Wu (surname) explained

Wu
Pronunciation:Wú (Pinyin)
Language:Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean
Language origin:Old Chinese
Derivation:State of Wu
See also:O
Ng
Ngô
Ngov
Vue) (Hmong surname)

Wú is the pinyin transliteration of the Chinese surname 吳 (Simplified Chinese 吴), which is a common surname (family name) in Mainland China. Wú (吳) is the sixth name listed in the Song dynasty classic Hundred Family Surnames.[1] In 2019 Wu was the ninth most common surname in Mainland China.[2] A 2013 study found that it was the eighth most common surname, shared by 26,800,000 people or 2.000% of the population, with the province having the most being Guangdong.[3]

The Cantonese and Hakka transliteration of 吳 is Ng, a syllable made entirely of a nasal consonant while the Min Nan transliteration of 吳 is Ngo, Ngoh, Ngov, Goh, Go, Gouw, depending on the regional variations in Min Nan pronunciation. Shanghainese transliteration of 吳 is Woo.

吳 is also one of the most common surnames in Korea. It is spelled 오 in Hangul and romanized O by the three major romanization systems, but more commonly spelled Oh in South Korea. It is also related far back in Chinese history with the name "Zhou (周)" and "Ji (姬)". The Vietnamese equivalent of the surname is Ngô.

Several other, less common Chinese surnames are also transliterated into English as "Wu", but with different tones:

武 Wǔ, 伍 Wǔ, 仵 Wǔ, 烏 Wū (also Wù), 鄔 Wūand 巫 Wū. Wu (or Woo or Wou) is also the Cantonese transliteration of the Chinese surname 胡 (Mandarin Hu), used in Hong Kong, and by overseas Chinese of Cantonese-speaking areas of Guangdong, Guangxi, and/or Hong Kong/Macau origin.

History of the surname Wu (吳)

The name originates from the ancient state of Wu in present-day province of Jiangsu.

In the 13th century BC, the state of Zhou (which would later become the Zhou dynasty) was ruled by Tai Wang (King Tai of Zhou). His surname was originally Ji (姬). He had three sons: Taibo, Zhongyong, and Jili. King Tai of Zhou favored the youngest son, Jili to inherit the reins of power, therefore Taibo and his brother Zhongyong voluntarily left Zhou with a group of followers and headed southeast where they established the state of Wu.[4] [5] Taibo and Zhongyong's descendants eventually adopted Wu (吳) as their surname. The state of Wu later became a powerful kingdom of its own with the help of Generals Wu Zixu and Sun Tzu, the latter best known as the author of the military treatise The Art of War, both serving under King Helü of Wu. King Helü is considered to be one of the Five Hegemons of China during the Spring and Autumn period.

Taibo and Zhongyong's youngest brother Jili stayed to rule the Zhou state and was the grandfather of Wu Wang (King Wu of Zhou) who started the Zhou dynasty after successfully overthrowing the Shang dynasty. The descendants of Wu Wang eventually changed their surname from Ji (姬) to Zhou (周) during the Qin dynasty to commemorate the merits and virtues of their ancestors.[6]

Therefore, the surnames Wu (吳), Zhou (周), and Ji (姬) are historically related.

Notable people

(in alphabetical order according to their names as spelled in Pinyin, or if unavailable, in English)

Historical figures

Modern figures

Other surnames

Wū (Chinese: 鄔)

It is the 78th name on the Hundred Family Surnames poem.[7]

Wū (Chinese: 乌)

Wū (Chinese: 巫)

See also: Wu (shaman).

巫 wū ("shaman") rarely occurs as a surname although it's more commonly associated with Malaysians of Chinese descent, or Chinese people that share connections with Malaysia. It is generally related to the Chinese compound surname Wuma 巫馬 (lit. "horse shaman; equine veterinary"), but can also be regarded as a shortened term for 巫来由/巫來由 (wūláiyóu), a transcription of Malay Melayu.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 百家姓 . Hundred Family Surnames . Guoxue . zh . 2014-01-16.
  2. Web site: 新京报 - 好新闻，无止境.
  3. 中国四百大姓, 袁义达, 邱家儒, Beijing Book Co. Inc., 1 January 2013
  4. Web site: Wu Family History. ancestry.com. 10 April 2018.
  5. Web site: History of Chinese surname Wu. People's Daily. 21 June 2005. 10 April 2018.
  6. Web site: Chinese Zhou surname history. People's Daily. 17 June 2005. 10 April 2018.
  7. K. S. Tom. [1989] (1989). Echoes from Old China: Life, Legends and Lore of the Middle Kingdom. University of Hawaii Press. .

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