Surname · Korean origin
Yu
Meaning
The surname Yu means Willow (柳).
Origin
Korean
Type
clan name
U.S. rank (2010)
#874
U.S. bearers (2010)
36,285
How common is it?
Yu is the 874th most common surname in the United States (2010 U.S. Census), recorded for about 36,285 people.
The origin of the surname Yu
Yu is written with the hanja 柳, “willow.”
How Korean surnames work
Korean surnames are few in number but shared by huge populations — Kim, Lee (Yi) and Park alone account for a large share of all Koreans. Each is written with a hanja (a Chinese-origin character) and is tied to a clan or lineage identified by an ancestral seat (bongwan). The surname comes first, before the given name, and Korean women traditionally keep their own surname after marriage.
Variants & spellings
- Ryu
Frequently asked questions
What does the surname Yu mean?
The surname Yu means Willow (柳). Yu is written with the hanja 柳, “willow.”
Where does the surname Yu come from?
Yu is a surname of Korean origin.
What kind of surname is Yu?
Yu is a clan name surname.
How common is the surname Yu in the United States?
Yu is the 874th most common surname in the United States (2010 U.S. Census), recorded for about 36,285 people.