Bu Family History

Norwegian: habitational name from a farm named with Old Norse bú ‘farmstead; livestock’ or búth ‘small house hut’. Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 卜 meaning ‘astrologer, fortune-teller, diviner’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from the post names Bu Ren (卜人) or Bu Shi (卜筮), the title of astrologers who performed divination in ancient China. (ii) borne by descendants of the younger brother of Tai Kang (the 3rd king of the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC)). (iii) borne by descendants of Teng Shuxiu, a son of the virtuous King Wen of Zhou (1152–1056 BC). (iv) adopted as a surname by the Xu Bu (須卜) family from the Huns during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD).

Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 步 meaning ‘steps’ in Chinese: (i) from the placename Bu (步), the name of a fief (located in Shanxi province) granted to an official in the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (ii) adopted as the surname by the Bu Lu Gen (步鹿根) family from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD).

Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 布 meaning ‘cloth’ in Chinese: (i) from the first element of the personal name Bu Zi (布子), an official who lived in the state of Zhao during the Warring States period (475–221 BC) who was noted for his gift of choosing strong horses. (ii) shortened form of the Chinese surname Gu-Bu (姑布). (iii) a surname of the king of the state of Kucha (or Kuche), a Buddhist kingdom in northwestern China during the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD). (iv) borne by descendants of some refugees at the end of the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC) who fled to southern China and changed their original surnames to Bu (布) in a wish for a good life with good clothing.

Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 補 meaning ‘supplement’ in Chinese: from Bu (補), the name of an ancient state (possibly located in present-day Henan province) annexed by the state of Zheng during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC).

Chinese: Teochew form of the surname 巫, see Wu.