Liu
The origin of the surname Liu
Liu is the character 劉, borne by emperors of the Han dynasty.
How Chinese surnames work
Chinese surnames — the “family name” — come first, before the given name, and a relatively small set of names is shared by enormous numbers of people (Wang, Li and Zhang are among the most common surnames on earth). Each is written with a single Chinese character carrying its own meaning, and many trace back thousands of years to ancient clans, states, noble titles or places. The character is the surname, so its meaning is fixed by the specific hanzi.
Variants & spellings
- Lau
- Liew
Frequently asked questions
What does the surname Liu mean?
The surname Liu means An ancient surname (劉). Liu is the character 劉, borne by emperors of the Han dynasty.
Where does the surname Liu come from?
Liu is a surname of Chinese origin.
What kind of surname is Liu?
Liu is a clan name surname.
How common is the surname Liu in the United States?
Liu is the 650th most common surname in the United States (2010 U.S. Census), recorded for about 47,665 people.