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

Hwu, 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 Hwu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hwu in America

Hwu is the 82317th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hwu surname appeared 229 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 Hwu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hwu 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 Hwu

The surname "HWU" originated in the Guangdong province of southern China, dating back to the late 14th century during the Ming Dynasty. It is believed to have derived from the Chinese characters 胡 (hu) and 武 (wu), which together can be translated to mean "martial" or "warlike". This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with military personnel or those skilled in combat.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "HWU" can be found in a local government census from the year 1412, which listed several families with this surname residing in the city of Guangzhou. It is also mentioned in a few historical texts from the same period, though the context is often unclear.

During the 16th century, the name appears to have spread to other regions of China, particularly in the coastal areas. This was likely due to migration and trade routes that facilitated the movement of people across the country. In the city of Quanzhou, there are records of a prominent merchant family named HWU who played a significant role in the local economy.

One notable figure with the surname "HWU" was a scholar and calligrapher born in 1623, named HWU Zhenqi. He was renowned for his mastery of the traditional Chinese writing styles and his works were highly sought after by collectors and connoisseurs of the time.

Another individual of historical significance was HWU Jingfang, a military general who lived between 1748 and 1815. He served in the imperial army during the Qing Dynasty and was known for his strategic prowess in several battles against rebel forces.

In the 19th century, the name "HWU" began to appear in various parts of Southeast Asia, particularly in areas with significant Chinese populations. This was likely due to migration patterns and the establishment of overseas communities by those of Chinese descent.

One notable example from this period is HWU Xinguan, a businessman and philanthropist who lived from 1832 to 1911. He was based in Singapore and made significant contributions to the local community, founding schools and supporting charitable causes.

It is worth noting that the name "HWU" has also been found in historical records from other parts of the world, though its origins and connections to the Chinese surname are often unclear. These instances may be due to transliteration or adoption by individuals of non-Chinese descent.

Overall, the surname "HWU" has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval China, with connections to military, scholarly, and commercial pursuits. Its presence in various regions over the centuries reflects the migration and influence of Chinese culture across Asia and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hwu

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

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

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

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