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

Vu, 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 Vu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vu in America

Vu is the 962nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vu surname appeared 36,179 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 Vu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vu 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 Vu

The surname Vu has its origins in Vietnam, dating back to the 10th century during the Ly Dynasty. It is derived from the Vietnamese word "vu," which means "martial arts" or "fighting skills." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name may have been renowned warriors or martial artists.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Vu surname can be found in the "Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu," a historical text that chronicles the history of Vietnam from the 3rd to the 17th century. This work mentions a prominent general named Vu Van Nhan, who served under the Ly Dynasty in the 11th century and played a crucial role in defending the kingdom against foreign invaders.

In the 13th century, during the Tran Dynasty, another notable figure with the Vu surname emerged – Vu Thi Hieu, a renowned poet and scholar. Her collection of poetry, known as "Hieu Tap," is considered a literary masterpiece of the time and is still studied by scholars today.

The Vu surname was also associated with several place names in Vietnam, such as Vu Ninh, a district in the province of Quang Binh, and Vu Bang, a commune in the city of Hai Phong. These place names may have been derived from the Vietnamese word "vu," which could also mean "battlefield" or "place of combat."

One of the most famous bearers of the Vu surname was Vu Dinh Lien, a celebrated composer and musician who lived in the 18th century. He is credited with creating the "Ca Tru," a traditional form of Vietnamese chamber music that combines poetry, singing, and instrumental music. His compositions and contributions to Vietnamese music have been widely recognized and celebrated.

Another notable figure with the Vu surname was Vu Trong Phung, a renowned writer and social critic who lived in the early 20th century. His works, such as "Dumb Luck" and "Grief of War," provided insightful commentary on the social and political conditions of Vietnam during the colonial era.

Vu Ngoc Nha, a prominent Vietnamese painter and calligrapher, was also a notable bearer of this surname. He was born in 1912 and is celebrated for his contributions to the development of modern Vietnamese art and his efforts in preserving traditional calligraphic techniques.

Throughout history, the Vu surname has been associated with various fields, including martial arts, literature, music, and visual arts, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of Vietnam and the diverse talents of those who bore this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vu

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

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

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

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