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

Luu, 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 Luu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Luu in America

Luu is the 2324th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Luu surname appeared 15,702 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Luu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Luu 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 Luu

The surname Luu has its origins in Vietnam, where it first emerged during the medieval period. The name is derived from the Vietnamese word "Lưu," which means "to remain" or "to dwell." It is believed that the surname was initially given to individuals who lived in a particular location for an extended period, emphasizing their strong ties to the land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Luu can be found in the Annals of Dai Viet, a historical text dating back to the 13th century. The text mentions a prominent figure named Luu Nhan Chu, who served as a high-ranking official during the Tran Dynasty (1225-1400).

In the 15th century, the Luu surname gained prominence when Luu Nhan Chu's descendants played a crucial role in the resistance against the Ming Dynasty's occupation of Vietnam. Their efforts were documented in various chronicles and manuscripts, solidifying the Luu family's place in Vietnamese history.

During the 17th century, a notable individual named Luu Thi Xuan (1585-1662) gained recognition for her contributions to Vietnamese literature. She authored several influential works, including a collection of poems that celebrated the beauty of her homeland and reflected on the challenges faced by women during that era.

In the 19th century, the Luu surname was further solidified with the birth of Luu Van Lang (1854-1923), a prominent scholar and educator who played a pivotal role in modernizing Vietnam's educational system. His efforts laid the foundation for the country's intellectual and cultural renaissance.

Another notable figure was Luu Quang Vu (1948-1988), a Vietnamese-American writer and human rights activist. Born in Vietnam, he fled the country after the Vietnam War and became a vocal advocate for democracy and freedom of expression. His works, including the autobiographical novel "Forest of Fire," shed light on the experiences of Vietnamese refugees and their struggles for a better life.

Throughout its history, the surname Luu has been closely tied to various regions in Vietnam, particularly the northern and central provinces. It has also been associated with certain place names, such as Luu Xa and Luu Thuong, which are believed to have been settlements where the surname originated or thrived.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Luu

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

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

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

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