Gu (surname)
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Gu () is a Chinese family name. Some places such as
South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...
, and early immigrants from Wu-speaking region in China usually romanize this family name as "Koo" or "Ku". It is the 93rd name on the ''
Hundred Family Surnames The ''Hundred Family Surnames'' (), commonly known as ''Bai Jia Xing'', also translated as ''Hundreds of Chinese Surnames'', is a classic Chinese text composed of common Chinese surnames. An unknown author compiled the book during the Song dy ...
'' poem.K. S. Tom. 989(1989). Echoes from Old China: Life, Legends and Lore of the Middle Kingdom.
University of Hawaii Press A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, the ...
. .
The family name ''Gù'' () is the most common pronounced "Gu", as well as the only one pronounced "Gù" (Mandarin 4th tone) and is ranked #88 on the list of top Chinese family names, according to the 2006 Chinese census (excluding Taiwan).


History


China


Northern lineage

The surname Gu ("顾") descends from the kings of the first hereditary dynasty in China,
Xia dynasty The Xia dynasty () is the first dynasty in traditional Chinese historiography. According to tradition, the Xia dynasty was established by the legendary Yu the Great, after Shun, the last of the Five Emperors, gave the throne to him. In tradi ...
. A branch of the royal family was given a domain or a subsidiary kingdom with this name near the capital of Xia dynasty. On the way of taking over from Xia dynasty, the second dynasty,
Shang dynasty The Shang dynasty (), also known as the Yin dynasty (), was a Chinese royal dynasty founded by Tang of Shang (Cheng Tang) that ruled in the Yellow River valley in the second millennium BC, traditionally succeeding the Xia dynasty and ...
, first attacked and annexed the subsidiary kingdom with this surname and another subsidiary kingdom named "Wei" ("韦") of Xia dynasty. The survivors of the former subsidiary kingdom adopted the name and became the northern lineage of the family Gu.


Southern lineage

The founder king of Xia dynasty,
Yu the Great Yu the Great (大禹) was a legendary king in ancient China who was famed for his introduction of flood control, his establishment of the Xia dynasty which inaugurated dynastic rule in China, and his upright moral character. He figures prominen ...
, died in Kuaiji ("会稽"), nowadays
Shaoxing Shaoxing (; ) is a prefecture-level city on the southern shore of Hangzhou Bay in northeastern Zhejiang province, China. It was formerly known as Kuaiji and Shanyin and abbreviated in Chinese as (''Yuè'') from the area's former inhabitant ...
(“绍兴”), on his last imperial inspection tour, and was buried there ("禹穴"). During the reign of Xia dynasty, a branch of the royal family - which may or may not be the same branch of the subsidiary kingdom as mentioned above - was dispatched to Kuaiji ("会稽") to take care of the burial site ("禹穴") of the founder king, Yu the Great, and memorial rites commemorating the king. This branch evolved into Yue Kingdom around or possibly before the
Spring and Autumn period The Spring and Autumn period was a period in Chinese history from approximately 770 to 476 BC (or according to some authorities until 403 BC) which corresponds roughly to the first half of the Eastern Zhou period. The period's name derives fr ...
in the third dynasty
Zhou dynasty The Zhou dynasty ( ; Old Chinese ( B&S): *''tiw'') was a royal dynasty of China that followed the Shang dynasty. Having lasted 789 years, the Zhou dynasty was the longest dynastic regime in Chinese history. The military control of China by th ...
, as unearthed second dynasty Shang dynasty oracle bone already contemporaneously indicates the presence of a domain or kingdom named Yue. An ancestor of the Gu family was the most famous king of this Yue Kingdom,
Goujian Goujian () (reigned 496–465 BC) was the king of the Kingdom of Yue (越國, present-day northern Zhejiang) near the end of the Spring and Autumn period (春秋). He was the son of Marquis Yunchang. Goujian's reign coincided with arguably th ...
. He was the last of the five Hegemons in the historic
Spring and Autumn period The Spring and Autumn period was a period in Chinese history from approximately 770 to 476 BC (or according to some authorities until 403 BC) which corresponds roughly to the first half of the Eastern Zhou period. The period's name derives fr ...
, and had an incredibly beautiful sword unearthed in near mint condition several decades ago. A second, southern lineage of the family Gu descends from this branch, although they technically did not obtain that name until the
Han dynasty The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–207 BC) and a warr ...
. 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. The Gu family traces its origins to the Yue Kingdom, which was later destroyed around 306 BC in the third dynasty
Zhou dynasty The Zhou dynasty ( ; Old Chinese ( B&S): *''tiw'') was a royal dynasty of China that followed the Shang dynasty. Having lasted 789 years, the Zhou dynasty was the longest dynastic regime in Chinese history. The military control of China by th ...
during the
Warring States period The Warring States period () was an era in History of China#Ancient China, ancient Chinese history characterized by warfare, as well as bureaucratic and military reforms and consolidation. It followed the Spring and Autumn period and concluded ...
and partitioned between Chu and Qi. At the beginning of the
Han dynasty The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–207 BC) and a warr ...
, the 7th generation descendant of
King Goujian of Yue Goujian () (reigned 496–465 BC) was the king of the Kingdom of Yue (越國, present-day northern Zhejiang) near the end of the Spring and Autumn period (春秋). He was the son of Marquis Yunchang. Goujian's reign coincided with arguably th ...
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 similar trace of that family was confirmed through historical archives. Other commentaries are found at and


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 Jiangsu (; ; pinyin: Jiāngsū, Postal romanization, alternatively romanized as Kiangsu or Chiangsu) is an Eastern China, eastern coastal Provinces of the People's Republic of China, province of the China, People's Republic of China. It is o ...
, Northern
Zhejiang Zhejiang ( or , ; , also romanized as Chekiang) is an eastern, coastal province of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Hangzhou, and other notable cities include Ningbo and Wenzhou. Zhejiang is bordered by Jiang ...
, and around the city of
Shanghai Shanghai (; , , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ) is one of the four direct-administered municipalities of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The city is located on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the Huangpu River flow ...
, and is sometimes romanized as Koo. This surname can also be found in
Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...
,
Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...
and
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
.


Notable people


Chinese

Prominent bearer of this surname include: * The Gu clan of Wu, whose members served under the warlord
Sun Quan Sun Quan (, Chinese: 孫權) (183 – 21 May 252), courtesy name Zhongmou (), posthumously known as Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of the Eastern Wu dynasty, one of the Three Kingdoms of China. He inherited control of the warlord regime es ...
in the late
Eastern Han dynasty The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–207 BC) and a warr ...
and later in the state of
Eastern Wu Wu ( Chinese: 吳; pinyin: ''Wú''; Middle Chinese *''ŋuo'' < : ''*ŋuɑ''), known in h ...
during the
Three Kingdoms The Three Kingdoms () from 220 to 280 AD was the tripartite division of China among the dynastic states of Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu. The Three Kingdoms period was preceded by the Han dynasty#Eastern Han, Eastern Han dynasty and wa ...
period **
Gu Yong Gu Yong (168 – November or December 243), courtesy name Yuantan, was a minister and the second Imperial Chancellor of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of China. Born in the late Eastern Han dynasty in the Jiangdong r ...
, second chancellor of Eastern Wu ** Gu Hui, Gu Yong's brother, served under Sun Quan **
Gu Ti Gu Ti ( third century), courtesy name Zitong, was an official of the state of Eastern Wu in the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was a relative of Gu Yong, the second Imperial Chancellor of Eastern Wu. Life Gu Ti was from Wu County, Wu Com ...
, official of Eastern Wu **
Gu Shao Gu Shao ( 188–218), courtesy name Xiaoze, was an official serving under the warlord Sun Quan in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. Family background Gu Shao's ancestral home was in Wu County, Wu Commandery, which is present-day Suzhou, Ji ...
, Gu Yong's eldest son, official of Eastern Wu **
Gu Tan Gu Tan ( 205–246), courtesy name Zimo, was an official of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of China. Family background Gu Tan's ancestral home was in Wu County, Wu Commandery, which is present-day Suzhou, Jiangs ...
, Gu Shao's son, official of Eastern Wu ** Gu Cheng, Gu Shao's son, official of Eastern Wu ** Gu Rong ( :zh:顧榮; 顾荣), Gu Yong's grandson, served Jin dynasty after the fall of Eastern Wu, was a trusted advisor to
Emperor Yuan of Jin Emperor Yuan of Jin (; 276 – 3 January 323), personal name Sima Rui (司馬睿), courtesy name Jingwen (景文), was an emperor of the Jin dynasty and the first emperor of the Eastern Jin. His reign saw the steady gradual loss of Jin territor ...
, led established southern nobility to unite with exiled northern nobility, and played a pivotal role in preserving the Chinese civilization in a most precarious period - Invasion and rebellion of the Five Barbarians - culminated with the
Disaster of Yongjia The Disaster of Yongjia () refers to an event in Chinese history that occurred in 311 CE (5th year of the ''Yongjia'' era of the reign of Emperor Huai of Jin, hence the name), when forces of the Xiongnu-led Han Zhao dynasty captured and sacked ...
*
Gu Kaizhi Gu Kaizhi (; c. 344–406), courtesy name Changkang (), was a Chinese painter and politician. He was a celebrated painter of ancient China.Cihai: Page 1846. He was born in Wuxi and first painted at Nanjing in 364. In 366, he became an officer (Da ...
, celebrated painter of ancient China during the Jin dynasty *
Gu Yanwu Gu Yanwu () (July 15, 1613 – February 15, 1682), also known as Gu Tinglin (), was a Chinese philologist, geographer, and famous scholar-official in Qing dynasty. He spent his youth during the Manchu conquest of China in anti-Manchu activities a ...
, a scholar in late Ming and early Qing period *
Wellington Koo Koo Vi Kyuin (; January 29, 1888 – November 14, 1985), better known as V. K. Wellington Koo, was a statesman of the Republic of China. He was one of Republic of China's representatives at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919. Wellington Koo ...
(Gu Weijun), the diplomat who represented China in the League of Nations *
Gu Jiegang Gu Jiegang (8 May 189325 December 1980) was a Chinese historian best known for his seven-volume work '' Gushi Bian'' (, or ''Debates on Ancient History''). He was a co-founder and the leading force of the Doubting Antiquity School, and was hig ...
, the modern Chinese historian who advocated a modern view of China as a diverse culture, rather than the traditional homogeneous culture *
Ku Meng-yu Ku Meng-yu () was a politician in the Republic of China. He was the Vice Premier in 1948. References Political office-holders in the Republic of China 1888 births 1972 deaths Taiwanese people from Beijing {{Taiwan-KMT-politician- ...
, Vice Premier of the
Republic of China Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast ...
(1948) * Matthias Gu Zheng (simplified Chinese: 顾征; traditional Chinese: 顧征; pinyin: Gù Zhēng; born 17 February 1937) is a Chinese Catholic priest * Gu Cheng (顾城; 1956 – 1993) a Chinese modern poet * Gu Hongzhong (顾闳中; 937 – 975) was a Chinese painter during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period of Chinese history. *
Gu Shunzhang Gu Shunzhang (; 1903 – 1934), born Gu Fengming was an early leader, spymaster, and defector of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Sent to Soviet Russia to train in espionage, Gu was chosen by Zhou Enlai to lead the CCP's first intelligen ...
(顾顺章, 1903 – 1934), also known as Gu Fengming, born in Baoshan, Shanghai, was a leader of the
Chinese Communist Party The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), officially the Communist Party of China (CPC), is the founding and One-party state, sole ruling party of the China, People's Republic of China (PRC). Under the leadership of Mao Zedong, the CCP emerged victoriou ...
(CCP). *
Gu Zhutong GU, Gu, or gu may refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Gu (instrument), Chinese drums ** Bangu (drum) () or Gu (), a Chinese "flowerpot" drum * ''Global Underground'', an electronic dance music compilation series Other media * GU Comics, an ...
(simplified Chinese: 顾祝同, pinyin: Gù Zhùtòng; 1893 – 1987), courtesy name Moshan (墨山), was a military general and administrator of the Republic of China * Gu Ruzhang or Ku Yu-cheung (simplified Chinese: 顾汝章; pinyin: ''Gù Rǔzhāng''; 1894–1952) was a Chinese martial artist who disseminated the Bak Siu Lum (Northern Shaolin) martial arts system across southern China in the early 20th century. Selected by the
Central Guoshu Institute The Central Guoshu Institute () was established in Nanjing by the Kuomintang government of the Republic of China in March 1928 for the propagation of Chinese martial arts, and was an important center of martial arts during the Nanjing decade. ''Gu ...
to teach Northern martial arts to the South as one of the "Five Southbound Tigers". * Gu Jingzhou (顾景舟; 1915 – 1996) was a Chinese ceramic artist who specialised in the creation of zisha-ware teapots. He was a founder and Deputy Director of Research and Technology at the Number One Yixing Factory. * Joseph Gu (顾约瑟) was former senior pastor of the Chongyi Church in Hangzhou, one of the largest churches in China today, and former head of the Zhejiang Christian Council *
Gu Kuang Gu Kuang (顧況) (fl. 757) was a Tang Dynasty poet. Biography Gu Kuang was born around 727. He died around 816. Works cited * External links * *Books of the ''Quan Tangshi'' that include collected poems of Gu Kuang at the Chinese Text ...
(顧況) (fl. 757) was a Tang dynasty poet. *
Gu Jun Gu Jun (; born 3 January 1975) is a Chinese former badminton player. Career Gu and her regular partner Ge Fei were the world's dominant women's doubles team from the mid-1990s to their retirement after the 2000 Olympics. They won over thirty t ...
(simplified Chinese: 顾俊, 1975 –) was a Chinese badminton player in the 1990s from Wuxi, Jiangsu * Gu Hengbo, Gu Mei, (Chinese: 顧媚; Wade–Giles: Ku Mei; 1619 – 1664), better known by her art name Gu Hengbo (Chinese: 顧橫波; Wade–Giles: Ku Heng-po), also known as Xu Mei and Xu Zhizhu after her marriage, was a Chinese courtesan, poet and painter *
Gu Zhongchen Gu Zhongchen (; Hepburn: Ko Chōchin; 1860 – July 31, 1945) was a military leader and politician at the end of Qing dynasty and in the early Republic of China. His courtesy name was Yangwu (). Biography Gu Zhongchen was born in Wuxi, Jiangs ...
(顧忠琛; pinyin: Gù Zhōngchēn; 1860 – July 31, 1945) was a military leader and politician at the end of Qing dynasty and in the early Republic of China * Gu Deng (顾澄; 1882 - 1947?) was a mathematician and politician at the end of Qing dynasty and in the early Republic of China. His courtesy name was Yangwu (養捂) *
Gu Yanhui Gu Yanhui (顧彥暉) (d. November 16, 897Academia Sinica Chinese-Western Calendar Converter
(顧彥暉) (d. November 16 897) was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang dynasty * Gu Changsheng (顾长声; 1919 – 2015) Chinese scholar of the history of Christianity in China * Gu Fangzhou (顾方舟;1926 – 2019) Chinese virologist who eradicated
polio Poliomyelitis, commonly shortened to polio, is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. Approximately 70% of cases are asymptomatic; mild symptoms which can occur include sore throat and fever; in a proportion of cases more severe s ...
in China * Gu Yuan (顾原; 1982 –) female hammer thrower from PR China * Gu Xingqing (顧杏卿, c. 1894 – ?) Chinese interpreter and writer who wrote the only book-length account of World War I by a Chinese national


Korean

*
Koo Bon-moo Koo Bon-moo ( ko, 구본무; 10 February 1945 – 20 May 2018) was a South Korean business executive, who gained worldwide fame as the renamer and business executive of the LG Group. Early life Born on 10 February 1945 in Jinju, South Gyeongsa ...
(1945–2018), South Korean business executive *
Koo Cha-kyung Koo Cha-kyung () (24 April 1925 – 14 December 2019) was a South Korean business executive. He was the chairman of LG Group from 1970 until his retirement in 1995. He took the company public in 1970 and was chairman during the company's growth ...
(1925–2019), South Korean business executive *
Changmo Ku Chang-mo (Hangul: 구창모; born May 31, 1994), known mononymously as Changmo (창모; stylized in all caps), is a South Korean rapper and producer. He released his debut album ''M O T O W N'' on March 18, 2016. In October 2016 he joined ...
, South Korean rapper and producer *
Goo Hara Goo Hara (; January 3, 1991 – November 24, 2019), also known mononymously as Hara, was a South Korean pop singer and actress. She was a member of the girl group Kara (South Korean group), Kara, and had also appeared in television dramas inc ...
, South Korean singer and actress, member of girl group
Kara Kara or KARA may refer to: Geography Localities * Kara, Chad, a sub-prefecture * Kára, Hungary, a village * Kara, Uttar Pradesh, India, a township * Kara, Iran, a village in Lorestan Province * Kara, Republic of Dagestan, a rural locality in Da ...
* Koo In-hwoi (1906–1969), South Korean businessman *
Koo Ja-cheol Koo Ja-cheol (; or ; born 27 February 1989) is a South Korean footballer who plays for Jeju United as a midfielder. Koo is one of the three most successful South Korean players with careers in the German Bundesliga, alongside Cha Bum-kun an ...
, South Korean footballer * Koo Junhoe, South Korean singer, member of boy band
iKon iKon (), stylized as iKON, is a South Korean boy band formed in 2015 by YG Entertainment, consisting of six members: Jay, Song, Bobby, DK, Ju-ne and Chan. Originally a seven-piece band, leader B.I departed from the group in June 2019. Ini ...
*
Younghoe Koo Younghoe Koo (; pronounced ; born August 3, 1994) is a South Korean player of American football who is a placekicker for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2020. Koo played college ...
, Korean-American gridiron football placekicker


References

* http://www.taiwan.cn/zppd/XSDG/200901/t20090106_811068.htm 中国最新300大姓排名(2008)" 00 most common surnames in China (2008)(in Chinese). Taiwan.cn. 2009-01-06. Retrieved 2018-05-13. {{surname Chinese-language surnames Korean-language surnames Individual Chinese surnames