Zhu
The origin of the surname Zhu
Zhu is the character 朱, “vermilion, crimson” — the surname of the Ming emperors.
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
- Chu
Frequently asked questions
What does the surname Zhu mean?
The surname Zhu means Vermilion (朱). Zhu is the character 朱, “vermilion, crimson” — the surname of the Ming emperors.
Where does the surname Zhu come from?
Zhu is a surname of Chinese origin.
What kind of surname is Zhu?
Zhu is a clan name surname.
How common is the surname Zhu in the United States?
Zhu ranks #3,147 among U.S. surnames (2010 U.S. Census), recorded for about 10,508 people.