Surname Overview
Overview
The Bu surname ranks 92nd in the Hundred Family Surnames and has a population of approximately over 400,000.
Bu Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 465,642Bu / Pu
Origins
Origin From an Official Title
The Bu surname arose from the office of diviner. The descendants of diviners adopted their ancestor's official title as their surname, a form of surname formation based on an official title, traceable to the Shang and Zhou periods.
Historical Records
Documentary Records
The Zhouli records the office of Da Bu in the Zhou dynasty; the Zuo Zhuan records divination by diviners on multiple occasions; and the Tongzhi: Clan Studies states that the Bu surname came from the office of diviner in the Rites of Zhou.
Commanderies and Clan Halls
Commanderies of Prestige
The principal commanderies associated with the Bu surname were Xihe and Wuling. Xihe was administered in the area of present-day Lishi, Shanxi, and Wuling in the area of present-day Changde, Hunan.
Migration and Distribution
Present Distribution
Today, the Bu surname is mainly distributed in Shandong, Henan, Jiangsu, Hunan, Anhui, and other areas.
Notable People
Historical Figures
Bu Shang, courtesy name Zixia, was a disciple of Confucius and one of the Ten Disciples of Confucius; he transmitted the Book of Songs and the Spring and Autumn Annals. Bu Shi was a distinguished minister of the Western Han who became wealthy through sheep herding.
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