Ou Family History

Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 歐 meaning ‘to sing someone's praise’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from the placename Dong Ou (東甌) a fief (in present-day Wenzhou in Zhejiang province) which was granted to Yao in 192 BC. It is said that Yao was a descendant of Wujiang (reigned 355–333 BC) king of the state of Yue (located mainly in present-day Zhejiang and Jiangxi provinces) during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC).

(ii) from the placename Ou Yu (歐餘) the name of a fief (located in present-day Zhejiang province) that was granted to Ti the second son of Wujiang (reigned 355–333 BC) king of the state of Yue (located mainly in present-day Zhejiang and Jiangxi provinces) during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC).

Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 區 originally denoting an ancient vessel for measurement in ancient Chinese: from the personal name of Ou Zhizi (歐治子) an expert sword-maker who lived during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). Some of his descendants inherited Ou (歐) as their surname simplifying the Chinese character 歐 to 區.

Cambodian: written អ៊ូ of Chinese origin from 歐 (see 1 above).