The Chu Family#

Surname: Chu, pronounced as “chǔ”

Distribution of the Chu Family#

• Hedong Commandery: Hedong Commandery was established during the Qin Dynasty, with its administrative center located in present-day Xia County, Shanxi Province. According to “Fengsu Tong,” the Chu family originated from a descendant of Chu Zi, a prominent official of the State of Qi. The family’s reputation originated from Hedong.
• Yingyang Commandery: In the Spring and Autumn period, it was known as “Lushang”; during the Warring States period, it was called “Juyang.” It belonged to Yingzhou Commandery in the Qin Dynasty, was renamed “Xiyang” in the Han Dynasty, “Yingyang” during the Wei and Jin dynasties, was incorporated into Ruyin during the Tang and Song dynasties, belonged to Yingzhou in the Yuan Dynasty, and was later placed under the jurisdiction of Fengyang Prefecture in the Ming Dynasty.

Origins of the Chu Family#

The surname “Chu” originates from a family descended from a father and his sons. During the Spring and Autumn period, there was an official from the State of Qi named Chu Zi who interacted with Mencius. The descendants of Chu Zi adopted the ancestral name “Chu” as their family name.

Patriarch of the Chu Family:
Chu Taibo is considered the patriarch of the Chu family. According to researchers in the field of surnames, the Chu family in China is descended from Chu Zi, who was associated with Mencius. This lineage is also documented in works such as “Xingshou Kaolue” and “Qianjia Xing Chayuan.” The Chu family has a long history, having become renowned as early as the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, with a history of over 3,000 years. After the Jin Dynasty, the Chu family became particularly prominent in the regions of Jiangnan, especially in the southern part of present-day Jiangsu Province, where they were considered a prominent and influential clan. The ancestral home of the Chu family was located in Hedong Commandery (north of present-day Xia County, Shanxi Province). Descendants of the Chu family revere Chu Taibo as the progenitor of their surname.

Migration and Distribution:
During the Song Dynasty, the population of the Chu family was less than 10,000, mainly distributed in Fujian, Jiangsu, Henan, Zhejiang, and other regions, with Fujian being the largest province for the Chu family, accounting for about 33% of the national population. By the Ming Dynasty, the Chu family had grown to about 26,000 people, with Jiangsu still being the largest province, accounting for approximately 41% of the national population. Other significant populations were found in Anhui, Zhejiang, Ningxia, Jiangxi, Hubei, and Hunan. Today, the Chu family has a population of about 230,000, ranking 267th among the most common surnames in China, accounting for approximately 0.018% of the national population. Over the past 1,000 years since the Song Dynasty, the population of the Chu family has exhibited an increasing trend. The current distribution of the Chu family is mainly concentrated in Anhui, followed by Jiangsu, Shanghai, Hunan, Zhejiang, Tianjin, and Shaanxi. In certain areas, such as Anhui, Jiangsu, northwestern Zhejiang, northern Jiangxi, eastern and southwestern Hubei, eastern Henan, southern Shaanxi, northern and southeastern Chongqing, most of Hunan and Guizhou, Guangxi, and northwestern Guangdong, the Chu family accounts for more than 0.06% of the local population; in the central areas, this proportion can reach over 0.3%. These regions cover approximately 11.6% of the total national area and are home to about 61% of the Chu family members.

Hall Names:

• Shengzhu Hall: This hall is associated with the ancestral temple of the Chu family in Guanlin Town, Yixing City, Jiangsu Province. There are three ancestral temples in total, all located in Chuxiang Village. The Chu family descended from Hedong Commandery in Shandong and has flourished for generations. The temple was built to honor their ancestors, and the family motto “Five Phoenixes Flying Together” (referring to a time when five members of the Chu family simultaneously passed imperial examinations) encourages descendants to pursue knowledge and success.
• Xuezheng Hall: This hall is located in Xiyang Village, Hai'an County, Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, and contains a detailed family genealogy.