The Liao (廖) Surname: From a Xia-Dynasty State to the Wuyi Diaspora A Name from Before Writing The Liao (廖, Liào) surname is one of the few Chinese surnames whose story begins before writing. It traces itself to 叔安 (Shū'ān, Shu'an), lord of the ancient 飂 state in the Xia dynasty, whose state name became…