History of Asia

Where does the last name Wu come from?

The last name Wu (吳/吴) is a common Chinese surname. It originated in the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BCE) when it was bestowed upon Wu Taibo, the eldest son of King Zhou Wen. Wu Taibo was enfeoffed in the Wu region, which is located in present-day Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. The Wu family later became the rulers of the Wu State (11th–5th century BCE).

The Wu surname is also found in other parts of the world, such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the United States.