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 Shu'an (叔安, Shū'ān), lord of the ancient state of Liu (飂, Liù) in the Xia dynasty, a…