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Fu Family History

Fu Surname Meaning

Chinese surnames such as 傅, 付, 符, 扶, 伏, 福, 富, 甫, and 宓 each have unique meanings and historical significance. The surname 傅, pronounced 'Fu,' translates to 'master' or 'teacher.' It is believed to have originated from Fu Yue, a prime minister from the Shang dynasty, or from the placename Fu, a fief granted during the Western Zhou dynasty.

Another surname, 付, meaning 'commit' or 'pay,' also has historical roots. It is associated with Shi Fu, an individual from the state of Zheng in the Spring and Autumn period. Additionally, it serves as a simplified form of 傅, linking it further to the ancestry of the name.

The surname 符, translating to 'tally,' is derived from a post held by a grandson of Duke Qing of Lu, who migrated to Qin. In contrast, 扶 means 'help' or 'support,' and its origins can be traced back to the reign of Xia Yu, the first king of the Xia dynasty, or a lineage supported by the Emperor Gaozu of Han.

Another form, 伏, means 'dog days' or 'subdue,' and is linked to legendary figures like Fu Xi. This surname has ties to students of Confucius and was adopted by families from the Xianbei ethnic group during the Northern Wei dynasty. The surname 福 denotes 'good fortune' and has associations with officials from the state of Qi as well as the Ming dynasty.

Furthermore, 富 means 'rich' and relates to descendants of Fu Chen and the compound surname Fu-Fu. The surname 甫 serves as a courtesy name with connections to ancient states in Henan province, while 宓 appears in Mandarin with another pronunciation. Lastly, variations of these surnames, like 胡 and 扈, highlight the diversity within Chinese surnames and their historical narratives.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Fu family from?

You can see how Fu families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Fu family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Fu families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there was 1 Fu family living in Nottinghamshire. This was 100% of all the recorded Fu's in United Kingdom. Nottinghamshire had the highest population of Fu families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Fu surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Fu ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Fu. 100% of Fu women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Fu | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    100%

What Fu family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Fu. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Fu census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Fu

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Fu. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 11,000 military records available for the last name Fu. For the veterans among your Fu ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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You've only scratched the surface of Fu family history

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What is the average Fu lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Fu life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1974, and highest in 1967. The average life expectancy for Fu in 1963 was 74, and 73 in 2004.

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Fu ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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