Xu Surname

Surname Overview

Pronunciation and Ranking

The surname Xu is pronounced “xū,” homophonous with “虚,” and ranks 285th in the Song edition of the Hundred Family Surnames.

Reference: 百家姓冷门姓氏丨胥姓10位历史名人 - 知乎

Origins

Ji-Surname Origins

One account traces the surname to the ancient state of Xu in the Tang-Yu period, whose people founded a state at Ao and adopted its name as a surname. Another traces it to Xu Chen, a lower-army assistant of Duke Hui of Jin in the Spring and Autumn period, whose courtesy name became the surname.

Reference: 胥姓起源分布与家谱家族

Historical Records

Early Genealogical Record

During the Spring and Autumn period, Xu Chen was a Gongzu official of Jin. Xu Jia, Xu Ke, Xu Tong, and Xu Wu followed him, with five generations inheriting offices as ministers and grand officers of Jin.

Reference: 百家姓冷门姓氏丨胥姓10位历史名人 - 知乎

Migration and Distribution

Historical Regional Distribution

In the Song dynasty, the Xu surname had about 43,000 people, mainly distributed in Hunan. In the Ming dynasty, it had about 17,000 people, mainly distributed in Sichuan, Shandong, Hunan, Hebei, Jiangxi, and Fujian.

Reference: 胥姓起源分布与家谱家族

Contemporary Ancestral-Region Distribution

Among contemporary Xu-surname users, ancestral regions are mainly Sichuan, Jiangsu, and Shandong, accounting for 34.2%, 20.0%, and 13.3%, respectively.

Reference: 胥姓起源分布与家谱家族

Notable People

Historical Figures

Xu Yan was a Northern Song official and writer who served as Director of the Ministry of Works, Hanlin Academician, and acting prefect of Kaifeng. Xu Wenxiang was a Ming official, upright official, and writer who rose to prefect of Liuzhou.

Reference: 百家姓冷门姓氏丨胥姓10位历史名人 - 知乎