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lùSeptember 28, 2025

逯姓

The Lu surname, with origins in the Qin and Chu states and the Xianbei people, is a historic Han Chinese name. It spread through ancient commanderies like Guangping and Linhe, and was adopted by various ethnic groups, ranking outside China's top 300 surnames.

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The Lu Family

Surname: Lu, pronounced as “lù”

Distribution of the Lu Family

  • Guangping Commandery: Established in the first year of the Zhongyuan era of Emperor Jing of Han (Liu Qi) (Ren Chen, 149 BCE) by separating from Handan Commandery. Its administrative center was in Guangping (present-day Jize, Hebei). At that time, its jurisdiction included parts of present-day Ren County, Nanhe, Jize, Quzhou, Yongnian in Hebei Province, as well as areas to the northwest of Pingxiang and to the northeast of Feixiang. It was later renamed Guangping State.
  • Linhe Commandery: Established during the Northern and Southern Dynasties in the first year of the Wuping era of the Northern Qi Dynasty (Geng Yin, 570 CE), with its administrative center in present-day Yonghe County, Shanxi Province.

Origins of the Lu Family

The Lu surname has multiple origins:

  1. From the Ying surname: Derived from the name of a town in the Qin State during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, where people took the name of their residence as their surname.
  2. According to the historical record “Lu Shi,” descendants of the Chu royal family also adopted the town name as their surname during that period, which has been passed down to this day.
  3. From the Xianbei ethnic group: Derived from the Xianbei tribe's Bu Liugu clan during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, who adopted this surname after sinicization.
  4. From other ethnic minorities: The Lu surname has also spread among ethnic minorities such as the Hui, Manchu, Mongolian, Oroqen, and Tu peoples, often as a result of sinicization policies and cultural assimilation during the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties.

Migration and Distribution
Although the Lu family is a typical Han Chinese surname, its population does not rank among the top 300 in mainland China or Taiwan Province. In the Song dynasty version of the “Hundred Surnames,” it was ranked 404th. In ancient times, a member of the Qin royal family was granted the fief of Lüyi, and their descendants adopted this as their surname. Lüyi is located in present-day Shaanxi Province. The Lu surname's ancestry can be traced back to the Qin royal family of the Ying clan, which produced many notable figures, such as Duke Mu of Qin, who strengthened the state and laid the foundation for its dominance. During the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, many people from other ethnic minorities adopted the Lu surname through government policies.

Genealogical Notes
The Lu family may be a typical Han Chinese surname, but it does not rank among the top 300 in China or Taiwan Province. For example, during the Zhou dynasty, a member of the Qin royal family was granted the fief of Lüyi, and their descendants adopted this as their surname. Lüyi is located in present-day Shaanxi Province. The Lu surname's origin can be traced back to the Qin royal family of the Ying clan, which produced many notable figures. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the Qin State was located in present-day Gansu and Shaanxi, and Lüyi was also in this region. According to historical records, there were also Lu descendants among the Chu royal family. The Lu family has a long history and is distributed throughout China, including cities in various provinces and autonomous regions.

Hall Names

  • Guangping Hall: Named after the location of the commandery.
  • Linhe Hall: Named after the location of the commandery.
  • Xiaozi Hall: Honors Lu Xiang, a filial son from the Ming dynasty.
  • Yunchuan Hall: Named after Lu Hong from the Eastern Han dynasty, who served as the Grand Secretary to the Crown Prince in Yingchuan (present-day Yuzhou, Henan).
  • Jingzhou Hall: Named after Lu Chou from the Eastern Han dynasty, who served as an official in Jingzhou.
  • Dantu Hall: Named after Lu Chou from the Eastern Han dynasty, who served as the governor of Dantu (present-day Zhenjiang, Jiangsu).
  • Le'an Hall: Named after Lu Feng from the Eastern Han dynasty, who was granted the title of Marquis of Le'an.
  • Tayu Hall: Honors people from various periods who adopted the Lu surname through sinicization policies.

Notable Figures with the Lu Surname

  • Lu Zhongli: A literati of the Ming dynasty known for his integrity and courage.
  • Lu Qinli: From Juye, Shandong, a renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist, one of the “Ten Moral Models” of Hebei.

The Lu family has a rich cultural heritage and is distributed across China, including various provinces and autonomous regions.