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

Wu, 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 Wu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wu in America

Wu is the 461st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wu surname appeared 71,721 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 24 people would have the surname Wu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wu 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 Wu

The surname Wu has its origins in China, where it can be traced back to the 3rd century BCE. It is derived from the ancient Chinese word "wu," which means "martial" or "military." This suggests that the name may have been originally borne by individuals who were associated with the military or had a reputation for martial prowess.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Wu surname can be found in the Shiji, a historical text written by Sima Qian in the 1st century BCE. This text mentions several individuals with the Wu surname, including Wu Qi, a famous military strategist who lived during the Warring States period (475-221 BCE).

During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE), the Wu surname was particularly prevalent in the regions of Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces. In fact, many place names in these areas, such as Wuxi and Wuyi, are believed to have derived from the Wu surname.

One notable individual with the Wu surname was Wu Zetian, who reigned as the only female emperor in Chinese history from 690 to 705 CE. Her reign marked a significant period of political and cultural advancement, although it was also marked by controversy due to her unconventional rise to power.

Another prominent figure with the Wu surname was Wu Cheng'en, a 16th-century novelist best known for his classic work "Journey to the West." This novel, which tells the story of the famous Buddhist monk Xuanzang's journey to India, is considered one of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature.

In the field of martial arts, the Wu surname is closely associated with the Wu family of Hunan province, who developed a style of internal martial arts known as Wu-style Tai Chi Chuan. This style, which dates back to the 17th century, was founded by Wu Quanyou (1834-1902) and has since become one of the most widely practiced forms of Tai Chi in the world.

Other notable individuals with the Wu surname include Wu Changshuo (1844-1927), a renowned calligrapher and painter during the Qing Dynasty, and Wu Jingzi (1701-1754), a scholar and philosopher who made significant contributions to the study of the Yi Jing, an ancient Chinese classic text.

Throughout its long history, the Wu surname has maintained a strong presence in various regions of China and has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including military leaders, writers, artists, and scholars. Its enduring legacy serves as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of China.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wu

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

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

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

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