Lü Surname

Surname Overview

The Lü surname mainly has two origins: the Jiang and Ji surnames. The Jiang-origin Lü lineage has a history of at least 2,700 years, and the Ji-origin Lü lineage at least 2,600 years.

Reference: 吕姓起源分布与家谱家族

Origins

Jiang-Origin Lineage

Bo Yi, a descendant of Emperor Yan, was enfeoffed in Lü, west of present-day Nanyang in Henan, for assisting Yu in flood control and became the founding ancestor of the Lü state; after both Lü states fell, their descendants adopted the state name as their surname.

Reference: 吕姓起源分布与家谱家族

Ji-Origin Lineage

During the Spring and Autumn period, Wei Qi, a minister of Duke Jing of Jin, received Lü as his fief and was known as Lü Qi; his son Lü Xiang consequently adopted Lü as his surname.

Reference: 吕姓起源分布与家谱家族

Historical Records

Rank and Population

In the Song-era Hundred Family Surnames, Lü ranks 22nd. By current population ranking, it ranks 40th among Chinese surnames and 29th in Taiwan, with approximately 6.1 million people.

Reference: 吕氏家谱网 提供19个省区市的203部吕氏家谱、吕氏族谱

Commanderies and Clan Halls

Genealogies and Hall Names

Existing Lü genealogy entries record the hall names Qiwei Hall and Suilu Hall in Yixing, Yongsi Hall and Weiqi Hall in Wuxi, and Xiaosi Hall in Liyang, Jiangsu.

Reference: 吕氏家谱网 提供19个省区市的203部吕氏家谱、吕氏族谱

Migration and Distribution

Before the Qin period, the Lü surname was mainly active in Henan, Hubei, Anhui, Shandong, Shaanxi, and Gansu. Two southward migrations during the Tang dynasty brought it to Fujian, and it entered Taiwan in the early Qing period.

Reference: 吕姓起源分布与家谱家族

Notable People

Historical Figure

Lü Shang, a descendant of the Jiang-origin Lü lineage, was also known as Jiang Ziya and Taigong Wang. He assisted King Wen of Zhou in overthrowing Shang and was enfeoffed in Qi at the beginning of the Zhou dynasty.

Reference: 吕姓起源分布与家谱家族