Genealogy News · Source Analysis · Published on 2026-10-07

Relationship Between the Lao and Zhao Surnames: Family Memory Through the Legend of “Lao Skin, Zhao Bones”

Regarding the relationship between the Lao and Zhao surnames, some genealogies in Lingnan preserve the legend that Zhao Tuo granted the surname Lao, using “Lao skin, Zhao bones” to summarize the special connection between the two surnames. This account has value as family memory, but it still needs to be cross-checked against genealogical records, local gazetteers, and historical documents.

The relationship between the Lao and Zhao surnames is often found in certain genealogies and local family narratives in Lingnan. One of the more representative accounts holds that the Lao clan originally belonged to the Zhao surname and that, during the Nanyue period, Zhao Tuo granted the surname Lao to a subordinate in recognition of his great service, commemorating his arduous work and outstanding merit. Related accounts also connect this branch to the historical background of Zhao Tuo’s administration of Nanyue and his handling of relations with the Han dynasty, stating that meritorious generals consequently received special rewards. Because such narratives are mostly found in genealogical texts compiled in later periods or transmitted within the clan, their primary value lies in preserving family memory. The specific dates, relationships among the figures, and process by which the surname was granted cannot be determined solely from a single genealogy.

“Lao skin, Zhao bones” is a generalized expression for this legend in popular usage. It is usually understood to mean that although the Lao and Zhao surnames differ, they are believed to share a relatively deep historical connection. Here, “skin” and “bones” are metaphorical and cannot be directly used to prove that all people with the Lao surname originated from the Zhao surname. Chinese surnames often have multiple origins: people with the same surname are not necessarily of the same lineage, and different branches of the same surname may have formed in different regions. Accordingly, when discussing the relationship between the Lao and Zhao surnames, legends, genealogical records, and mutually corroborating historical materials should be treated separately.

Among the existing accounts, the Lao clan genealogy from the Lecong area of Foshan is mentioned as one of the important family texts. Such genealogies often record migration routes, generational names, the history of ancestral halls, and oral traditions within the clan. They can show how a branch understands its own origins, but the date when a genealogy was compiled, the number of times it was copied or revised, the source of its base text, and later additions can all affect its value as historical evidence. To investigate further whether a particular Lao branch was related to the Zhao clan, it is important to verify the preface to the genealogy, the first ancestor to migrate, tomb inscriptions, local gazetteers, and documents from the same period, and to determine whether these different materials form a continuous and stable chain of evidence.

When tracing one’s roots, it is also unwise to determine clan affiliation solely from a surname or ancestral-hall name. Online genealogies can help organize clues about names, generations, and places of residence; family memoirs can preserve migration stories and local names; and surname databases can be used to compare accounts of origins from different regions. However, this information still needs to be verified against the specific branch and original records. Local gazetteers, ancestral-hall inscriptions, and genealogical materials held overseas can sometimes fill gaps caused by the loss or dispersal of local genealogical records. Only by comparing an individual family genealogy with regional history, changes in place names, and oral accounts from relatives can one gradually determine whether the relationship between a particular Lao branch and the Zhao clan reflects a shared ancestry, a surname-granting legend, or a later memory of clan affiliation.

Therefore, “Lao skin, Zhao bones” is better understood as a cultural clue for interpreting the relationship between the Lao and Zhao surnames, rather than as a universally applicable historical conclusion. For a specific family, the most reliable approach is to begin with known ancestral residences and recent-generation forebears, verify information on births, deaths, marriages, migrations, and burial places from generation to generation, and then trace the line back to the first ancestor to migrate and his or her origins. This approach respects genealogical traditions while avoiding the mistake of recording an unverified legend as an established lineage.

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