The surname Zhu (also spelled Chu) is a Chinese surname, one of the Five Great Clans of China, and is among the most common surnames in China. It comes from the Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC - 256 BC), where it was the surname of the ruling royal family. The name is derived from the Zhou (Chu) River, which flows through parts of modern-day Henan and Hubei provinces in China. In Chinese characters, it can be written as 朱 or 诸.
The surname Zhu (or Chu) is of Chinese origin and belongs to one of the Five Great Clans in ancient China. It is pronounced as "Joo" or "Zhū" in Mandarin and can be romanized as "Chu" or "Zhou." This family name is associated with the State of Zhu (or Chu) in ancient China, which existed from the 12th century BCE to the late Warring States Period (475-221 BCE). The state was located in present-day Sichuan and Hubei provinces. The founder of the state was King Guangwu of Zhu, who was a descendant of Emperor Yao. The State of Zhu was known for its military strength, culture, and artistry. Over time, the surname Zhu has spread across China and is now one of the most common family names in the country.
The last name Zhu, also romanized as Chu, is predominantly found in China and among Chinese diaspora communities worldwide. It originates from the ancient state of Chu, which was located in central China during the Zhou Dynasty (around 11th to 3rd century BC). According to various sources, it is one of the most common surnames in China, ranking second or third. The distribution of this surname can be observed in provinces like Henan, Hubei, Hunan, and Sichuan, where the Chu state was historically located. Outside of China, significant populations bearing the Zhu surname reside in countries such as Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and other Western nations, due to historical migration patterns and modern globalization.
The surname Zhu, also transcribed as Chu, is a common Chinese family name, originating from the ancient Chinese Zhou Dynasty. It is romanized variously as Chu, Zhū, Ju, Tzu, and Tsou in different systems, including Wade-Giles, Pinyin, Jyutping, Hokkien, and Hakka dialects. The most common pinyin spelling of the name is Zhū (朱), which consists of two characters: 朱 (pronounced "ju" or "zhu") means cinnabar or vermilion, a red pigment; and 氏 (shì) indicates a family or clan. There are also other spellings that derive from historical figures with the name Zhu, such as Zhuge Liang (諸葛亮), Zhu Yuanzhang (朱元廣), and Zhu Xi (朱熹). These names may be transliterated differently depending on the specific system or dialect used.
The Zhu family boasts a notable presence within Chinese and international history. One prominent member is Zhu Yuanzhang (1328-1398), also known as Emperor Hongwu, who founded the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and was its first ruler. Another significant figure is his grandson, Emperor Yongle (1360-1424), who initiated the construction of the Forbidden City in Beijing and moved the capital from Nanjing to Beijing during his reign. Zhu Xi (1130-1200), a philosopher and neo-Confucianist, is also well-known for systematizing Confucianism as a school of thought, emphasizing moral self-cultivation and the study of classical texts. Moreover, Zhou Enlai (1898-1976) was a prominent political leader in modern China, serving as Premier of the People's Republic of China for nearly three decades.
The Zhu (朱) surname, originating from China, is one of the Five Great Clans and holds significant historical importance. It is said to have been granted by the mythological Yellow Emperor to his minister-scholar Fang Xi (范喜), hence the alternate name for the clan: the "Fang" branch of Zhu (朱房支). The most famous member of this lineage is Emperor Taizu of Song (宋太祖), who established the Song Dynasty. Other notable figures include Admiral Zheng He, a prominent explorer and diplomat during the Ming Dynasty, and the philosopher Mencius (孟子). The Zhu surname is also associated with the imperial clan of the Qing Dynasty. Today, it ranks as the second most common surname in China, with over 80 million carriers worldwide, making it one of the top 10 most common surnames globally.
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