Our answer
China’s 19th most common surname 高
Means ‘tall, high’; spelled Kao in Taiwan, Ko in Hong Kong and Koh in Hokkien
The short answer
Gao (高, Gāo) is a Chinese surname meaning ‘tall, high’, ranked 19th in China in the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 list. One main line traces it to Gao Xi, a noble of the ancient state of Qi in today’s Shandong. It is spelled Kao in Taiwan, Ko in Hong Kong and Koh in Hokkien.
| In Chinese | 高 (the same in simplified and traditional characters) |
|---|---|
| Pinyin | Gāo (first, high level tone) |
| Rank in China (2019) | 19th, Ministry of Public Security list |
| Other spellings | Kao (Wade–Giles, Taiwan), Ko (Cantonese, Hokkien), Kou (Macau), Koh / Kor (Min Nan), Koo (Hakka), Cao (Vietnamese), Go / Ko (Korean), Kō (Japanese) |
| Meaning of the character | Tall, high |
| Most numerous in | Shandong province (2013 Fuxi Institution figures) |
| Population | About 13.3 million, 1.00% of mainland China (2013 Fuxi Institution figures) |
Origins of the Gao surname
The character 高 means tall or high. The surname has several traditional origins. The Lüshi Chunqiu (吕氏春秋), an ancient compendium, names a Gao Yuan (高元) as a builder of houses in remote antiquity, and the legendary ruler Zhuanxu, a grandson of the Yellow Emperor, was also known as Gao Yang (高阳).
The best-documented line goes back to the state of Qi, in what is now Shandong. According to the Song-dynasty encyclopedia Tongzhi (通志), Gao Xi (高傒) took the name in honour of his grandfather, Prince Gao, a son of Duke Wen of Qi. Gao Xi is remembered for helping Duke Huan of Qi to the throne, and his family, the Gaos of Bohai, became the surname’s most famous clan.
Later, during the Northern Wei, the Xianbei Lou clan changed its name to Gao, and a branch that moved to central Yunnan became a major clan of the Bai people.[2][3][4]
How Gao is spelled around the world
The character is always 高; the spelling follows the local language.[1][2]
| Spelling | Where | Language / system |
|---|---|---|
| Gao | Mainland China | Mandarin, pinyin |
| Kao | Taiwan; older books on China | Mandarin, Wade–Giles |
| Ko | Hong Kong; also Hokkien speakers | Cantonese, Min Nan |
| Kou | Macau | Cantonese (Macau spelling) |
| Koh, Kor | Singapore, Malaysia | Min Nan (Hokkien, Teochew) |
| Co, Caw, Ko | Philippines | Min Nan, Filipino spellings |
| Cao | Vietnam | Vietnamese |
| Go / Ko (고) | Korea | Korean |
| Kō | Japan | Japanese reading of the character |
Where the Gao surname is most common
Gao was the 19th most common surname in mainland China in the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 ranking. The Fuxi Institution’s 2013 figures counted about 13.3 million people named Gao, 1.00% of the population, with the largest number in Shandong.
That fits the family histories. Most Gao lineages trace themselves to the old Qi and Lu lands of Shandong, with branches that moved to Hebei and Liaoning in early times, south to Jiangsu after the upheavals at the end of the Western Jin, and into Fujian under the Tang. In Taiwan, where the surname ranked 30th in a 2016 survey, Gao families are concentrated mainly around Taipei.[1][3]
Famous people named Gao
| Name | Chinese | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Gao Huan | 高欢 | Leading general of the Northern Wei and Eastern Wei; his son founded the Northern Qi dynasty |
| Gao Jianfu (1879–1951) | 高剑父 | Painter, a founder of the Lingnan School, which modernised traditional Chinese painting |
| Charles K. Kao (1933–2018) | 高锟 | Physicist, pioneer of fibre-optic communications; 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics |
| Gao Yuanyuan | 高圆圆 | Actress and model |
| Donald Knuth | 高德纳 | American computer scientist; his Chinese name, Gao Dena, was given to him in 1977 |
Donald Knuth is not Chinese: Frances Yao chose the name 高德纳 for him just before he visited China in 1977.
Questions readers ask
What does the surname Gao mean?
高 means ‘tall’ or ‘high’. As a surname, one main line is traced to Gao Xi, a noble of the ancient state of Qi who took the name from his grandfather, Prince Gao.
Is Gao a Chinese last name?
Yes. Gao (高) is a common Chinese surname, 19th in mainland China in 2019. The same character is also a Korean surname (Ko or Go) and a Vietnamese one (Cao).
How common is the Gao surname in China?
It ranked 19th in the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 list. In 2013 the Fuxi Institution counted about 13.3 million people named Gao, 1.00% of the population, with the most in Shandong.
How do you pronounce Gao?
Like the English ‘gow’ in ‘gown’, on a high, level tone (Gāo).
Is Kao the same as Gao?
Yes. Kao is the older Wade–Giles spelling of 高, still usual in Taiwan; the Nobel physicist Charles K. Kao (高锟) is one example.
Is Ko or Koh the same as Gao?
Often. Ko is the Hong Kong (Cantonese) spelling of 高 and Koh a common Hokkien spelling in Singapore and Malaysia. Koh is also used for some other surnames, so check the character.
Who is the most famous person named Gao?
Charles K. Kao (高锟), who won the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on fibre optics, is one of the best known. In China, the actress Gao Yuanyuan is a household name.
Sources
- Wikipedia, List of common Chinese surnames (2019 Ministry of Public Security ranking; 2013 Fuxi Institution figures; Taiwan 2016 survey; romanisations) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Gao (surname) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia (Chinese), 高姓 · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Behind the Name, Gao (surname) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Charles K. Kao · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Gao Yuanyuan · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Donald Knuth · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Gao Jianfu · accessed 1 Nov 2026
Update log. 1 November 2026 — reviewed. Next review due 1 February 2027. Suggest a correction