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

Qu, 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 Qu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Qu in America

Qu is the 12035th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Qu surname appeared 2,593 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Qu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Qu 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 Qu

The surname "QU" is believed to have originated in China, with its roots dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is thought to be derived from the Chinese word "qiu," which means "autumn" or "harvest." This suggests that the name may have been associated with families or clans involved in agricultural activities during that period.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname "QU" can be found in the "Tang Huiyao," a historical text compiled during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). This document contains records of various families and individuals who held official positions or made significant contributions during the Tang era.

In the 12th century, a scholar and poet named Qu Yuan (340-278 BC) gained prominence for his patriotic works and influenced the development of the Qu surname. His legacy is celebrated annually during the Dragon Boat Festival, which commemorates his life and literary achievements.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the "QU" surname spread to various regions of China, and several notable figures emerged. One such individual was Qu Shunzhi (1630-1644), who briefly served as the Shunzhi Emperor, the first ruler of the Qing Dynasty.

In the 18th century, Qu Dajun (1630-1696) was a prominent philosopher and scholar who made significant contributions to the Neo-Confucian movement. His works on ethics and moral philosophy influenced intellectual discourse during the Qing Dynasty.

Another notable figure was Qu Qiubai (1899-1935), a Chinese communist revolutionary and writer who played a crucial role in the early stages of the Chinese Communist Party. He was executed during the Stalinist purges in the Soviet Union, where he had sought asylum.

While the surname "QU" has its origins in China, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. However, its historical significance and deep-rooted connections to Chinese culture remain an integral part of its legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Qu

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

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

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

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