Gu Family History

Chinese:: Mandarin form of the surname 古 meaning ‘ancient old’ in Chinese: (i) borne by descendants of Gu Gong (古公 literally meaning ‘old Duke’) the title of Dan Fu grandfather of King Wen of Zhou(1152–1056 BC). (ii) from Gu (古) also written as Ku (苦) the name of an ancient state (located in Henan province) during the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC). (iii) shortened form of the Chinese compound surname Gu-Cheng (古成) which is a mispronounced form of another Chinese compound surname Ku-Cheng the name of an unidentified fief (possibly located in present-day Henan province). (iv) adopted as a surname by the Tu Xi (吐奚) family from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD). Mandarin form of the surname 顧 meaning ‘attend to’ or ‘look at’ in Chinese: (i) from Gu (顧) the name of a state (probably located in Henan province or in Shandong province) during the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC) annexed during the early Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC). (ii) borne by descendants of Gu Yu Hou (顧餘侯 Marquis Guyu) a title conferred by the King of Dong Ou on his son during the Western Han dynasty (206 BC–25 AD). Mandarin form of the surname 辜 meaning ‘crimes’ or ‘guilt’ in ancient Chinese. This surname was adopted by descendants of people who acknowldged that they were guilty of committing crimes. Mandarin form of the surname 谷 meaning ‘valley’ or ‘cereal crops’ in Chinese: (i) from the second element of the placename Qin Gu (秦谷) the name of a fief (located in Gansu province) granted to Qin Fei Zi (died around 858 BC) the founder of the state of Qin. (ii) adopted as a surname by the Gu Hui (谷會) family from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD). (iii) adopted in place of the compound surname Gu Na (谷那) by descendants of Gu Na Lü (谷那律) an erudite official of Japanese origin during the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD). (iv) simplified form of another Chinese surname Xi (郤) the name of a fief (located in Shanxi province) granted to Shu Hu an official in the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). Teochew or Hokkien form of the surname 牛 see Niu

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