Zhu Surname

Surname Overview

Pronunciation and Current Status

The surname Zhu is pronounced zhú and is relatively uncommon today. There are approximately 120,000 people with the surname nationwide, concentrated mainly in Zhejiang.

Reference: 竺姓起源分布与家谱家族

Origins

Two origin traditions are recorded: descendants of people from Tianzhu who returned to Han China, and a branch of the Zhu surname that changed to Zhu. The latter says that Zhu Yan of the Later Han added “two” beneath the character to commemorate Boyi and Shuqi while avoiding a feud.

Reference: 竺姓起源分布与家谱家族

Historical Records

Early Attestations

The name “Zhu Du” appears in the Warring States Houma Covenant Texts. During the reign of Emperor Xuan of the Western Han, Zhu Ci served as a yizhe and is recorded as the earliest person of foreign-origin Zhu ancestry to come to China.

Reference: 竺姓起源分布与家谱家族

Commanderies and Clan Halls

Commanderies and Halls

The recorded commanderies of the Zhu surname are Donghai and Dongguan. Its recorded hall names include Donghai Hall, Dongguan Hall, Zongyang Hall, Huaxiang Hall, and Tingyi Hall.

Reference: 竺姓:基本介紹,得姓始祖,遷徙分布,歷史名人,竺淵,竺法深,竺道馨,竺道生,竺大年_中文百科全書

Migration and Distribution

A Zhu genealogy records that Zhu Yan moved from Ling'e in Shan County to Quan-kou in Fenghua in the early Northern Song. Today, Zhu communities are concentrated around Fenghua in Ningbo, Xinchang and Sheng County in Shaoxing, and Shangyu.

Reference: 竺姓起源分布与家谱家族

Notable People

Historical Figures

Historical figures with the Zhu surname include Zhu Daosheng, a monk of the Northern and Southern Dynasties; Zhu Danian, a Song scholar; and Zhu Yuan, a Ming literary figure.

Reference: 竺姓起源分布与家谱家族