Qiu

Qiu is a Chinese surname rendered in pinyin as Qiu. It can refer to several different surnames, most commonly 邱, but also potentially 丘, 裘, or 秋, each with its own origin and meaning. The most widespread form, 邱, typically has a toponymic origin, arising from ancient places named Qiu; the character itself conveys the idea of a hill or mound. The other Qiu surnames share the same pronunciation in many dialects but have distinct histories and meanings.

Geographically, Qiu is found across China, Taiwan, and among overseas Chinese communities. It is relatively common in southern China and in Taiwan, and it appears in various regional spellings and pronunciations depending on dialect.

In historical and contemporary contexts, individuals with the surname Qiu appear in diverse fields, from academia to the arts. Notable people include Qiu Jin (秋瑾), a 19th‑century revolutionary and feminist, and Qiu Xiaolong (born 1953), a Chinese‑American writer and professor best known for the Inspector Chen mystery series. The name also appears in modern science, politics, and culture, reflecting its broad distribution among Chinese‑speaking populations.

Overall, Qiu represents a family name with multiple possible Chinese characters, a range of regional distributions, and a presence in both historical and contemporary spheres of public life.