The surname Guo is derived from another old Chinese word "Guo" with the same pronunciation but different style of font.

According to historical records, the Surname Guo originated from an ancient Guo State (a vassal state of Western Zhou Dynasty).

The two Chinese words "Guo" with same pronunciation and different font styles are used in the same way. They can also be exchanged when used as surnames.

People with the surname Guo are a branch of Duck Guo's family which is the blood relation of enfeoffment of initial stage of the Western Zhou Dynasty of Zhou kingdom. They are also offspring of Emperor Huangdi. Their enfeoffment lies in important geographical locations.

The enfeoffment of Guo Zhong, the second eldest brother of Guo's family, is in the West of Guo State which is now located in Shaanxi province. Later, a branch of the family of Guo Zhong moved to a place named Shangyang which was later named Southern Guo. Others still remained in the primary place called Xiao Guo and moreover, Northern Guo was also the descendant of Guo Zhong.

Guo Shu, the younger brother of Guo's family, was awarded enfeoffment in Eastern Guo which lies in today's Henan Province.

The history book records: Eastern, Western, Southern, Northern and Xiao Guo together. These Guo states are annihilated respectively by State Qin, State Zheng and State Jin, but their offspring take the name of their state as their family name which is Guo. Their surname Guo is similar to another Chinese simplified character Guo in pronunciation, and then their offspring are surnamed the latter Guo.

Moreover, there is another branch of people surnamed Guo, who live in Liaocheng where there has been the enfeoffment of ancient Guo State. These people surnamed Guo are also a branch of Emperor Huangdi's family.

Meanwhile, it is also an important source of surname Guo that the minority and people with other surnames change their family names to the surname Guo.

By People's Daily Online