Liu
/liːˈuː/ or Mandarin /ljǒʊ/noun
A Chinese surname commonly romanized as Liu, especially from the Mandarin pronunciation of 劉 or 刘.
Did you know?The Han dynasty’s founder, Liu Bang, transformed the surname Liu into one of China’s most historically powerful imperial names.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient China
Old Chinese
劉
“An ancient clan or personal name, later written in the traditional character 劉.”
3rd Century BCE
Chinese
劉邦
“Liu Bang, the founder of the Han dynasty, originally a commoner who became emperor.”
206 BCE–220 CE
Chinese
劉
“A prominent imperial surname associated with the ruling house of the Han dynasty.”
20th Century
Mandarin
Liú
“The Mandarin pronunciation of 劉 or its simplified form 刘, represented in modern Hanyu Pinyin.”
Modern English
English
Liu
“An established romanized Chinese surname used in English-language contexts.”