Gu (surname)
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Gu (also spelled "Ku" and "Koo") can refer to several different Chinese family names.
The most common, Gù (顾, meaning "to care for"), is ranked around #80 on the list of top Chinese family names.
According to Chinese records, this family traces its ancestral roots to the ancient Kingdom of Gu, which existed as a tributary kingdom during the Xia Dynasty (around 2200 B.C), in current-day Henan province. This Kingdom of Gu was destroyed when the Shang Dynasty overthrew the Xia Dynasty. The survivors of this kingdom adopted the name, and became the northern lineage of the family Gu.
A second, southern lineage of the family Gu came about around the Warring States period. They adopted this name from a city also named Gu around that time. Their original family name is unknown.
This family name can be found mostly in eastern and southern Chinese provinces, especially in Jiangsu, Northern Zhejiang, and around the city of Shanghai. This surname can also be found in Korea.
A prominent bearer of this surname was the diplomat Wellington Koo.
The second family name, Gŭ (谷, meaning valley), came about when a noble family of the Zhou Dynasty was rewarded a fief in a valley area. The descendants of the family adopted the name to link their lineage to that history.
The third family name, Gŭ (古, meaning ancient), is extremely rare in China.
The fourth family name, Gŭ (骨, meaning bone), is even more rare.
