Wu

Wu is a Chinese surname and unisex given name with multiple origins and meanings, primarily derived from the character 武 (wǔ, 'military, martial') for males or 务 (wù, 'affairs, business'), as well as other characters with similar pronunciations. The name has a rich history, notably borne by several Chinese rulers, including the 2nd-century BC Emperor Wu of Han (posthumous name 武), who expanded the empire and established Confucianism as the state philosophy.

Surname Origin and Distribution

As a surname, Wú (吳, simplified 吴) is the pinyin transliteration of one of the most common Chinese family names. It is listed sixth in the Song dynasty classic Hundred Family Surnames. According to a 2013 study, it was the eighth most common surname in Mainland China, shared by approximately 26.8 million people, with the highest concentration in Guangdong province. In 2019, it ranked ninth in prevalence. Variant romanizations include Ng (Cantonese and Hakka), commonly seen in Hong Kong and overseas Chinese communities, and Ngo or Goh (Min Nan in Southern Fujian and Taiwan), as well as Woo in Shanghainese. In Korea, the surname is spelled 오 (Oh) in Hangul and romanized O.

Notable Bearers

Historically, significant individuals surnamed Wu include Empress Wu Zetian (Wu Zhao), the only female emperor in Chinese history, and military leaders like Wu Sangui. In the present day, Wu passes as a given name less commonly but has been used in literary contexts, such as the title character in the Chinese classic Wu Song. Cognate forms include Vietnamese Vũ and Japanese Takeshi (among other readings).

• Meaning: military, martial; affairs, business
• Origin: Chinese
• Type: Surname (more common); also given name
• Usage: Chinese, Vietnamese (Vũ), Korean (O)