Surname Overview
Overview
The Ru surname ranks 331st in the Hundred Family Surnames and is outside the top 100 surnames in both mainland China and Taiwan.
Ru Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 106,838Ru / Ru
Origins
Three Origins
Three origins are recorded: the Rouran tribes, descendants of the Ru surname, and the Xianbei three-character surname Puliru and its variants after surname simplification.
Historical Records
Textual Records
The Tongzhi records that members of the Northern Di Ruru migrated into China and called themselves the Ru clan, associated with Henan; the Henan Official Clan Records records the change from Pulouru to Ru.
Commanderies and Clan Halls
Commandery and Hall
The Ru lineage's commandery seat was Henei Commandery, southwest of present-day Wuzhi County, Henan; its hall name is Zhongyang Hall.
Migration and Distribution
Migration into the Central Plains
The Rouran entered the Central Plains and established the Rouran state during the Northern Wei period; descendants of Pulouru simplified their surname to Ru after entering the Central Plains, while descendants of Ru Chun formed the surname by adding the grass radical to 如.
Notable People
Historical Figures
Ru Faliang was a Grand Minister of Agriculture in Southern Qi; Ru Hao was a renowned Champion General of Later Wei; Ru Chang was a Ming Ministry of War official; and Ru Fen was the Qianlong-era Metropolitan Graduate and later served as Minister of War in the Qing dynasty.
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