Rao (surname)

Rao
Family name
Pronunciation	Mandarin: Ráo
Region of origin	Shanxi hindu
Language(s) of origin	Chinese,indian,Italian

Rao is a surname used across Brazil, China, Italy, India, Pakistan, Nepal and Taiwan.

India

Rao (राव) is an Indian princely title cognate with Raja (King). Rao is also used as an addition to one's name or as a suffix to a male name in some places.

Rao is commonly added as a suffix to a person's name in southern, northern and western parts of India, in particular in the states of Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Konkan/Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra (also Rao Saheb), Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana. Rao is the surname of Brahmins in Maharashtra and Karnataka. Rao is the surname of Rajputs from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, Rao is the surnames of some and Ahirs Yadav of Haryana.^[1][2] Variants of the name include "Rai", "Raja", "Rayudu", "Rayar", "Rayulu", "Raut", "Raya", "Rana" and others. In the Gujarati diaspora, Rao is a common name among the Brahmbhatt or Barot community.

China

Rao (simplified Chinese: 饶; traditional Chinese: 饒; pinyin: Ráo) is a Chinese family name. It can also be spelled as "Jao," "Yow" or "Yaw". It is approximately 2200 years old, and originated in the area near present-day Linfen, Shanxi province.

Italy

The Sicilian-Calabrian Italian surname Rao is pronounced in the Italian language similarly to the Indian pronunciation, although in the United States many Raos of Italian descent pronounce the name "RAY-O." Examples are Raos in New York City, Boston, and Rao families in Rhode Island and North Carolina. It is also common among the descendants of Italian settlers in Brazil.

Pakistan

The majority of Raos in Pakistan are Muslim Punwar (Pawar) Rajputs and Chauhan Rajputs and Meo Rajputs. Raos can be found all across Pakistan and are found in large numbers in the Punjab province as well as in Sindh. Many Raos traditionally serve in the Pakistani Armed Forces, Police & Civil Services. After the India/Pakistan partition, the majority of Raos settled in the cities of Punjab:Sialkot Pakpattan District, Okara District, Phullarwan of Sargodha District, Shujabad, Bahawalnagar, Maharwali, Khanewal, Lahore, Mandi Bahaud DinKot Radha Kishan Chichawatni, Burewala, Vehari, and Bahawalpur.

In Sindh they settled in District Karachi, Hyderabad, Badin, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar. As a group, the Raos maintain a distinct identity in Pakistan. In 2002 elections of Pakistan, Rajputs were in the largest number in assemblies.

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