History of your Surname
Get access to Lu family records.Start a free trial

Lu Family History

Lu Name Meaning

Chinese: Mandarin and Cantonese form of the surname 盧 meaning both ‘black’in ancient Chinese: (i) from the placename Lu (盧) the name of a fief (located in Changqing in Shandong province) granted to Xi a great-grandson of Jiang Tai Gong or Jiang Ziya (c. 11th century BC). (ii) shortened form of the compound Chinese surname Lu-Pu (盧蒲 also written as 蘆蒲) borne by descendants of the Duke Huan of Qi (ruler of the state of Qi died 643 BC). (iii) from the placename of Lu (廬) the name of an ancient state (unknown location) prior to the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC). When it was adopted as a surname the Chinese character 廬 was simplified to 盧. (iv) from the Mo Lu (莫蘆) family from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China who changed their original surnames to 蘆 during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD) and later some descendants simplified the Chinese character 蘆 to 盧. (v) from the Tu Fu Lu (吐伏盧) family from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China who changed their original surnames to 盧 during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD). Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 蘆 meaning ‘reed’ in Chinese: (i) shortened form of the compound Chinese surname Lu Pu (盧蒲 also written as 蘆蒲) which was borne by descendants of the Duke Huan of Qi (ruler of the state of Qi died 643 BC). (ii) from the Mo Lu (莫蘆) family from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China who changed their original surnames to 蘆 during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD). Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 魯 meaning ‘slow clumsy’ in Chinese: from Lu (魯) the name of a state (located mainly in present-day Shandong province) originally granted to Bo Qin a prince in the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC). After the state was annexed by the state of Chu in 256 BC Lu (魯) was adopted as a surname. Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 路 meaning ‘roads’ in Chinese: (i) from Lu (路) the name of an ancient state (unknown location) during the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC) said to be originally granted to Xuan Yuan by the legendary Emperor Yao (c. 24th century BC). (ii) from Lu Zi (潞子) the name of a state (located in Changzhi in Shanxi province) during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). After it was annexed by the state of Jin the Chinese character 潞 was simplified to 路 and adopted as a surname. (iii) said to be borne by descendants of Qiu Yan who was a descendant of the legendary Huang Di the ‘Yellow Emperor’ (c. 27th century BC). (iv) from the Mo Lu Zhen (沒路真) family from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China who changed their original surnames to 路 during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD). (v) the surname can also be traced back to some families from the Huns (located in ancient northern China) and Shanyue ethnic group (located in ancient southeastern China). Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 陸 meaning ‘six’ or ‘land’ in Chinese: (i) from the first element of the placename Lu Xiang (陸鄉) the name of a fief (located in Pingyuan in Shandong province) said to be originally granted to Lu Zhong a descendant of the legendary Huang Di the ‘Yellow Emperor’ (c. 27th century BC). During the Warring States period (475–221 BC) the fief was also granted to Tian Tong the youngest son of King Xuan of Qi (ruler of the state of Qi died 301 BC). (ii) from the first element of Lu Hun (陸渾) the name of an ancient state (located in Songxian in Henan province) established by a minority ethnic group in northwestern China during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). After the state of Lu Hun was annexed by the state of Jin Lu (陸) was adopted as a surname. (iii) from the Bu Lu Hu (步陸狐) family from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China who changed their original surname to 陸 during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD). (iv) for some families the surname can be traced back to the Li ethnic group in Guizhou province as well as the Huns during the Western Han dynasty (206 BC–25 AD). Chinese: variant Mandarin Romanization of the surname 呂 (supposed to be romanized as Lü but the umlaut is often missing in English) meaning ‘pitchpipe’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from Lü (呂) the name of a state (located in Nanyang in Henan province) granted to Lü Hou (呂侯 Marquis of Lü) by Xia Yu the first king of the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC) because of his contributions to controlling floods. After the state was annexed by the state of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC) the name of the state was adopted as a surname. (ii) from the Chi Lü (叱呂) Si Lü Ling (俟呂陵) and some other families members of the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China who changed their original surnames to 呂 during the Southern and Northern dynasties (420–589 AD). (iii) from the placename Lü (呂) the name of a fief (located in present-day Shanxi province) which was granted to Lü Xiang (呂相) son of an official who lived in the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC).7: Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 鹿 meaning ‘deer’ in Chinese: (i) from the second element of the placename Wulu (五鹿) (located in Shalu town Puyang in Henan province) a fief granted to an official from the state of Wey during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (ii) adopted as a surname by the A Lu Huan (阿鹿桓) family from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD).8: Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 逯 meaning ‘walking freely’ in Chinese: (i) from the placename Lu (逯) the name of a fief in the state of Qin during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (ii) said to be borne by the descendants of the royal families in the state of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC).9: Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 禄 meaning ‘emolument’ in Chinese: (i) from the first element of the personal name Lu Fu (禄父) style name of Wu Geng son of Zhou (the last king of the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC)). (ii) from the second element of Si Lu (司禄) the name of an official post the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC). (iii) from Lu (禄) personal name of the crown prince of King Ling of Chu (ruler of the state of Chu died 529 BC). (iv) adopted as a surname by the Duo Lu (咄禄) family during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD). (v) borne by the descendants of Lu Dong Zan (禄東赞) (died 667 AD) chief of the Tibetan Empire.10: Chinese: variant Mandarin Romanization of the surname 閭 (supposed to be romanized as Lü but the umlaut is often missing in English): (i) shortened form of the compound Chinese surname Lü Qiu (閭丘) borne by the descendants of Lü-Qiu Ying (閭丘婴) an official in the state of Qi during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (ii) from the first element of Lü Shi (閭師) the name of an official post during the Zhou dynasty (1046–256 BC) in charge of taxes. (iii) from the second element of Zi Lü (子閭) style name of Qi son of King Ping of Chu (ruler of the state of Chu died 516 BC). (iv) adopted as a surname by the Yu Jiu Lü (鬱久閭) family during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD).1 Chinese: variant Romanization of the surname 廖 see Liao .1 Vietnamese (Lữ): alternative variant for the Chinese surname 呂 (see 6 above); see also La .

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


Similar surnames: Xu, Wu, Yu, Gu, Fu, Li, Hu, Qu, Luo, Du

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Lu family from?

You can see how Lu families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Lu family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Lu families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 8 Lu families living in Lancashire. This was about 53% of all the recorded Lu's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Lu families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Lu surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Lu ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Lu. 45% of Lu women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. .

View Census Data for Lu | 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
    45%
  • Old Age Pensioner
    34%
  • Domestic Servant
    23%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Lu family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 20,000 census records available for the last name Lu. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Lu census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Lu

Passenger Lists

There are 8,000 immigration records available for the last name Lu. 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.

View all Lu immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 19,000 military records available for the last name Lu. For the veterans among your Lu ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Lu military records

You've only scratched the surface of Lu family history

Discover More

What is the average Lu lifespan?

Between 1966 and 2004, in the United States, Lu life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1975, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Lu in 1966 was 59, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Lu

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Lu family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Lu last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial