Guo Family History

Chinese:: Mandarin form of the surname 郭 meaning ‘rampart’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from Guo (虢 also written as 郭 in ancient Chinese) the name of two ancient states during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC). One was called Eastern Guo (东郭) (located in Henan province). It was granted to Guo Zhong brother of King Wen of Zhou (1152–1056 BC) and annexed by the state of Zheng in 765 BC. The other was called Western Guo (西郭) (originally located in Shaanxi province) and was granted to Guo Shu another brother of the virtuous King Wen of Zhou. During the reign of King Ping of Zhou (died 720 BC) the Western Guo was moved to present-day Henan and Shanxi provinces and eventually annexed by the state of Jin in 655 BC. The original place of the Western Guo was also annexed by the state of Qin in 687 BC. After the annihilation of these states Guo (郭) was adopted as a surname. (ii) from Guo (郭) the name of another ancient state (located in Liaocheng in Shandong province) during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC). After it was annexed by the state of Cao during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC) the name of the state was adopted as a surname. (iii) adopted as a surname by residents who lived outside a city because Guo (郭) means ‘rampart outer wall of a city’ in ancient Chinese. Mandarin form of the surname 國 meaning ‘state’ or ‘country’ in Chinese: (i) said to be borne by descendants of Guo Ai (國哀) who is believed to have been a teacher of Xia Yu the first king of the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC). (ii) borne by descendants of certain nobles in the state of Qi who lived during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (iii) from the second element of the personal name Zi Guo (子國) style name of Fa a prince in the state of Zheng during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (iv) said to be a major surname in Bai Ji(ancient Korea). Mandarin form of the surname 過 meaning ‘pass’ in Chinese: from Guo (過) the name of an ancient state (located in Yexian in present-day Shandong province) during the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC). After its king Jiao was killed the name of the state was adopted by some as a surname. Mandarin form of the surname 果 meaning ‘fruit’ in Chinese: (i)possibly borne by descendants of the state of Ba Zi (located in Ba County in Chongqing) during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC). (ii) a surname from the Manchu ethnic group in northern China.

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