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Liao Family History

Liao Surname Meaning

Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 廖 meaning ‘spacious empty’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from the personal name of Liao Shu An (廖叔安) an official who lived during the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC) who is said to have been the founder of an ancient state called Liao (廖) located in Henan province.

(ii) from the second element of the personal name Bo Liao (伯廖) said to be name of one of the sons of King Wen of Zhou (1152–1056 BC) or a son of an official in the state of Zheng (located in part of present-day Shaanxi and Henan provinces) during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC).

(iii) adopted in place of two other Chinese surnames Miu (繆) and Yan (顏). Some bearers of these two surnames migrated to live on the north bank of the Yellow River where they changed their surname to Liao (廖) during the reign of Zhou the last king of the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Liao family from?

You can see how Liao families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Liao family name was found in the USA in 1920. In 1920 there were 3 Liao families living in Wisconsin. This was about 60% of all the recorded Liao's in USA. Wisconsin had the highest population of Liao families in 1920.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Liao surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What Liao family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 157 census records available for the last name Liao. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Liao census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Australian census records for Liao

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Liao. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Australia, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 30 military records available for the last name Liao. For the veterans among your Liao ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Liao lifespan?

Between 1982 and 2004, in the United States, Liao life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1987, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Liao in 1982 was 63, and 67 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Liao

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Liao ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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