Liu
A common Chinese surname, most often written with the character 刘/劉, and also found in other East Asian naming traditions.
The #411 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 3,940 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Liu is best known as a Chinese surname, usually written 刘 in simplified Chinese or 劉 in traditional Chinese. The character is an ancient surname and was also historically associated with the idea of a kind of agricultural or ritual tool in older explanations, though in surname use it functions primarily as a hereditary family name rather than a descriptive word. In pinyin, Liu commonly represents the Mandarin pronunciation of 刘/劉.
History
Liu is among the most widespread surnames in China and is especially well known because it was the family name of the Han dynasty imperial house. It has also spread widely through Chinese diaspora communities, which is why it appears frequently in modern census data in countries such as the United States. In some Romanizations and related East Asian contexts, the same spelling can reflect different underlying names or pronunciations.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Several major Chinese historical figures and dynasties, including the Han emperors, bore the surname Liu.
From the historical record
“Georxe Cnnke, of ttewboroafli, i« Wilk at CheMer liU5-i6w), p. 4K. John Crooke, of Pe»x.in-?nidle, 15 OBOPPBB”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with special American instances