Liu (刘) Surname Meaning & Origin

Liu (刘) is a well-known Chinese surname. The character 刘 has its own dictionary meaning, but as a family name it mainly functions as an identifier rather than a literal description of the family.

In Chinese naming tradition, the family name comes first and is shared across generations. For the surname Liu (刘), it’s helpful to understand how Chinese surnames generally formed and why the same surname can show up with different spellings.

Across different periods, families moved for work, study, military service, and trade. These migrations spread surnames widely and also created regional pronunciation differences. Because romanization converts sound into Latin letters, the same surname can appear with multiple spellings in English.

Many surnames began as the names of ancient states, fiefs, places of origin, or titles held by ancestors. Others developed from clan names, occupations, or honorifics. Over time, migration, administrative records, and local dialects shaped how a surname was written and pronounced.

For most people, the most useful takeaway is how the surname is written, how it’s pronounced in Mandarin, and which English spellings you may encounter.

In Mandarin pinyin, it is written Liu. A tone-marked form is Liú.

Below are example full names combining the surname 刘 with common given-name characters (one-character given names shown for simplicity):
– 刘丽 (Liu Lì) – beautiful.
– 刘伟 (Liu Wěi) – great.
– 刘欣 (Liu Xīn) – joyful.
– 刘明 (Liu Míng) – bright; clear.
– 刘宇 (Liu Yǔ) – universe.
– 刘琪 (Liu Qí) – fine jade.

Different dialects and romanization systems can produce different spellings for the same surname. Keep the Chinese character (刘) handy to avoid confusion.