Gu (surname)
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| Language(s) | Chinese |
|---|---|
| Origin | |
| Region of origin | China |
Gu can refer to several different Chinese or Korean family names. Some places, such as Hongkong or South Korea, usually romanize this family name into "Koo" or "Ku".
Gu Surname Variation
China
- The family name Gù (simplified Chinese: 顾; traditional Chinese: 顧; lit. 'to care for'), the most common and is ranked #88 on the list of top Chinese family names, according to the 2006 Chinese census (excluding Taiwan).
- The family name Gŭ (谷, meaning valley), came about when a noble family of the Zhou Dynasty was rewarded a fief in a valley area. The descendants of the family adopted the name to link their lineage to that history.
- The family name Gŭ (古, meaning ancient), is extremely rare in China.
- The family name Gŭ (骨, meaning bone), is even more rare.
- The family name Gū (辜, meaning crime), is just as rare. Prominent bearers of this surname include Koo Chen-fu (Taiwanese diplomat, businessman and former head and heir to the Koos Group) and Gu Hongming (Malaysian-born intellectual and polyglot).
Korea
- The family name "Gu" (Korean: 구; Hanja: 具), the common Korean family name in South Korea.
- The family name "Gu" (Korean: 구; Hanja: 仇), the Korean family name, came from Nanyang, Henan, China.
- The family name "Gu" (Korean: 구; Hanja: 丘), the rare family name in South Korea.
- The family name "Gu" (Korean: 구; Hanja: 邱), the extremely rare family name in South Korea.
History
China
Northern lineage
The survivors of uncultured unknown kingdom adopted the name and became the northern lineage of the family Gu. After the area annexed by Shang Dynasty.
Southern lineage
A second, southern lineage of the family Gu came around the Spring & Autumn Period. Although they technically did not obtain that name until the Han Dynasty. The Southern lineage of Gu family makes up the majority of all those who bear the name today. A book of family tree was published.[1]
The Gu family traces its origins to the Yue Kingdom, which was later destroyed around 306 BC during the Warring States period. At the beginning of the Han dynasty, the 7th generation descendant of King Goujian of Yue was named Yao, a regional warlord. He assisted the royal family of the Han dynasty in establishing the new dynasty. For his service, the Han emperor rewarded Yao with the title of "King of Eastern Sea". Yao later bestowed his own son the title of "Duke of Gu Yu". Thus his descendants proclaimed themselves the last name "Gu", and called "Gu Yao" as the 1st Ancestor of "Gu".
According to a 2002 article [2] similar trace of that family was confirmed through historical archives. Other commentaries are found at [3] and [4]
Most recent
The surviving members of disputed official changed their names and concealed their royal bloodline to hide their shame. One of the adopted names was Gu.
Distribution
This family name can be found mostly in eastern and southern Chinese provinces, especially in Jiangsu, Northern Zhejiang, and around the city of Shanghai. This surname can also be found in Korea, Vietnam and Indonesia.
Notable people
China
Prominent bearer of this surname include:
- Gu Yong, minister of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period
- Gu Tan, minister of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period
- Gu Kaizhi, celebrated painter of ancient China during the Jin Dynasty
- Gu Yanwu, a scholar in late Ming and early Qing period
- Wellington Koo (Gu Weijun), the diplomat who represented China in the League of Nations
- Gu Jiegang, the modern Chinese historian who advocated a modern view of China as a diverse culture, rather than the traditional homogeneous culture