Our answer
China’s 14th most common surname 朱
The character means ‘vermilion’; the surname of the Ming dynasty emperors
The short answer
Zhu (朱, Zhū) is a Chinese surname, ranked 14th in China in the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 list. The character means ‘vermilion’, and the surname is traced to the ancient state of Zhu in Shandong. It was the surname of the Ming emperors. Abroad it is often spelled Chu, Choo or Gee.
| In Chinese | 朱 (the same in simplified and traditional characters) |
|---|---|
| Pinyin | Zhū (first, high level tone) |
| Rank in China (2019) | 14th, Ministry of Public Security list |
| Other spellings | Chu (Cantonese and Wade–Giles), Choo (Hokkien), Gee (Taishanese), Ju / Joo (Korean) |
| Meaning of the character | ‘Vermilion’, the bright red of cinnabar |
| Most numerous in | Jiangsu province (2013 Fuxi Institution figures) |
| Population | About 17.0 million, 1.28% of mainland China (2013 Fuxi Institution figures) |
Origins of the Zhu surname
The character 朱 means vermilion, the bright red associated with cinnabar (朱砂) and with the Vermilion Bird (朱雀) of Chinese tradition. The surname, though, is traced to a place: the ancient state of Zhu (邾), in what is now Shandong.
The rulers of Zhu were originally surnamed Cao (曹). After their state was annexed by Chu, the ruling family and its descendants adopted 朱 as their surname in memory of their former state, which is why Zhu is sometimes described as a branch of the Cao surname. Zhu is the 17th name in the classic Hundred Family Surnames primer.[2]
How Zhu is spelled around the world
The spelling of 朱 depends on the dialect the family spoke and the romanisation in use where the name was first written down.[1][2]
| Spelling | Where | Language or system |
|---|---|---|
| Zhu | Mainland China | Mandarin, Hanyu Pinyin |
| Chu | Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan | Cantonese; also Mandarin in Wade–Giles |
| Choo | Mostly Singapore and Malaysia | Hokkien |
| Gee | Families of Taishanese origin in the United States and Canada | Taishanese |
| Ju, Joo | Korea | Korean |
Where Zhu is most common
Zhu ranked 14th 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 14th, with about 17.0 million people, or 1.28% of the mainland population, and Jiangsu was the province with the most people named Zhu.
Several other surnames are also written Zhu in pinyin, among them 祝, 竺 and 诸 (traditional 諸), so a Zhu you meet may not be 朱. And because Chu is the usual spelling of 朱 in Hong Kong and Taiwan, a ‘Chu’ abroad is often a Zhu in mainland spelling.[1][2]
Famous people named Zhu
| Name | Chinese | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Zhu Xi | 朱熹 | Song dynasty Neo-Confucian philosopher |
| Zhu Shijie | 朱世杰 | Mathematician |
| Zhu Yuanzhang | 朱元璋 | Founder of the Ming dynasty (the Hongwu Emperor) |
| Zhu Zaiyu | 朱载堉 | Ming prince and musician who described equal temperament in 1584 |
| Zhu Da (Bada Shanren) | 朱耷 (八大山人) | Qing dynasty painter and calligrapher |
| Zhu Ziqing | 朱自清 | Writer and poet |
| Zhu Xiao-Mei | 朱晓玫 | Pianist |
| Zhu Jianhua | 朱建华 | High jumper |
| Athena Chu | 朱茵 | Hong Kong actress |
| Jon M. Chu | 朱浩伟 | Film director |
Questions readers ask
What does the Zhu surname mean?
朱 means ‘vermilion’, the bright red of cinnabar. The surname itself is traced to the ancient state of Zhu (邾) in today’s Shandong, whose ruling family adopted it after the state was annexed by Chu.
Is Zhu a Chinese last name?
Yes. Zhu (朱) is a Chinese surname and comes first in a Chinese name, as in Zhu Xi. It was the 14th most common surname in China in 2019.
How common is Zhu in China?
It was 14th in the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 ranking, and 2013 figures from the Fuxi Institution put it at about 17.0 million people, or 1.28% of the mainland population, with the most in Jiangsu.
How do you pronounce Zhu?
In Mandarin it is Zhū, said on a high, level first tone. The ‘zh’ is close to the English ‘j’, and ‘u’ is like the ‘oo’ in ‘food’, so it sounds roughly like ‘joo’.
Is Chu the same as Zhu?
Often. Chu is the Cantonese spelling of 朱 used in Hong Kong and Macau, and the Wade–Giles spelling used in Taiwan. But other surnames can also be spelled Chu, so the character is the only sure guide.
Were the Ming emperors called Zhu?
Yes. Zhu was the imperial surname of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), beginning with its founder, Zhu Yuanzhang, the Hongwu Emperor.
Is Choo a Chinese surname?
Yes. Choo is the Hokkien spelling of 朱, used mostly in Singapore and Malaysia. Gee is the Taishanese spelling, found among Chinese families in the United States and Canada.
Sources
- Wikipedia, List of common Chinese surnames (2019 Ministry of Public Security ranking; 2013 Fuxi Institution figures; romanisations) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Zhu (surname) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
Update log. 1 November 2026 — reviewed. Next review due 1 February 2027. Suggest a correction