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

Cu, 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 Cu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cu in America

Cu is the 30420th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cu surname appeared 768 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 Cu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cu 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 Cu

The surname "Cu" is believed to have originated in Vietnam during the 12th century. It is derived from the ancient Vietnamese word "cu" which means "old" or "ancient." The earliest recorded instances of this surname can be traced back to the city of Hue, which was once the imperial capital of Vietnam.

In the 14th century, historical records show that a family by the name of Cu resided in the village of Phu Vang, near Hue. They were among the prominent landowners and scholars of the region. One of the earliest known bearers of this name was Cu Hoan, a renowned poet and calligrapher who lived from 1335 to 1400.

During the 15th century, the Cu family gained further prominence when Cu Nhu Dat, born in 1437, became a respected advisor to the emperor. His son, Cu Nhu Huan, born in 1475, was a celebrated military commander who played a pivotal role in defending the country against foreign invaders.

The name "Cu" can also be found in ancient Vietnamese literature, such as the "Annals of Dai Viet," which chronicles the history of Vietnam from the 10th to the 15th century. This text mentions several individuals with the surname Cu who held important positions in the imperial court.

In the 18th century, Cu Dinh Le, born in 1715, was a renowned scholar and educator who established several schools and academies in the city of Hue. His contributions to education and the preservation of Vietnamese culture earned him widespread recognition.

Another notable figure with the surname Cu was Cu Van Khoat, born in 1845, who was a prominent leader in the resistance against French colonial rule in Vietnam during the late 19th century.

While the surname "Cu" has its roots in ancient Vietnam, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the historical regions of central Vietnam, where it was borne by scholars, military leaders, and influential figures who played significant roles in shaping the country's cultural and political landscape.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cu

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

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 Cu 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 Cu 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 Cu was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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