Our answer
China’s 11th most common surname 徐
The character means ‘slowly’; the surname is traced to the ancient state of Xu
The short answer
Xu (徐, Xú) is a Chinese surname, ranked 11th in China in the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 list. The character means ‘slowly’, and the surname is traced to the ancient state of Xu. It is spelled Hsu in Taiwan and Tsui in Hong Kong. A different surname, 许 (Xǔ, 26th), is also written Xu.
| In Chinese | 徐 (the same in simplified and traditional characters) |
|---|---|
| Pinyin | Xú (second, rising tone) |
| Rank in China (2019) | 11th, Ministry of Public Security list (许 Xǔ is 26th) |
| Other spellings | Hsu / Hsü (Wade–Giles), Tsui / Chui / Choi (Cantonese), Zee (Shanghainese), Chee (Hokkien), Seo (Korean), Từ (Vietnamese) |
| Meaning of the character | ‘Slowly’ |
| Most numerous in | Jiangsu province (2013 Fuxi Institution figures) |
| Population | About 19.3 million, 1.45% of mainland China (2013 Fuxi Institution figures) |
Origins of the Xu surname
Legend traces 徐 to Ruomu (若木), one of the two sons of Boyi, who helped Yu the Great control the Great Flood. Yu gave Boyi’s family the clan name Ying and made Ruomu ruler of the land of Xu, an ancient state in what is now Jiangsu and Anhui.
The state of Xu was later conquered by the state of Wu, and its people’s descendants took Xu as their surname in honour of their ancestry. As an ordinary word, 徐 means ‘slowly’.[2][3]
徐 or 许? Telling the two Xu surnames apart
In pinyin without tone marks, both surnames are written Xu, and in Wade–Giles both become Hsu. Their characters, tones and dialect spellings are different.[1][2][3][4]
| Compare | 徐 Xú | 许 Xǔ (traditional 許) |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | Second (rising) | Third (dipping) |
| Meaning of the character | ‘Slowly’ | ‘To allow’ |
| Origin | The ancient state of Xu, in today’s Jiangsu and Anhui | The feudal state of Xu, around today’s Xuchang in Henan |
| Rank in China (2019) | 11th | 26th |
| Population (2013, Fuxi Institution) | About 19.3 million (1.45%), most in Jiangsu | About 8.81 million (0.66%), most in Guangdong |
| Taiwan | Hsu | Hsu |
| Hong Kong (Cantonese) | Tsui, Chui, Choi | Hui |
| Hokkien and Teochew | Chee, Su, Swee (Hokkien); Ser, Sher (Teochew) | Khoo (Hokkien); Koh, Kho, Khor, Khaw (Teochew) |
| Korean / Vietnamese | Seo / Từ | Heo / Hứa |
| Famous bearers | Xu Beihong, Xu Zhimo, Tsui Hark | Xu Shen, Sam Hui, Xu Haifeng |
How 徐 Xu is spelled around the world
| Spelling | Where | Language or system |
|---|---|---|
| Xu | Mainland China | Mandarin, Hanyu Pinyin |
| Hsu (Hsü) | Taiwan and many overseas Chinese communities | Mandarin, Wade–Giles |
| Tsui, Chui, Choi, Chooi | Hong Kong and Cantonese families abroad | Cantonese |
| Zee | Shanghai (as in Zikawei, the old spelling of Xujiahui) | Shanghainese (Wu Chinese) |
| Chee, Su, Swee, Shui | Hokkien-speaking families | Hokkien |
| Ser, Sher | Teochew-speaking families | Teochew |
| Chi, Tjhie, Djie | Hakka-speaking families | Hakka |
| Seo | Korea | Korean |
| Từ | Vietnam | Vietnamese |
Where Xu is most common
徐 ranked 11th in the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 list of China’s 100 most common surnames. In the 2013 frequency list compiled by the Fuxi Institution it was also 11th, with about 19.3 million people, or 1.45% of the mainland population, and Jiangsu was the province with the most people named Xu, where the old state of Xu lay.
The other Xu, 许, was 26th in 2019. In the 2013 figures it had about 8.81 million people (0.66%), with the most in Guangdong. In Taiwan the order is reversed: a 2016 survey placed 許 11th and 徐 20th.[1][2]
Famous people named Xu (徐)
| Name | Chinese | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Xu Fu | 徐福 | Alchemist and explorer from Qi (3rd–2nd century BC) |
| Xu Wei | 徐渭 | Ming dynasty painter |
| Xu Guangqi | 徐光启 | Ming dynasty scholar |
| Xu Beihong | 徐悲鸿 | Painter (1895–1953) |
| Xu Zhimo | 徐志摩 | Romantic poet (1897–1931) |
| Tsui Hark | 徐克 | Hong Kong film director and producer |
| Xu Bing | 徐冰 | Artist |
| Xu Jinglei | 徐静蕾 | Actress and director |
| Xu Jiayu | 徐嘉余 | Swimmer |
Questions readers ask
What does the Xu surname mean?
徐 means ‘slowly’, and the surname is traced to the ancient state of Xu. The other Xu surname, 许, means ‘to allow’ and comes from a different ancient state of Xu, in today’s Henan.
Is Xu a Chinese last name?
Yes, and in fact two. 徐 (Xú) was the 11th most common surname in China in 2019 and 许 (Xǔ) the 26th. Both are written Xu in pinyin, so ask for the character if you need to know which.
How common is Xu in China?
徐 was 11th in the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 ranking, and 2013 Fuxi Institution figures put it at about 19.3 million people, or 1.45% of the mainland population. 许 had about 8.81 million (0.66%).
How do you pronounce Xu?
The pinyin ‘x’ is a soft sound between English ‘s’ and ‘sh’, and the ‘u’ here is the rounded ü of French ‘tu’. 徐 is said with a rising tone (Xú), 许 with a low dipping tone (Xǔ).
Is Hsu the same as Xu?
Yes. Hsu is the Wade–Giles spelling, common in Taiwan and among overseas Chinese, but it can stand for either 徐 or 许, just like Xu.
Is Tsui the same as Xu?
Yes. Tsui, Chui and Choi are Cantonese spellings of 徐, used in Hong Kong. The director Tsui Hark’s surname is 徐. The other Xu, 许, is Hui in Cantonese, as in the singer Sam Hui.
Is Koh the same as Xu?
Koh is a Teochew spelling of 许, the second Xu surname, and Khoo is its Hokkien spelling. 徐 is usually Chee in Hokkien and Ser in Teochew.
Sources
- Wikipedia, List of common Chinese surnames (2019 Ministry of Public Security ranking; 2013 Fuxi Institution figures; Taiwan 2016 survey) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Xu (surname 徐) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Xu (surname), disambiguation of 徐, 許 and 胥 · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Xu (surname 許) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
Update log. 1 November 2026 — reviewed. Next review due 1 February 2027. Suggest a correction