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

Wuu, 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 Wuu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wuu in America

Wuu is the 145220th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wuu surname appeared 114 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Wuu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wuu 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 Wuu

The surname Wuu originates from China and is considered to be particularly rare. It is closely linked to the Mandarin Chinese surname Wu, which is written as 吴 or 武 in Chinese characters. The modern simplified character 吴 historically referred to a region during the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BC). The other character, 武, translates to "martial" or "military" and is believed to be one of the oldest surnames in Chinese history, with roots going back around 4,000 years to the ancient state of Wu.

The name Wu has variations in spelling due to translation and romanization processes over centuries, particularly during the shifts in phonetic interpretations. The surname Wuu is thought to stem from these linguistic variations, potentially forming during the migration and settlement periods when Chinese populations moved internally and externally, especially during the imperial eras of ancient China.

Throughout Chinese history, many records and manuscripts reference the name Wu. Early historical references include inscriptions on oracle bones from the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC), which bear one of the earliest examples of the character 武.

One prominent historical figure was Wu Taibo, who lived around the 12th century BC and was the elder brother of King Wen of Zhou. Wu Taibo is often lauded for establishing the state of Wu and is credited with the formation of one of the great ancient Chinese surnames.

Records from the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) also show influential figures with the surname Wu. One notable individual was Wu Han, a historian and politician who served during the reign of Emperor Guangwu. He was born in 30 BC and died in 92 AD. His works contributed significantly to the historical texts of the Han Dynasty.

In the 7th century, Wu Zetian, born in 624 AD and dying in 705 AD, became the only female emperor of China. Known for her intelligence and political acumen, she significantly influenced Chinese history, her reign leaving an indelible mark, which led to increased recognition of the surname Wu.

In more recent centuries, the surname Wuu appeared in emigrant Chinese communities as families sought better opportunities abroad. The altered spelling, Wuu, began to appear in records more frequently as Chinese emigrants arrived in countries like the U.S. and other parts of Asia. It often indicated a transliteration of the same Chinese character 吴 or 武.

Historically documented individuals also include Wu Jingzi, a famous writer from the Qing Dynasty, born in 1701 and passed away in 1754. His notable work, "The Scholars," is a classic of Chinese literature that critiqued the bureaucratic and societal issues of his time.

In the realm of modern Chinese history, Wu Chien-Shiung, born in 1912 and known as Chien-Shiung Wu, was a Chinese-American experimental physicist who made significant contributions to the field of nuclear physics until her death in 1997.

Overall, the surname Wuu, while not as commonly recognized in historical texts as Wu, shares its storied legacy. Its origins stem from two prominent Chinese characters associated with regional and martial significance dating back millennia. Over centuries, historical and socio-political changes have influenced its adaptation and propagation, carried forward by distinguished individuals whose achievements have left lasting impressions on Chinese culture and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wuu

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

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

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

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