Xiao
A common Chinese surname, usually written as Xiao in pinyin, with several possible underlying Chinese characters and meanings.
The #5,669 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 50,424 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Xiao is a Chinese surname represented in pinyin by the spelling Xiao, but it can correspond to more than one Chinese character. The most common association is with 蕭/萧 (Xiāo), an old surname and place name, sometimes linked in traditional explanations to a type of plant or to an ancient state or lineage. Because the Latin-letter spelling does not show the character, the exact original meaning can vary from family to family.
History
Xiao has a long history in China and has been borne by many families across different regions and periods. In modern English-language records it usually reflects the pinyin romanization of a Chinese surname, especially among Mandarin speakers, and it is also found in overseas Chinese communities. The same spelling may represent different Chinese surnames in romanization, so exact family history depends on the character used.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In pinyin, the same Roman spelling can hide different Chinese characters, so two people named Xiao may not share the same surname origin in Chinese script.