Liu (surname)

Liu
Liú surname in regular script
Pronunciation	Liú (Pinyin) Lâu (Pe̍h-ōe-jī)
Language(s)	Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese
Origin
Language(s)	Old Chinese
Derivation	Surname of the Han Dynasty's ruling family
Other names
Variant(s)	Liu (Mandarin) Liew (Hakka) Lau, Lauw, Lao (Cantonese, Hokkien, Teochew) Lieu, Lieh (Shanghainese) Liew, Lieu (Gan) Lưu (Vietnamese) Yoo (Korean)
See also	Yoo (Korean name)

劉 / 刘 (Liu, Lao, Lau, Low, Lauv, Lieh, Lieu, Liew, Loo, Lew, Liou or Yu) is a common Chinese family name. The Liu (/ˈljuː/) as transcribed in English can represent several different surnames written in different Chinese characters:

In Cantonese transliteration, 刘/劉 (Liú) is Lau, Lao is also transliteration of 刘/劉 in Min Nan and Taiwanese Minnan Chinese language, whilst Liu is a different surname, , pinyin: Liào.

In Shanghainese, 刘/劉 is romanized as Lieu and rarely Lieh; 柳 is similarly romanized; whereas 廖 is transliterated as Lioh

In Teochew, 刘/劉 is usually romanized as Lau, Low or Lao; 柳 is written as Lew; and 廖 is romanized as Leow or Liau.

In Hakka, 刘/劉 is most commonly transliterated as Liew while 廖 is written as Liau or Liaw. The other variants of the romanised surname Liu, i.e. 柳, 留 and 六, are uncommon among speakers of Hakka.

In Gan, 刘/劉 is most commonly transliterated as Liew or Lieu, 廖 is written as Lieo or Liau.

The Indonesian-Chinese descent Latinise it according to Dutch pronunciation as Lauw.

In Vietnamese, the name can either take the form Liễu (in northern regions), or Lưu (in central or southern regions), or Lục. A few having Vietnamese-Chinese descent use the family name Lao.

Commonly transcribed Liú, Lao or Lau.

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