Our answer
The Han emperors’ surname, No. 4 in China 刘
Traditional form 劉; the character originally meant ‘battle axe’
The short answer
Liu (刘, traditional 劉, Liú) is a Chinese surname whose character originally meant ‘battle axe’ and is now used only as a surname. It is the fourth most common surname in China (Ministry of Public Security, 2019), about 67.7 million people in 2013, and was the family name of the Han dynasty emperors. In Cantonese it is Lau.
| In Chinese | 刘 (simplified) / 劉 (traditional) |
|---|---|
| Pinyin | Liú (second, rising tone) |
| Rank in China (2019) | No. 4 of the 100 most common surnames |
| Other spellings | Lau (Cantonese, Hokkien), Liew (Malaysia), Lieu (Shanghainese), Lưu (Vietnamese), Yoo or Ryu (Korean) |
| Meaning of the character | Originally ‘battle axe’; today used only as a surname |
| Largest in | Jiangxi, where it is the No. 1 surname (2019) |
| Population | About 67.7 million in mainland China, 5.10% of the population (2013) |
Origins of the Liu surname
The character 劉 originally meant battle axe, a sense that has dropped out of use; today the character is used only as a surname.
The best-known legend concerns Liu Lei (劉累), a dragon-tamer at the court of King Kong Jia of the Xia dynasty, who was granted a fief called Liu and took its name as his surname; he is often described as the first Liu. Another tradition traces the clan back to the sage-king Yao, and a separate branch descends from Duke Kang of Liu, a son of a Zhou king who founded the small state of Liu.
The name’s great moment came when Liu Bang founded the Han dynasty. Han emperors, all surnamed Liu, ruled for about four centuries, and the surname reappears among the rulers of several later states, including Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period and the Liu Song dynasty. Our guide to Chinese surnames covers the other leading names.[2][5]
How Liu is spelled around the world
Outside the mainland the most common spelling is Lau, from the Cantonese and Hokkien pronunciation.[1][2]
| Spelling | Where | Language or dialect |
|---|---|---|
| Liu | Mainland China, Taiwan | Mandarin (pinyin and Wade–Giles) |
| Lau | Hong Kong, Macau, Southeast Asia | Cantonese, Hokkien |
| Liew | Malaysia | Local spelling |
| Lieu | Shanghai | Shanghainese (Wu) |
| Lưu | Vietnam | Vietnamese |
| Yoo, Ryu | Korea | Korean |
| Ryu | Japan | Japanese |
Where Liu is most common
In the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 report, Liu was the largest surname in one provincial-level region, Jiangxi. Nationally it ranked fourth, after Wang, Li and Zhang, and in 2020 those four plus Chen together covered 30.8% of China’s registered population.
A 2013 study by the Fuxi Institution put Liu at 5.10% of the population, about 67.7 million people, and found the largest number of bearers in Shandong.
Outside the mainland, Liu is the eighth most common surname in Taiwan and is also found in South Korea and, as Lưu, in Vietnam.[1][2][3][4]
Famous people named Liu
| Name | Chinese | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Liu Bang | 刘邦 | Founder of the Han dynasty, as Emperor Gaozu |
| Liu Bei | 刘备 | Founding emperor of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period |
| Liu Hui | 刘徽 | Mathematician of the Three Kingdoms period |
| Liu Yuxi | 刘禹锡 | Tang dynasty poet |
| Liu Cixin | 刘慈欣 | Science-fiction writer, author of The Three-Body Problem (Hugo Award, 2015) |
| Andy Lau | 刘德华 | Hong Kong actor and singer, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Cantopop |
| Liu Xiang | 刘翔 | Hurdler, Olympic 110 m hurdles champion in Athens, 2004 |
| Liu Yifei | 刘亦菲 | Actress, star of Disney’s live-action Mulan (2020) |
Questions readers ask
What does the Liu surname mean?
The character 劉 originally meant ‘battle axe’. That meaning is long obsolete and the character is now used only as a surname.
Is Liu a Chinese last name?
Yes. It is the fourth most common surname in mainland China (Ministry of Public Security, 2019) and was the family name of the Han dynasty emperors.
How common is Liu in China?
A 2013 study put it at about 67.7 million people, 5.10% of the population. It is the top surname in Jiangxi province.
How do you pronounce Liu?
Liú is one syllable, said roughly ‘lyoh’ with a rising tone, not ‘lee-oo’ in two syllables.
Is Lau the same as Liu?
Usually. Lau is the Cantonese and Hokkien spelling of 刘, used in Hong Kong, Macau and Southeast Asia.
Were the Han emperors called Liu?
Yes. Liu Bang founded the Han dynasty, and his descendants, all surnamed Liu, ruled China for about four centuries.
Which province has the most people called Liu?
A 2013 study found the largest number in Shandong. Liu is also the No. 1 surname in Jiangxi.
Sources
- Wikipedia, List of common Chinese surnames · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Liu (surname) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- The Paper (澎湃新闻), Ministry of Public Security 2019 surname report · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- The Paper (澎湃新闻), Ministry of Public Security 2020 names report · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia (Chinese), 刘姓 · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Liu Cixin · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Andy Lau · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Liu Xiang (hurdler) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Liu Yifei · accessed 1 Nov 2026
Update log. 1 November 2026 — reviewed. Next review due 1 February 2027. Suggest a correction