Xu (surname 徐)



Xu is a Chinese-language surname. In the Wade-Giles system of romanization, it is spelled as "Hsu", which is commonly used in Taiwan or overseas Chinese communities. It is different from Xu (surname 許), represented by a different character.

Variations in other Chinese varieties and languages

In Wu Chinese including Shanghainese, the surname 徐 is transcribed as Zee, as seen in the historical place name Zikawei in Shanghai. In Gan Chinese, it can be spelled Hi or Hé.
In Cantonese, 徐 is often transcribed as Tsui, T'sui, Choi, Chooi, Chui or even Tsua.
In modern Vietnamese, the character 徐 is written Từ and Sy when migrating to the English-speaking World, particularly the United States. Other spellings include Hee and Hu.
In Japanese, the surname 徐 is transliterated as Omomuro or Jo.
In Korean, 徐 is romanized as Seo in the Revised Romanization of Korean and written 서 in Hangul.

Origin

According to legend, Ruomu was one of the two sons of Boyi. Boyi successfully assisted Yu the Great with resolving the Flood, so the King conferred one of the eight noble tribal names, Yíng, to the family of Boyi; and simultaneously Ruomu was appointed as the King of the land of Xú. This was the beginning of the establishment of the state Xú. The state has been reigned over by the royal family for more than a thousand years, and had 44 monarchs.
The state of Xú was eliminated by the state of Wú, since then in order to commemorate their ancestral pride, descendants of King Ruo'mu adopted their country's name, Xú, as their surname. Therefore, the surname, Xú, is originated from King Ruo'mu, and it belongs to the noble tribe of Yíng.
Jiangsu is the province with the highest concentration of the surname Xu.

Notable people with surname

Fictional characters