Surname Overview
Place in the Hundred Family Surnames
The surname Shu is ranked 255th in the Hundred Family Surnames and is pronounced shù.
Shu Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 84,704Shu / Shu
Origins
Origin of the Surname
The Shu surname is said to derive from the Gui surname through a change from Shu (疎). A Shu (疎) clan existed in Qi during the Warring States period; later, Meng Da, the great-grandson of Shu Guang, changed the surname to Shu after moving to escape Wang Mang's troubles.
Historical Records
Ancestral Figure
Shu Guang is regarded as the founding ancestor of the Shu surname. After Wang Mang seized power, Shu Guang's great-grandson Meng Da fled to Donghai Shalu Mountain and changed his surname to Shu.
Commanderies and Clan Halls
Commanderies and Hall Names
The Shu surname is associated with Henan Commandery and Nanyang Commandery. Its main hall names are Henan Hall, Nanyang Hall, and Bujing Hall.
Migration and Distribution
The Shu surname is mainly distributed around Zhenjiang and Sheyang in Jiangsu, with smaller groups in Shuyang and a branch in Jiangyin. Two destinations are recorded for Meng Da's migration: Yangping in present-day Shandong and Shalu in Hebei.
Notable People
Historical Figures
Shu Xi was a Jin philosopher who served as a zhuzuo lang and interpreted excavated bamboo slips. Shu Qing was a Ming official who served as a county magistrate during the Hongwu era and attended to the people's hardships.
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