Wu Surname: Origin, History, and Notable People

Wu (wú) is a common Chinese surname, also spelled as Wu or Ng in Cantonese. It is the fifth most common surname in China, and is particularly prevalent in the Jiangnan region (southern Yangtze River area) and in Taiwan. The surname has a long history and is believed to have originated from the ancient state of Wu during the Zhou dynasty. Notable people with this surname include Sun Wu (also known as Sun Tzu), an ancient Chinese military strategist and author of 'The Art of War', and Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in Chinese history.