Explore the Family Name Fu
The meaning of Fu
Chinese: 1. Mandarin and Cantonese form of the surname 傅, meaning ‘master’ or ‘teacher’ in Chinese: (i) said to be borne by descendants of Fu Yue (傅說) (died c.1246 BC), a prime minister during the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC), who is said to have lived in a place called Fu Yan (傅岩), possibly located in Shanxi province. (ii) from the placename Fu (傅), the name of a fief (located in present-day Shandong province) which was granted to Da You during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC). 2. Mandarin and Cantonese form of the surname 付, meaning ‘commit’ or ‘pay’ in Chinese: (i) borne by descendants of Shi Fu (史付), a person who lived in the state of Zheng during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (ii) simplified form of the Chinese surname 傅; see 1 above. 3. Mandarin and Cantonese form of the surname 符, meaning ‘tally’ in ancient Chinese: from the post name Fu Xi Ling (符璽令) hosted by Gong Ya, a grandson of the Duke Qing of Lu (ruler of the state of Lu, died 249 BC), who later migrated to the state of Qin. This was a post held by the man in charge of the tally given by a ruler to a general to deploy troops or to an envoy as his credentials. 4. Mandarin and Cantonese form of the surname 扶, meaning ‘help, support’ in Chinese: (i) said to be a shortened form of the compound Chinese surname Fu Deng (扶登), dating back to the reign of Xia Yu, the first king of the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC). (ii) borne by descendants of Fu Jia (扶嘉), who was endowed with the surname Fu (扶) by the Emperor Gaozu of Han (256–195 BC), because of his support to the royal family of the Western Han dynasty (206 BC–25 AD). (iii) adopted as the surname by the Qi Fu (乞扶) family from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD). 5. Mandarin form of the surname 伏, meaning ‘dog days’ or ‘subdue’ in ancient Chinese: (i) said to be borne by descendants of Fu Xi (伏羲), a legendary figure prior to the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC). (ii) said to be borne by descendants of Fu Bu Qi (伏不齊, also written 宓不齊), a student of Confucius (551–479 BC). (iii) adopted as a surname by the Si Fu Jin (俟伏斤) family from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD). 6. Mandarin form of the surname 福, meaning ‘good fortune’ or ‘blessing’ in Chinese: (i) borne by descendants of Fu Zi Dan (福子丹), an official in the state of Qi during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (ii) a surname from the state of Bai Ji (located in the Korean peninsula). (iii) borne by descendants of Fu Shi (福時), an official who lived during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644 AD). 7. Mandarin and Cantonese form of the surname 富, meaning ‘rich’ in Chinese: (i) borne by descendants of Fu Chen (富辰) (died around 636 BC), an official who lived during the reign of King Xiang of Zhou (died 619 BC). (ii) shortened form of the Chinese compound surname Fu-Fu (富父), which is traced back to Fu-Fu Zhong Sheng (富父終甥), an official who lived in the state of Lu during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). 8. Mandarin and Cantonese form of the surname 甫, a courtesy name for a man in ancient Chinese: (i) simplified form of Fu (郙), the name of an ancient state (located in Henan province). (ii) from Fu (甫), the name of a state, also known as the state of Lü (located in Henan province), annexed by the state of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (iii) shortened form of the Chinese compound surname Huang-Fu (皇甫), traced back to the personal name of a son of Duke Dai of Song (ruler of the state of Song, reigned 799–766 BC). 9. Mandarin form of the surname 宓 (also pronounced as Mi in Mandarin Chinese), see Mi 2. 10. Hakka form of the surname 胡. Also Cantonese form of the surname 扈. See Hu 1 and 2. Some characteristic forenames: Chinese Chi, Qiang, Hong, Lei, Min, Li, Ning, Tao, Bin, Chee, Chun, Dong, Gang, Chang, Chung, Yiping, Chong, Jang, Yeh.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Fu in the United States?
The surname Fu has witnessed a significant increase in popularity over the past decade, according to data from the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, the name was ranked 5658th in popularity in the United States but by 2010, it had climbed to 4235th place, reflecting a growth rate of 25.15 percent. The number of people bearing this surname also surged during this period from 5624 to 8370, marking an impressive 48.83 percent jump. Furthermore, its proportion per 100,000 people increased from 2.08 to 2.84, indicating a 36.54 percent rise.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #5,658 | #4,235 | 25.15% |
| Count | 5,624 | 8,370 | 48.83% |
| Proportion per 100k | 2.08 | 2.84 | 36.54% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Fu
Analyzing the ethnicity associated with the surname Fu, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that it is predominantly linked to the Asian/Pacific Islander community. Despite a minor decrease of 0.07 percent between 2000 and 2010, this group still accounts for over 94 percent of those bearing the Fu surname. Individuals identifying as two or more races make up around 2 percent of the Fu surname holders, showing a mild reduction of 1.48 percent over the decade. The proportion of people with this surname identifying as white saw a growth of 15.26 percent, though they still represent only about 2.19 percent of the total. The percentage of Fu surname bearers identifying as Hispanic decreased slightly by 11.52 percent. Notably, there were no instances of people with this surname identifying as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native in both years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 94.13% | 94.06% | -0.07% |
| White | 1.9% | 2.19% | 15.26% |
| Two or More Races | 2.03% | 2% | -1.48% |
| Hispanic | 1.65% | 1.46% | -11.52% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Fu ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Fu is Chinese, which comprises 87.0% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are Manchurian & Mongolian (2.5%) and Korean (2.0%). Additional ancestries include Chinese Dai, Vietnamese, British & Irish, French & German, and Japanese.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 87.0% |
| Manchurian & Mongolian | 2.5% |
| Korean | 2.0% |
| Other | 8.5% |
Possible origins of the surname Fu
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Fu have recent ancestry locations in China and Taiwan.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Guangdong, China | 40.30% |
| Zhejiang, China | 39.80% |
| Jiangsu, China | 39.50% |
| Fujian, China | 39.50% |
| Shanghai, China | 39.50% |
What Fu haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Fu is O-F8, which is predominantly found among people with East Asian & Indigenous American ancestry. Haplogroup O-F8 is descended from haplogroup O-M1359. Other common haplogroups include O-F11 and O-M307.1, which are predominantly found among people with East Asian & Indigenous American and East Asian & Indigenous American ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Wu, He, Tang, Cheung, Lu, Zhou, Huang, Wang, Chen, Wong.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Fu surname are: A4, F1a1, D4. These most commonly trace back to individuals of East Asian & Indigenous American and European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins O-M1359
Your paternal lineage may be linked to the Han Chinese
Haplogroup O-Page23 has been found in several populations of the Han Chinese ethnic group. The ancestors of the Han, called the Huaxia, lived in the upriver basin of the Yellow River 5,000-6,000 years ago. As agricultural technology improved, the Huaxia spread east and south, and became the Han Chinese. Over the last 2,000 years, there have been three major migrations of the Han southward. The first of these migrations occurred during the Jin Dynasty from 317 to 420 CE, when nearly one million people moved south. A second migration occurred during the Tang Dynasty, after the An-Shi Rebellion, between 755 and 762 CE. The last migration occurred during the Southern Song Dynasty, from 1127 to 1297 CE, when nearly 5 million people migrated southward. The Pinghua, a branch of Han in which haplogroup O2a2b1a1 is particularly common, may be descendants of indigenous minority groups that adopted Han culture during one such major migration event.
Your maternal lineage may be linked to the Hmong-Mien
Haplogroup F is particularly common in populations of Hmong-Mien speakers, one of the major language families in East Asia. This group includes the Lahu, Hmong, Lao, and Mien of southern China and Southeast Asia. Many of these groups are considered ethnic minorities in their countries, including in China, Vietnam, and Thailand.During the Vietnam War, from 1953 to 1975, the United States Central Intelligence Agency recruited many of the Hmong, Lao, Mien, and Lahu to fight for American interests in Laos against the North Vietnamese and the Pathet Lao. When the North Vietnamese and Pathet Lao gained control of the region, members of the ethnic groups recruited by the US were targeted, forcing many of the Hmong-Mien to flee the country. Many refugees resettled in the United States, especially in California and along the western seaboard.
What do people with the surname Fu have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Fu" Surname 26.7%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Fu" Surname 31.8%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Fu" Surname 8.8%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Fu" Surname 6.1%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Fu?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Fu are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition