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

Lu, 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 Lu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lu in America

Lu is the 978th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lu surname appeared 35,628 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 12 people would have the surname Lu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lu 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 Lu

The surname "Lu" originates from China and has a long and rich history dating back thousands of years. It is derived from the Chinese character "Lu," which means "deer" or "stag." This name was likely originally given to individuals who lived in areas with a significant deer population or those who worked as hunters or foresters.

The earliest known recorded instances of the surname "Lu" can be found in ancient Chinese genealogical records and historical texts from the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BC). During this time period, surnames were relatively rare, and the name "Lu" was often associated with aristocratic or noble families.

Throughout the centuries, the surname "Lu" has been carried by numerous notable individuals, including Lu Bu (c. 155–198 AD), a famous military general and warlord during the late Eastern Han Dynasty. Another prominent figure was Lu You (1125–1210 AD), a celebrated poet and essayist during the Southern Song Dynasty.

In the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD), the name "Lu" appeared in various official records and manuscripts, such as the "Jiu Tangshu" (Old Book of Tang), which documented the history and events of the dynasty. During this period, the surname was also associated with several prominent literary figures and scholars.

The name "Lu" has also been linked to various place names throughout China's history. For example, the city of Luzhou in Sichuan Province was originally known as "Lu County" during the Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD). Similarly, the county of Lushui in Yunnan Province derives its name from the Chinese characters "Lu" and "shui" (water), indicating a connection to the surname and its potential origins.

Other notable individuals bearing the surname "Lu" include Lu Xun (1881–1936), a pioneering modern Chinese writer and literary critic; Lu Zhi (1496–1576), a renowned philosopher and Neo-Confucian scholar during the Ming Dynasty; and Lu Zhengxiang (1871–1949), a prominent military leader and statesman during the early 20th century.

While the surname "Lu" has evolved and spread throughout various regions of China over the centuries, its roots can be traced back to ancient times, reflecting the country's rich cultural heritage and the significance of surnames in Chinese society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lu

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

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

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

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