Family name Шао (Chao 
, Shao , Шао 
) , in all the world, is a widespread surname. The cognomen Шао is characteristic of Macao, where it is a widespread surname, Cayman Islands, where it is a common surname, and British Virgin Islands (explore the name in all countries). Measured by absolute frequency, it is the most numerous in China, Tanzania, and the United States. Much less frequently, Шао is the forename as well as the last name.