Liu

Liu is a Chinese surname written 劉 in traditional characters and 刘 in simplified form. In Mandarin it is romanized as Liu; in Cantonese it is commonly rendered Lau. It is one of the most common surnames in China and is widely found among Chinese communities worldwide.

The surname has several lineages. The most widely cited trace is to the ancient state of Liu (劉國) during the Western Zhou dynasty, whose ruling clan adopted Liu as a hereditary surname after the state was conquered. Other lineages arose from noble titles or from branches of royal or official families. Because of these multiple origins, Liu encompasses diverse family histories rather than a single origin.

Historical figures bearing the name include Liu Bang, the founder of the Han Dynasty; Liu Bei, a warlord and founder of Shu Han; and Liu Xiu, who became Emperor Guangwu of Han.

Contemporary notable people with the surname include Liu Cixin, a science fiction writer known for The Three-Body Problem; Liu Xiaobo, a dissident and Nobel Peace Prize laureate; Liu Yifei, an actress; and Liu Wen, a fashion model.

Distribution and culture: Liu remains highly concentrated in eastern China—particularly Jiangsu, Anhui, and Henan—and is common across Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and overseas Chinese communities. The name appears in many East Asian transliterations and is associated with numerous family lineages and historical clans.