Explore the Family Name Xu
The meaning of Xu
Chinese: 1. Mandarin form of the surname 徐, meaning ‘gradually, slowly’ in Chinese: (i) from Xu (徐), the name of a state (covering present-day Jiangsu and Anhui province) originally granted to Ruo Mu, son of an official called Bo Yi during the reign of Xia Yu, the first king of the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC). The state was destroyed by the state of Chu during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC) but later restored and eventually annexed by the state of Wu in 512 BC. After its annihilation, the name of the state was adopted as a surname. (ii) borne by the descendants of the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC). The Xu family was one of the six clans of the Shang dynasty that were sent to the state of Lu after the annihilation of the Shang dynasty. (iii) surname borne by descendants of Xu Zhi Gao (徐知誥), an alternative name of Li Sheng, the founder of the state of Southern Tang (937–75 AD). (iv) a surname of the Xu (徐) family from the Di ethnic group in northern China. 2. Mandarin form of the surname 許, meaning ‘promise, agree’ or ‘location’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from Xu (許), the name of a small state (originally located in Xuchang in Henan province) granted to Wen Shu by King Wu of Zhou (c.1087–1043 BC). After it was annexed by the state of Chu during the early Warring States period (475–221 BC), the name of the state was adopted as a surname. (ii) said to be borne by descendants of Xu You (許由), a talent who lived during the reign of the legendary Emperor Yao (c.24th century bc). 3. Mandarin form of the surname 胥, meaning ‘inspect’ or referring to a ‘petty official’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from the first element of the personal name Xu Chen (胥臣), style name of an official in the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (ii) said to be traced back to He Xu Shi (赫胥氏), who was said to be the legendary Yan Di, or the Yan Emperor. 4. Mandarin form of the surname 續, meaning ‘continue’ in Chinese: (i) said to be traced back to Xu Ya (續牙), a friend of the legendary Emperor Shun (c.23rd century bc). (ii) from the placename Xu (續), the name of a fief (located in Shanxi province) granted to Hu Juju, also known as Xu Jian Bo (續簡伯, ‘Earl Jian of Xu’, died 621 BC), a senior official in the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). 5. Mandarin form of the surname 須, meaning ‘beard’ in Chinese: (i) from the first element of Xu Qu (須胊 or 須句), the name of an ancient state (located in Xucheng in Shandong province), annexed by the state of Zhu during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (ii) from Xu (須), the name of an ancient state (located in Henan province) during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (iii) from the second element of Mi Xu (密須), the name of an ancient state (located in present-day Gansu province) during the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC). (iv) a surname from the Yue ethnic group in ancient southern China. Some characteristic forenames: Chinese Wei, Jing, Jian, Ming, Li, Yi, Hui, Bin, Gang, Hong, Ping, Jin, Min, Chong, You, Chang, Hu, Neng, Shen, Yiming, Yiping. Vietnamese Long, Hao, Lan, Hai, Bian, Buu, Cong, Dai, Mai, Nu, Quan, Thi.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Xu in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Xu has seen a significant increase from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Xu was ranked as the 2,701st most common surname, but by 2010, it had risen to the rank of 1,381, marking a 48.87% increase in popularity. The number of individuals with this surname also saw a considerable jump, going from 12,228 in 2000 to 25,622 in 2010, a rise of 109.54%. This data reflects a substantial growth in the proportion of people with the surname Xu per 100k population, which grew from 4.53 in 2000 to 8.69 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,701 | #1,381 | 48.87% |
| Count | 12,228 | 25,622 | 109.54% |
| Proportion per 100k | 4.53 | 8.69 | 91.83% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Xu
The ethnicity associated with the surname Xu, as revealed by the Decennial U.S. Census, is predominantly Asian/Pacific Islander, though there have been slight shifts over the decade. In 2000, 98.47% of those with the surname Xu identified themselves as Asian/Pacific Islander, and this dropped slightly to 98.25% in 2010. For those identifying as two or more ethnicities, there was a decrease from 0.79% in 2000 to 0.55% in 2010. Interestingly, the percentage of Xu individuals identifying as White increased from 0.43% to 0.83%, while the Hispanic category experienced a slight decrease from 0.28% to 0.24%. Over the same period, the Black and American Indian and Alaskan Native categories, though still small in numbers, showed an increase in representation among those with the surname Xu.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 98.47% | 98.25% | -0.22% |
| White | 0.43% | 0.83% | 93.02% |
| Two or More Races | 0.79% | 0.55% | -30.38% |
| Hispanic | 0.28% | 0.24% | -14.29% |
| Black | 0% | 0.12% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0.02% | 0% |
Xu 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 Xu is Chinese, which comprises 92.1% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are Korean (3.0%) and Manchurian & Mongolian (2.5%). Additional ancestries include Chinese Dai, Vietnamese, French & German, British & Irish, and Ashkenazi Jewish.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 92.1% |
| Korean | 3.0% |
| Manchurian & Mongolian | 2.5% |
| Other | 2.4% |
Possible origins of the surname Xu
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 Xu have recent ancestry locations in China and Taiwan.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Zhejiang, China | 22.10% |
| Guangdong, China | 22.10% |
| Shanghai, China | 22.00% |
| Fujian, China | 22.00% |
| Jiangsu, China | 21.90% |
What Xu 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 Xu 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-F46 and O-CTS2498, which are predominantly found among people with East Asian & Indigenous American and East Asian & Indigenous American ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Zhang, Lu, Wang, Sun, Zhou, Wu, Li, Hu, Chen, Zhu.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Xu surname are: A4, F2, 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 Xu 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.
"Xu" Surname 23.0%
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.
"Xu" Surname 24.3%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Xu" Surname 11.6%
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.
"Xu" Surname 5.7%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Xu?
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 Xu are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition