Xu (surname 胥) explained

Xu (胥,) is a Chinese surname. It is romanized as Hsü in Wade–Giles and Seoi in Cantonese. According to a 2013 study, it was the 267th most common name in China; it was shared by 285,000 people, or 0.021% of the population, being most popular in Sichuan.^[1] It is the 285th name in the Hundred Family Surnames poem.^[2]

Origins

The character 胥 means "assist," "store" or "all;" it formerly referred to a kind of low-ranking official or assistant.^{[3] [4]} The surname is traced to:

• Xu Chen (胥臣), style name of an official in the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC)
• He Xu Shi (赫胥氏), a name of the legendary Yan Emperor^[5]

Notable people

• Xu Wumei (胥午梅, born 1962), news anchor
• Stefano Xu Hongwei (胥红伟, born 1975), Catholic bishop
• Xu Xu (胥栩, born 1998), footballer

Notes and References

1. [Yuan Yida]
2. K. S. Tom. [1989] (1989). Echoes from Old China: Life, Legends and Lore of the Middle Kingdom. University of Hawaii Press. .
3. Web site: 胥 - Chinese Character Detail Page. dictionary.writtenchinese.com.
4. Web site: My China Roots. www.mychinaroots.com.
5. Web site: Xu Surname Meaning & Xu Family History at Ancestry.com®. www.ancestry.com.