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Qu Family History

Qu Surname Meaning

Chinese:: Mandarin form of the surname 曲 meaning ‘tune’ in Chinese: (i) from the first element of Qu Wo (曲沃) the name of a fief (located in Shanxi province) granted to Cheng Shi also known as Huan Shu of Quwo (802–731 BC) younger brother of the Marquis Wen of Jin (ruler of the state of Jin 805–746 BC). (ii) possibly from the personal name Qu Ni (曲逆) an official who lived during the reign of Xia Jie (died 1600 BC) the last king of the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC).

Mandarin form of the surname 瞿 meaning ‘halberd’ or ‘thoroughfare’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from the placename Qu Shang (瞿上) (located in Chengdu in Sichuan province) said to be the location of an ancient state called Qu (瞿). (ii) possibly from Qu (瞿) the name of a fief (location unknown) during the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC).

Mandarin form of the surname 屈 meaning ‘bent’ or ‘being wronged’ in Chinese: (i) from the placename Qu (屈) the name of a fief (located in Zigui in Hubei province) granted to Xia son of King Wu of Chu (ruler of the state of Chu died 690 BC). (ii) adopted as a surname by the Qu Tu (屈突) family from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD).

Mandarin form of the surnames 鞠 and 麴 said to be borne by the descendants of Bo Qin first king of the state of Lu. Mandarin form of the surname 璩 (in some cases simplified to 琚): (i) possibly traced back to the name of a kind of ancient vessel. (ii) possibly simplified form of another Chinese surname Qu (蘧) a surname traced back to personal name of a student of Confucius (551–479 BC) or disabled people (called Qu Chu 蘧蒢) in the state of Zhu during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC) or a name of fief (located in Henan province) during Warring States Period (475– 221 BC).

Mandarin form of the surname 渠 meaning ‘channel” in Chinese: (i) said to be borne by the descendants of Kang Shu of Wey founder of the state of Wey (衛) and a son of King Wen of Zhou (1152–1056 BC). (ii) said to be traced back to Qu Bo Jiu (渠伯糾) prime minister during the reign of King Huan of Zhou (died 697 BC).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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You can see how Qu families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Qu family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1880 and 1920. The most Qu families were found in USA in 1880. In 1880 there were 9 Qu families living in California. This was 100% of all the recorded Qu's in USA. California had the highest population of Qu families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Qu surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Qu ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer was the top reported job for people in the USA named Qu. 100% of Qu men worked as a Laborer.

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*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

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Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    100%

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Census Records

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Passenger Lists

There are 391 immigration records available for the last name Qu. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 139 military records available for the last name Qu. For the veterans among your Qu ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Qu lifespan?

Between 1969 and 2004, in the United States, Qu life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2002, and highest in 1986. The average life expectancy for Qu in 1969 was 69, and 46 in 2004.

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An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Qu ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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