Find out how popular the last name Bu is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Bu.

Bu, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Bu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bu in America

Bu is the 25102nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bu surname appeared 989 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Bu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bu to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Bu

The surname "Bu" originates from China, with its earliest known origins dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is believed to have been derived from the Chinese word "bu," which means "not" or "no." This name was likely given to individuals or families who lived in remote areas or were considered outsiders or outliers.

During the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the "Bu" surname was recorded in several official documents, including the "Jiu Tangshu" (Old Book of Tang) and the "Xin Tangshu" (New Book of Tang). These texts provide valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of the name during that period.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname "Bu" was Bu Shang (624-683 AD), a prominent Tang Dynasty official and calligrapher. He served as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong and was renowned for his exceptional calligraphic skills.

In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the "Bu" surname appeared in several genealogical records and local gazetteers. One notable individual from this period was Bu Zhi (1546-1622), a scholar and poet who served as a high-ranking official in the imperial court.

During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 AD), the "Bu" surname gained further recognition. Bu Bing (1670-1737), a prominent military leader and strategist, played a crucial role in suppressing the Dzungar Khanate's invasion of Qinghai and Tibet.

Another notable figure with the "Bu" surname was Bu Zhanren (1754-1826), a renowned painter and calligrapher from the late Qing Dynasty. His works, particularly his landscape paintings, were highly acclaimed and influenced generations of artists.

In more recent history, Bu Xinyu (1900-1978) was a prominent Chinese writer and translator who played a significant role in introducing Western literature to Chinese readers. He is best known for his translations of works by authors such as William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens.

While the "Bu" surname may not be among the most common in China, it has a rich history spanning over a millennium, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions to various fields, including literature, art, and military strategy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bu

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Bu.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Bu was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Bu has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Bu was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Bu, please contact us.

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