Distribution
In 2019 劉 was the fourth most common surname in Mainland China. Additionally, it was the most common surname in Jiangxi province. In 2013 it was found to be the 5th most common surname, shared by 67,700,000 people or 5.1% of the population, with the province with the most people being Shandong.中国四百大姓, 袁义达, 邱家儒, Beijing Book Co. Inc., 1 January 2013Origin
One source is that they descend from the Qi (surname)#Q.C3.AD .28.E7.A5.81.29 surname, Qí (祁) clan of Emperor Yao. For example the founding emperor of the Han dynasty (one of China's golden ages), Liu Bang (Emperor Gaozu of Han) was a descendant of Emperor Yao. Another origin is from the Ji (Zhou dynasty ancestral surname), Jī (姬) clan of King Qing of Zhou. For example, , the youngest son of King Qing of Zhou, founded the and his descendants took state names as surname.History
Liu was a place name in ancient China (located in present-day Henan). The Liu family name has two main origins from this place name. Kong Jia, Kongjia, the fourteenth king of the Xia dynasty, was given a male and a female dragon as a reward for his obedience to the god of heaven, but could not train them, so he hired a dragon-trainer named 劉累, Liu Lei (劉累), who had learned how to train dragons from Huanlong. 劉累, Liu Lei was a descendant of Emperor Yao, won the admiration of King Kong Jia, KongJia for his skill in raising dragons. In order to reward 劉累, Liu Lei, King Kong Jia, KongJia granted him Liu (place) as his fief. 劉累, Liu Lei took the name of his fief as his family name. One day, the female dragon died unexpectedly, so 劉累, Liu Lei secretly chopped her up, cooked her meat, and served it to the king, who loved it so much that he demanded 劉累, Liu Lei to serve him the same meal again. Since 劉累, Liu Lei had no means of procuring more dragon meat, he fled the palace. 劉累, Liu Lei was the first person surnamed Liu in Chinese history, and his descendant Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang founded the Han dynasty. During the Zhou dynasty, King Ding of Zhou granted Liu (place) to his younger brother Ji Jizi (姬季子) as a fief. Ji Jizi also took his fief name as his family name. Liu became a State and Ji Jizi ruled the State of Liu as Duke Kang of Liu. After more than a hundred years under the rule of the Liu family, the State of Liu was destroyed by the central government of the Zhou dynasty. Liu was the ruling family of the Han dynasty, one of the most prosperous and influential empires in Chinese history. After the Chen Sheng Wu Guang uprising overthrew the Qin, the Han dynasty was founded by Emperor Liu Bang. Later, Emperor Liu Che helped expand the Han dynasty even further, ushering in a golden age for China. The Han dynasty had 30 emperors were surnamed Liu, making it among the Chinese dynasties that had the most emperors. The Han dynasty lasted 400 years, making it one of the longest lasting Chinese empires in history. The Han is what gives its name to the Han people as well as Han characters / Hanzi / Chinese characters. Even after the Han dynasty, several Liu continued to hold power within China including Liu Bei (written about in Records of the Three Kingdoms) and Liu Yuan (Han Zhao). Over history, several non-Han Chinese people have converted to the Liu surname, including Xiongnu and Turks.Historical figures
* , son of King Qing of Zhou and founder of the * Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, Founder of the Han dynasty as Emperor Gaozu of Han * Liu Jiao (prince), Liu Jiao (Chu Kingdom (Han dynasty), King of Chu), the younger brother of Liu Bang and famous scholar * Emperor Hui of Han, Liu Ying, Second Emperor of the Han dynasty * Emperor Wen of Han, Liu Heng, Fifth Emperor of the Han dynasty * Emperor Jing of Han, Liu Qi, Sixth Emperor of the Han dynasty * Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, Seventh Emperor of the Han dynasty known for expanding the Han dynasty to its fullest extent and for a long reign of 54 years * Liu An (King of Huainan), advisor to his nephew, Emperor Wu of Han. Best known for editing the (139 BCE) Huainanzi compendium of Daoist, Confucianist, and Legalist teachings * Liu Sheng, Prince of Zhongshan, Liu Sheng (King of Zhongshan), the direct ancestor of the Shu Han emperors, had more than 120 sons * Liu Xiang (scholar), Liu Xiang, government official, scholar, and author of who lived during the Han dynasty * Emperor Zhao of Han, Liu Fuling, Emperor of the Han dynasty * Marquis of Haihun, Liu He, Emperor of the Han dynasty * Emperor Xuan of Han, Liu Xun, Emperor of the Han dynasty * Emperor Yuan of Han, Liu Shi, Emperor of the Han dynasty * Emperor Cheng of Han, Liu Ao, Emperor of the Han dynasty * Emperor Ai of Han, Liu Xin, Emperor of the Han dynasty * Emperor Ping of Han, Liu Kan, Emperor of the Han dynasty * Liu Xin (scholar), Liu Xin, astronomer, historian, and editor during the Han dynasty * Gengshi Emperor, Liu Xuan, Emperor Gengshi of the Han dynasty * Liu Yan (Xin dynasty), general and older brother of Emperor Guangwu of Han, Liu Xiu * Emperor Guangwu of Han, Liu Xiu, The restorer of the Han dynasty and the founding emperor of the Eastern Han dynasty * Liu Dai, politician during the Eastern Han dynasty * Liu Du (warlord), warlord and politician during the Eastern Han dynasty * Liu Yan (Han dynasty warlord), politician and warlord during the Eastern Han dynasty * Liu Biao, warlord during the late Eastern Han dynasty * Emperor Ming of Han, Liu Zhuang, Emperor of the Han dynasty * Emperor Zhang of Han, Liu Da, Emperor of the Han dynasty * Emperor He of Han, Liu Zhao, Emperor of the Han dynasty * Emperor An of Han, Liu Hu, Emperor of the Han dynasty * Emperor Shun of Han, Liu Bao, Emperor of the Han dynasty * Emperor Huan of Han, Liu Zhi, Emperor of the Han dynasty * Emperor Ling of Han, Liu Hong, Emperor of the Han dynasty * Emperor Xian of Han, Liu Xie, Last emperor of the Han dynasty * Liu Bei (161–223), Founding emperor of Shu Han * Liu Shan (207–271), Second emperor of Shu Han * Liu Hong (astronomer), Liu Hong, astronomer and mathematician of the Han dynasty * Liu Hui, mathematician during The Three Kingdoms period * Liu Yan (Shu Han), general during the Three Kingdoms Period * Liu Ji (Three Kingdoms), official of Eastern Wu * Liu Kun (Jin dynasty), Liu Kun, general, poet and musician of the Western Jin * Liu Yuan (Han Zhao), Liu Yuan, First emperor of Han Zhao * Liu He (Han Zhao), Liu He, Second emperor of Han Zhao * Liu Cong (Han Zhao), Liu Cong, Third emperor of Han Zhao * Liu Can, Fourth emperor of Han Zhao * Liu Yao, Fifth emperor of Han Zhao * Liu E (Han Zhao), Empress Liu E, Empress of Han Zhao * Liu Yu, Founder of the Liu Song as Emperor Wu of Liu Song * Liu Yilong, Emperor Wen of Liu Song * Empress Liu (Zhenzong), Empress Liu, Empress of Northern Song * Liu Sanjie, folk music singer during the Southern Song dynasty * Liu Zhiyuan, Founding emperor of Later Han * Liu Chong, Founding emperor of Northern Han * Liu Yan (emperor), Liu Yan, Founding emperor of Southern Han * Liu Rengui, chancellor and general of the Tang dynasty * Liu Xiangdao, chancellor of the Tang dynasty * Liu Ji (general), general of the Tang dynasty * Liu Ji (Tang chancellor), chancellor of the Tang dynasty * Liu Yan (Tang dynasty), Chinese economist and politician during the Tang dynasty * Liu Zhan, chancellor and official of the Tang dynasty * Liu Chongwang, chancellor of the Tang dynasty * Liu Changqing, famous poet and politician * Liu Yuxi, famous poet and statesman * Liu Kezhuang, famous poet of southern song * Liu Xu, chancellor of Later Tang and Later Jin * Liu Bingzhong, chancellor of the Yuan dynasty * Liu Bowen, famous poet, statesman, strategist and thinker * Liu Tongxun, politician of the Qing dynasty * Liu Yong (Qing dynasty), Liu Yong, politician and calligrapher of the Qing dynasty * Liu Mingchuan, First Governor of Taiwan under Qing rule, Taiwan * Liu Ji (politician), (born 1887), 11th Republic-era mayor of Beijing.Notable people
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