumn Period, Yao's surname mainly developed in Henan. Before the Jin Dynasty, Yao's surname had developed to Shanxi, Guangxi, Sichuan and other places. In 384 A.D., the surname Yao established the post-Qin regime, and Yao grew stronger with the addition of this surname Yao from Longxi, Gansu. After the demise of the post-Qin regime, according to the Book of Jin, Emperor Wu of Song moved Yao's surname "Yu Zong to the south of the Yangtze River." Therefore, many Yao surnames in Jiangnan are descendants of this Yao surname. After that, Yao's surname multiplied faster and spread more widely. Before the Tang Dynasty, it had become a prominent family in Zhejiang, Xing Wu and Longzhou, Gansu. Later, a Yao family in Xing Wu moved to Shaanxi County. After the Tang Dynasty, Yao's reproduction was more extensive and spread all over the country. In the Tang Dynasty, Yao entered Fujian for the first time. According to historical records, when Chen Yuanguang entered Fujian to open Zhangzhou, Yao was among his entourage. Among them, in the fourth year of Tang Wude (AD 621), Yao Zhou was specially established because of the largest number of Yao surnames in Yao 'an, Dayao and other counties in Yunnan. In the Song Dynasty, Yao's surname developed to Guangdong. In the early Ming Dynasty, Yao Wuding, Yao Wukuan and Yao Wu Guan, from Putian, Fujian Province, originally from Guangxi, entered Hainan and became the ancestor of Yao's surname in Qiong. One of Jiangxi Yao family names also moved to Menghua (now Weishan County, Yunnan Province) in this period. In 2111, a genealogy of Yao family was found in Weishan Yi and Hui Autonomous County, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, which was inscribed by Ouyang Xiu, a famous writer and historian in the Northern Song Dynasty. The inscription was "In 1911, the fourth year of Xining, the bachelor of literature now specially entered the book of Prince Shao Shi of Shangzhu and Ouyang Xiu, a layman of June 1". The square figure of seal characters of "Liuyi Jushi" is stamped on the back of the calligraphy. As can be seen from the genealogy and preface, the Yao surname of Weishan was originally from Jiangxi, and their ancestors became prominent families in the Tang and Song Dynasties. The twenty-fourth ancestors of this Yao surname, Ke Ming and Ke Cheng, entered Yunnan with the Ming army and became naturalized (now Weishan County). Ouyang Xiu's original work should have been brought to Yunnan in the early Ming Dynasty and become an ancestral treasure of the Yao surname family of Weishan. In Qing Dynasty, Yao entered Taiwan Province and began to spread abroad.

Yao's surname developed southward and northward to Inner Mongolia, Liaoning and other places. In the long river of historical development, Yao's people are famous in large numbers and have made indelible contributions to the development of the Chinese nation. This can be seen from the couplets of people with Guan Yao's surname in past dynasties. For example, "The father and son became twin brothers, and the number was two Yao". The first part of the report said that Yao Cha, a regular attendant in the Sui Dynasty, was ordered to compile two history books, Chen and Liang, which were not completed until his death. His son inherited his father's wishes and completed the second history. The second couplet refers to Lin Yao, the commander of the Song Dynasty, whose word is Jun Rui, who built a strong army and set up a military force. He does not boast of his meritorious service, runs the army strictly, and his subordinate soldiers are willing to work for him. Both brothers later made great contributions and were called "Er Yao". "Jue Feng Liang Guowen attaches great importance to Tongcheng", the first part of which refers to Yao Chong, a famous politician in the Tang Dynasty. He and his family have made great achievements in politics. Yao Chong was the official prime minister, and served as the prime minister of Wu Zetian and Xuanzong Dynasty. He was clean and won great popularity. In the early years of Kaiyuan, he was named Liang Guo. The second couplet refers to Yao Nai, an essayist in Qing Dynasty, whose name is Ji Chuan, a native of Tongcheng. Jinshi in Qianlong period. Participated in the compilation of Sikuquanshu. He has presided over academies in Jiangning and Yangzhou for forty years. Yao Nai's ancient prose and Fang Bao are the representatives of Tongcheng School. He is the author of A Compilation of Ancient Literary Words, A Collection of Collected Works of Xi Bao Xuan, Zhu Ji and so on. In addition, when it comes to Yao's surname, wintersweet and Yao Huang peony can't be ignored. Chimonanthus praecox in Yanling County is the most famous in China. Every family in Yaojia Village in the west of the county has planted Chimonanthus praecox everywhere, and has always enjoyed the reputation of "Yaojia Huangmei is the best in the world". Yao Huang, a famous peony flower, is an ancient variety. It is said that it originated from the courtyard of Yao in the Song Dynasty and is known as the King of Flowers.

A famous person in the history of Yao surname

1 Yao Fan: Tongcheng, a famous writer in Qing Dynasty, was a scholar of Qianlong, who was the editor of Sanli Hall. His studies were thorough and comprehensive.

2 Yao Nai: Yao Fan's nephew, together with Fang Bao and Liu Dahuai, founded Tongcheng School, an important school of prose in the Qing Dynasty. He once participated in the compilation of Sikuquanshu in the Qing Dynasty, and his research focused on classics, as well as Confucianism, history and poetry, but his main achievements were in prose.

3 Yao Wentian: a scholar of Qing Dynasty. The word Qiu Nong, Zhejiang Guian people, Jiaqing Jinshi, the official ceremony department is still a book. Scholarship of Song Confucianism, but also learn from Sinology.

4 Yao Guangxiao, a native of Changzhou, Suzhou in the Ming Dynasty, was a trusted confidant of the Prince of Yan at first. After Zhu Li seized the throne, he worshipped Taizi Shao Shi. He has participated in the grand work of compiling Records of Taizu and Yongle Dadian.

5 Yao's eldest son was born in Huiji, Zhejiang Province in the Ming Dynasty. In the thirty-fourth year of Jiajing, the Japanese invaders entered the county and forced him to be a guide. He led the enemy to the altar of human beings surrounded by water, and secretly told the villagers to withdraw the bridge and cut off the back road in advance. The enemy fell into the trap and was surrounded by the Ming army. And Yao Zhangzi was martyred for it. Afterwards, he was honored as a hero by fellow villagers.

6 Yao Shou: Painter, Jiashan native, Zeng Guanzhi, supervisor of the empire, Mianfu, Yongning, Jiangxi.

7 Yao Pingzhong: a famous soldier in the northwest of Song Dynasty.

8 Yao Silian, a historian in the early Tang Dynasty, was born in Wuxing, Jiangsu, and later moved to Guanzhong, where he is now from Xi 'an, Shaanxi. There are 51 volumes of Liang Shu and 31 volumes of Chen Shu. His grandson, Yao Shoubo, was involved in the history of Confucian classics, and he was educated and argued. When he was in Wu Hou, he served as a local official, and Yao Ban, Yao Shoudi, was smart and studious since childhood. He was also good at the history of Confucian classics and wrote 41 volumes of Hanshu Shaojuan.

9 Yao Chong: A famous politician in the early Tang Dynasty, he and his family made great achievements in politics. Yao Chong was the official to the prime minister, and served as the prime minister of Wu Zetian and Zongchao. Because of his clean government, he won the public's expectation. Later, Song Jing followed him as the phase, which was called "Yao Song" in history. Yao He, the great-grandson of Yao and Song Dynasties, and Yuan He, the Jinshi, were the official secretaries. Because he was awarded the master book of martial arts, he was known as Yao Wugong. The poetic style he created is also called martial arts style. Yao Chong's great-great-grandson Yao Huan, a scholar in Changqing, was the secretariat of Hu and Chang.

11 Yao Gezhong: A native of Yongjia in the Western Jin Dynasty, the leader of a Qiang tribe, led his tribe from Chiting to Yumei, and was moved to Guanzhong in the later Zhao Dynasty. In 323 AD, he was appointed as the viceroy of Western Qiang, and led tens of thousands of Qiang people to live in Qinghe. In 352 AD, his fifth son, Yao Xiang, led his troops back to Guanzhong and was killed in Sanyuan. Yao Xiangdi took advantage of the Feishui Rebellion to invade Chang 'an, and established the post-Qin Dynasty, which was sublime in all directions. Its capital is now in the northwest of Xi 'an, Shaanxi.

11 Yao Xuan: (968-1121) was born in Hefei, Luzhou, Song Dynasty. Taizong Taiping rejuvenating the country for eight years Jinshi. Good words, rich books. For four years, Zhenzong Dazhong Xiangfu compiled 111 volumes of articles in the Tang Dynasty as "Tang Wencui". With Liu Kai, Mu Xiu, etc., he started the ancient prose movement in Song Dynasty.

12 Yao Ji: a native of Cixi, Song and Ming Dynasties, his word is shun disciple, and he acts according to his word. Shenzong Xining was a scholar for nine years. Zhezong Yuanyou made up the order of Wuling Tomb, telling the people about their sufferings and shaking up the snow, donating money to build the Confucius Temple, supervising all the scholars, and playing the class first in the world. In addition to recommending the promotion of Chengdu, Changping and other things. Later, Cao, the deputy director of Jiangdong, learned about Kuizhou, promoted learning to persuade farmers, and had the style of ancient officials. There is Peach Blossom Garden Collection.

13 Yao Wenlin: (1897-1981) was born in Qingxian County, Hebei Province. The word south branch. Chemist. Graduated from Peking University in 1921. Studying in Chicago University and Cornell Institute of Technology. In 1928, he returned to China and became a professor of chemistry at Northeastern University. After "September 18th", he was transferred to the Department of Chemical Manufacturing of Hebei Provincial Institute of Technology as a professor and head of the department. During the Anti-Japanese War, he served as Commissioner of the Military Commission of the National Government. In 1948, he went to Taiwan Province and took over as the general manager of Taiwan Province Alkali Industry Company, and later became the full-time chairman. Died of illness in Taipei. Author of Calcium Carbide Analysis, etc.