Hu Surname

Surname Overview

Pronunciation and Distribution

The surname Hu is pronounced hū. It is a relatively common surname today, widely distributed but held by a small population.

Reference: 呼姓_呼姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Origins

Han and Non-Han Origins

The surname has Han and non-Han origins: descendants of the Han-period diviner Hu Zixian in Hanzhong, descendants of the Xianbei Huyan clan, and the surname Hu among the Tangut people of Western Xia.

Reference: 呼姓起源分布与家谱家族

Ethnic Origins

Some Manchu, Daur, and Mongolian clans adopted Hu as a Chinese single-character surname; some members of the Huyan clan became part of the Hui people.

Reference: 呼姓_呼姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Historical Records

Documentary Attestations

The Liexian Zhuan records the Hanzhong diviner Hu Zixian; the Xu Tongzhi, Genealogical Accounts records the Western Xia person Hu Zhen; and the Genealogical Accounts of the Zheng Tongzhi, Xu Tongzhi, and Qing Tongzhi all include the surname Hu.

Reference: 呼姓_呼姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Commanderies and Clan Halls

Commanderies and Hall Names

The surname is associated with Anding Commandery, Xincai Commandery, and Taiyuan Prefecture. Its hall names include Taiyuan Hall, Anding Hall, and Xincai Hall, all established from these commanderies of origin.

Reference: 呼姓_呼姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Migration and Distribution

Historical and Contemporary Distribution

During the Ming period, the surname was mainly distributed in Fujian, Anhui, and Hebei. Among contemporary tested users, ancestral origins are concentrated mainly in Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, and Shaanxi.

Reference: 呼姓起源分布与家谱家族

Notable People

Historical Figure Hu Wenzhan

Hu Wenzhan was a native of Shandong in the Ming period and served as magistrate of Kunshan County during the Hongwu era.

Reference: 呼姓_呼姓的来源和历史_百家姓