Surname Overview
A Rare Han Chinese Surname
The surname Shu is pronounced shū and written 書 in traditional Chinese. It is a relatively rare surname currently found among Han Chinese.
Shu Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 9Shu / Shu
Origins
Origin from the Shangshu Office
The surname may derive from an official title: holders of the office of Shangshu, or their descendants, adopted the character Shu from Shangshu as their surname.
Shu Clan of the Manchu Bordered Blue Banner
A Shu clan also existed within the Manchu Bordered Blue Banner during the Qing period.
Historical Records
Ming-Era Attestation
The earliest recorded attestation of the Shu surname appears in the Ming-era Wanxing Tongpu.
Migration and Distribution
Geographic Distribution
The Shu surname is broadly distributed, including Wuqing in Tianjin; Jing County, Leting, and Wuji in Hebei; Changzhi and Linfen in Shanxi; Wuchang and Laohekou in Hubei; Chenghai in Guangdong; Guanyang in Guangxi; Hejiang in Sichuan; Huainan in Anhui; Gaochun in Jiangsu; Jiangshan in Zhejiang; Xintai in Shandong; Xingan in Jiangxi; Taiwan; Lingling in Hunan; and Xi'an in Shaanxi.
Notable People
Historical Figures
During the Ming dynasty, Shu Yongxiu, a native of Yulin, served as registrar of Ouning County in the Tianshun era. Shu Lun is recorded for the Qing dynasty.
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Surname attestation references
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