The Bu Family Name#

Family Name: Bu, Pronunciation: bǔ

Regions Where the Bu Family Name Is Found**#

Xihé County, Shanxi Province; Xupu County, Hunan Province.

Origin of the Bu Family Name**#

The Bu family name ranks 150th among Chinese family names in popularity, with a relatively large population, accounting for approximately 0.07% of the total Han population in China.

Origins of the "Bu" Name:

1. Derived from the Si family name: This lineage traces back to Xia Qi, a descendant of the ancient Xia dynasty's ruler Yu the Great, who adopted his official title as his family name. According to "Lüshi," "Xia Qi had the Bu family name, and later, Shu Xiu also had the Bu family name." This is one of the earliest origins of the Bu family name. Additionally, according to "Fengsu Tong," Shu Xiu, a son of King Tai Kang of the Zhou dynasty, was granted a fief in Xin (an ancient city located southeast of today's Heyang, Shaanxi Province). Since his position involved forecasting, his descendants adopted his official title as their family name.
2. Derived from the Ji family name: This lineage originates from Shu Xiu, a son of King Wen of the Zhou dynasty and brother of King Wu of the Zhou dynasty. He also adopted his official title as his family name. According to "Lüshi," Shu Xiu held a position related to forecasting.
3. Descendants of fortune-tellers from the Shang and Zhou dynasties: These individuals adopted their official titles as their family names. According to "Xingyuan," descendants of these fortune-tellers from the Zhou dynasty adopted their official titles as their family names. According to "Fengsu Tong," officials in charge of forecasting during the Shang and Zhou dynasties were called "Taibu," and their subordinates were called "Buren." Some of their descendants adopted "Bu" as their family name.
4. Descendants of fortune-tellers during the Spring and Autumn period: During this time, notable figures such as Bu Yan from the Jin state, Bu Tufu from the Qin state, and Bu Chuchiu from the Lu state all held positions related to forecasting, and their descendants adopted their official titles as their family names.
5. Family names derived from other ethnic groups or changes in ethnicity: Some family names originated from other ethnic groups that adopted the "Bu" name, or from people who changed their ethnic names to "Bu."
6. Derived from occupations: In ancient times, fortune-tellers were a specialized profession, and their descendants adopted their occupation as their family name. The ancestral figure for this lineage is Bu Yan.

The Bu family name is associated with occupations and official roles, reflecting a tradition of those who practiced forecasting in ancient China. This tradition emerged because people sought to predict outcomes related to hunting, warfare, weather, harvests, rituals, weddings and funerals, diseases, and disasters. Fortune-tellers were highly respected in ancient times, often serving as advisors to tribal leaders or wise elders. Historical records mention that Xia Qi, the founder of the Xia dynasty, and King Tai Kang of the Xia dynasty, as well as King Wen of the Zhou dynasty's son Shu Xiu, held such positions. During the Spring and Autumn period, important figures like Bu Yan from the Jin state also held these roles.

Ancestor of the Bu Family Name: Bu Yan

The Bu family name is a example of a family name derived from an occupation or official role, reflecting a tradition of those who practiced forecasting in ancient China. This tradition has lasted for generations, with many Bu descendants living in various regions across China.