2000
#5,658
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 5,624
First available Census row
Per 100,000 2.08
Uncommon Last name
Fu
A Chinese surname meaning "blessing" or "good fortune," or referring to a person from the state of Fu.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 13,866 Americans carry the last name Fu. That puts it at #2,903 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 4.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 24,719 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Fu surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Fu with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
14K
1 in 24,719
Census rank
#2,903
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
4.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
12K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 12,092 bearers of the surname Fu in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 4.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 2903rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Fu, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 93.8%. The next largest groups are White (2.8%) and Two or More Races (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Fu
The surname Fu has its origins in China, where it first emerged during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is derived from the Chinese word "fu," which means "good fortune" or "prosperity." The name was initially used as a given name before becoming a hereditary surname.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Fu surname can be found in the historical records of the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), where it was mentioned in the works of renowned scholars and poets. During this period, the Fu family established itself as a prominent clan in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.
In the 13th century, a branch of the Fu family relocated to the Fujian province, where they became known for their accomplishments in the imperial examinations and civil service. This lineage produced several notable figures, including Fu Sheng (1262-1344), a celebrated philosopher and statesman who served as a high-ranking official during the Yuan Dynasty.
As the Fu family continued to flourish, their name became associated with various place names across China. For instance, the city of Fuzhou in Fujian province is believed to have derived its name from the Fu clan, which had a significant presence in the area.
Throughout history, the Fu surname has been carried by numerous influential individuals. One such figure was Fu Shan (1607-1684), a renowned painter and calligrapher during the Ming and Qing dynasties, whose works are highly regarded in the art world.
Another notable bearer of the Fu surname was Fu Baoshi (1904-1965), a celebrated Chinese artist known for his innovative and influential ink paintings. His works are celebrated for their unique blending of traditional and modern styles, and he is considered one of the most important Chinese painters of the 20th century.
In the realm of literature, Fu Sinian (1896-1950) was a prominent scholar and historian who made significant contributions to the study of Chinese philosophy and culture. His works played a crucial role in preserving and promoting traditional Chinese values during a period of rapid modernization.
Additionally, the Fu surname has been associated with military leaders and strategists throughout Chinese history. One such figure was Fu Jiamo (1645-1704), a renowned general and strategist during the Qing Dynasty, who played a pivotal role in suppressing several rebellions and defending the empire's borders.
The surname Fu continues to be widely used in China and among Chinese communities around the world, carrying with it a rich history and cultural significance that spans centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Fu
Among Census respondents with the surname Fu, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 93.8%. The next largest groups are White (2.8%) and Two or More Races (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Fu bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Fu surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander93.8% · 11,337
- White2.8% · 340
- Two or more races1.8% · 212
- Hispanic or Latino1.1% · 139
- Black or African American0.5% · 64
Timeline
Historical Census data for Fu
Fu appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#4,235
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 8,370
+2,746 bearers (+48.8%)
Per 100,000 2.84
Rank movement Up 1,423 places
2020
#2,903
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 12,092
+3,722 bearers (+44.5%)
Per 100,000 4.05
Rank movement Up 1,332 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #5,658 | 5,624 | 2.08 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #4,235 | 8,370 | 2.84 | +2,746 bearers (+48.8%) | Up 1,423 places |
| 2020 | #2,903 | 12,092 | 4.05 | +3,722 bearers (+44.5%) | Up 1,332 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Fu surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #4,235 | #2,903 | 31.5% |
| Count | 8,370 | 12,092 | 44.5% |
| Per 100K | 2.84 | 4.05 | 42.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Fu bearers went from 8,370 to 12,092 (+44.5% change). The surname moved up 1,332 positions in the national ranking, going from #4,235 to #2,903.
FAQ
Fu surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Fu?
Name Census estimates that about 13,866 living Americans carry the surname Fu. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 24,719 residents.
How common is Fu?
Fu ranks #2,903 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Uncommon." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 4.05 per 100,000 residents, which is about 4 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 12,092 people with the surname Fu. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (13,866), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 4.05 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 4.05 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 4 of them to have the surname Fu.
Has Fu become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Fu went from 8,370 recorded bearers to 12,092. That is an increase of 3,722 (+44.5%). In the national ranking it rose from #4,235 to #2,903.
What does the Census say about the background of Fu?
Among Census respondents with the surname Fu, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 93.8%. The next largest groups are White (2.8%) and Two or More Races (1.8%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Fu in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.8% (11,337 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Fu appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (93.8%), White (2.8%), Two or More Races (1.8%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Fu (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Fu mean?
A Chinese surname meaning "blessing" or "good fortune," or referring to a person from the state of Fu. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Fu (4.05 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Fu?
Want to know how many Americans have the surname Fu? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.