Gao (Chinese: 高) is an East Asian surname of Chinese origin that can be literally translated as "high" or "tall". There are approximately 16 million living people with this surname. Some places, such as Taiwan, usually romanise this family name into Kao. In Hong Kong, it is romanized to Ko. In Macau, it is romanized to Kou.
According to Lüshi Chunqiu, the earliest figure with the Gao surname was Gao Yuan (高元) who created dwellings in antiquity. The grandson of the Yellow Emperor Zhuanxu was also known as Gao Yang (高陽).
Another origin of Gao is the Jiang (姜) surname. According to the Song dynasty encyclopedia Tongzhi, an early ancestor was Gao Xi (高傒) who was granted the surname Gao in honour of his grandfather Prince Gao (公子高). Prince Gao was the son of Duke Wen of the state of Qi whose ancestral name was Jiang (姜).
Many non-Han Chinese used the surname Gao:
The Xianbei clan of Lou (楼) of the Northern Wei period later changed their surname to Gao. The Yuan (元) family also adopted this surname in this periodXú (徐) family of the Northern Qi periodBaipu (百濮) people of Yunnan (雲南)Gao Anagong official of the Northern QiGao Cheng paramount official of the Chinese/Xianbei state Eastern Wei,Gao Heng emperor of Northern Qi.Gao Huan paramount general of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Wei and Northern Wei's branch successor state Eastern Wei.Gao Shaoyi imperial prince of the Chinese dynasty Northern QiGao Wei emperor of Northern QiGao Yang Founding Emperor of Northern QiGao Yanzong imperial prince of the Chinese dynasty Northern QiGao Shilian, chancellor during the Tang DynastyGao Shun, Military General under Warlord Lü Bu during the late Han DynastyGao Jiong, official during the Sui DynastyGao Yun (Northern Wei), official during the Northern Wei DynastyGao Yun (Northern Yan), emperor of the Northern Yan DynastyGao Xianzhi, general during the Tang Dynasty of Korean descentGao Qiong, general during the Northern Song DynastyGao Gang, a Chinese Communist leaderGao Hong, pipa player and composerGao Jianli, a Zhu player and friend of Jing KeGao Jixing, a king of JingnanGao Jun, Chinese-American table tennis playerGao Ling, Chinese badminton playerGao Min (cyclist), Chinese cyclistGao Min (diver), Chinese diverGao Qiu, character from Shui Hu ZhuanGao Shuying, Chinese pole vaulterGao Song, Chinese figure skaterGao Xie, calligraphist, painter, poet, writer, book collectorGao Xingjian, 2000 Nobel Prize in LiteratureGao Xu, poet, writer, publisher, revolutionaryGao Yihan, intellectualGao Yisheng, creator of the Gao style of the Chinese Internal Martial Art of BaguazhangGao Zhisheng, activistGao Jianing, also known as J.G. Ex-member of South Korean boy group, Cross GeneCharles K. Kao, inventor of data transmission using optical fibre, was awarded half of the 2009 Nobel Prize in PhysicsKao Ming-hueyMin KaoNicholas Kao Se Tseien (1897–2007), Catholic priest, supercentenarianPing-Tse Kao (1888–1970), Taiwanese astronomerKao (crater), a lunar crater named after Ping-Tse KaoKō no MoronaoKō no MoroyasuKō no MorofuyuJoseph Cao
