乌WuSurname
Wū
Wu (乌) means 'crow' or 'black', often associated with the sun (crow) in Chinese mythology. It is a rare surname with ancient roots.
Wū
Mainland China · Taiwan
Ng
Guangdong · Hong Kong
Goo
Fujian · Taiwan · SE Asia
Ngu
Meizhou · Taiwan · SE Asia
Population Ranking
#9
Estimated Over 28 million people
Position among top 100 Chinese surnames
Geographic Distribution
Guangdong, Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang
Five Element Analysis
Wood
growth, vitality, and kindness
Origin & History
The Wu surname originated from the ancient state of Wu during the Spring and Autumn period. It was also adopted by descendants of minority ethnic groups.
Surname Evolution
The Wu surname originated from the State of Wu (c. 1200–473 BCE) in the Yangtze River Delta. After the state fell to Yue, its people adopted Wu as their surname. The Wu clan gained immense prestige when Wu Zetian became China's only female emperor (690–705 CE). The surname remains highly concentrated in Jiangsu and Zhejiang.
Commandery
Yanling Commandery (延陵郡) — Modern-day Changzhou area, Jiangsu Province
Hall Title
延陵堂 (Yanling Hall)
Ancestral Hall
Wu Clan Ancestral Hall in Yanling, Jiangsu — Honoring Wu Zixu, the legendary statesman of the State of Wu. The hall preserves ancient ritual vessels and clan genealogies.
Clan Motto & Family Tradition
延陵世泽，让国家风 — The Yanling heritage; the tradition of yielding the throne continues.
Famous People with Surname Wu
Wu Sun (乌孙) — Ancient nomadic tribe leader
Wu Cheng (乌成) — Han Dynasty general
Wu Zhaolin (乌兆林) — Modern Chinese artist
Tone Compatibility
Wu (Wū) is a 1st tone (high-level) surname. In Chinese naming, balanced tonal patterns create harmonious-sounding names.
Recommended Patterns
bright and grand
vast and auspicious
bright as the sun
Patterns to Avoid
Each digit is a tone (1=level, 2=rising, 3=dipping, 4=falling). The first is the surname tone; the next two are the given name's tones.
Example Names with Wu
Your Wu Family Legend
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What does the surname Wu mean in Chinese?
Wu (乌) means 'crow' or 'black', often associated with the sun (crow) in Chinese mythology. The crow is a symbol of filial piety and good fortune in some traditions. The character depicts a bird with a missing eye, representing the black color. As a surname, it is rare but carries ancient and mythological significance.
Where does the Wu surname originate from?
The Wu surname originated from the ancient state of Wu during the Spring and Autumn period. It was a small state located in present-day Shandong Province. Additionally, some Wu families descended from the Wu tribe or adopted the surname from the character for 'crow'. The surname is also found among ethnic minorities in China.
Who are some famous people with the surname Wu?
1. Wu Zetian (624-705): The only female emperor in Chinese history, known for her political acumen and cultural achievements. 2. Wu Cheng'en (c. 1500-1582): Author of the classic novel 'Journey to the West'. 3. Wu Jianxiong (1912-1997): Chinese-American physicist, known for the Wu experiment that disproved parity conservation.
What given names go well with the surname Wu?
Given names that evoke brightness or light pair well with Wu to contrast its dark meaning. Characters like 明 (ming, 'bright'), 阳 (yang, 'sun'), or 辉 (hui, 'radiance') create a balanced combination. For a modern touch, 晨 (chen, 'morning') or 曦 (xi, 'sunlight') work well. Avoid names with bird or black-related characters to prevent redundancy.