Ou (surname)

Ou is the pinyin romanization of the Chinese surnames 區 and 歐, which share a common origin with the compound surname Ouyang (歐陽), from the ruling family of the State of Yue during the Spring and Autumn period. They are commonly romanized as Au or Ao in Cantonese.

Ou 欧 is listed 361st in the Song dynasty classic text Hundred Family Surnames.^[1] As of 2008, Ou 欧 is the 134th most common surname in China, shared by 1.13 million people.^[2]

Distribution

Ou was the 27,293th most common surname in the United States during the 1990 census and the 11,845th most common surname during the 2000 census. Au ranked 11,417th and 5,195th, and Ao ranked 88,459th and 58,402nd.^[3]

Origins

The Ou (區) and Ouyang are considered to both descend from the ruling family of the state of Yue during the Spring and Autumn period.

Many Ou have their ancestral roots in the Longgang, Zhongshan, Shunde, Panyu, and Xinhui areas of Guangdong.

List of persons with the surname

Au (區) Albert Au Shui Keung, Hong Kong DJ and folk singer Angela Au Man Sze, Hong Kong DJ and member of Cookies Au Kam San, Macanese legislator Susie Au Suet Yee, Hong Kong music-video director Au Tak or Au Chak-mun (1840–1920), Hong Kong developer, namesake of Kai Tak Airport and Munsang College Tony Au Ting-Ping, Hong Kong film and art director Au Wing-Kyun, Hong Kong i-CABLE anchorman Au Fung-Chi, early Protestant leader in Hong Kong, gave name to Sun Yat-sen Au Nok-hin, Hong Kong politician Ou (区) Ou Chuliang, member of Chinese national soccer team Ou Jiaju (1886–1936), Cantonese opera performer Ou Shizi (1234–1324), Song-era author of the Three Character Classic Ou Xing, Han-era bandit and rebel leader against the Ling Emperor

Ao (歐) Ao Man Long, disgraced Macanese Secretary for Transport and Public Works Au (歐) Cindy Au Sin Yee, Hong Kong TV actress Au Kin-Yee, Hong Kong scriptwriter Michael Au Ding Yuk, Hong Kong music producer Stephen Au Kam Tong, Hong Kong TV actor Au Wai Lun, Hong Kong soccer player Annie Au Wing Chi, Hong Kong squash player Stephanie Au Hoi-Shun, Hong Kong swimmer Leo Au Chun Ming, Hong Kong squash player Aw (歐) Jeanette Aw Ee-Ping, Singaporean actress Tash Aw Ta-Shii, Malaysian expatriate, author of The Harmony Silk Factory Ou (歐) Ou Daren (1516–1596), one of the Latter Five Poets of the Southern Garden Edward Ou, Taiwanese TV actor Beini Ou, Famous President of China Francisco Ou, former Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Republic of China Ou Yezi, Spring and Autumn period master of sword-making from the state of Yue Ou Zhen (1899–1969), World War II-era KMT general

See also

• O, for some Korean and Japanese surnames occasionally romanized "Ou"

References

1. "百家姓" [Hundred Family Surnames] (in Chinese). Guoxue. Retrieved 2014-10-28.
2. 中国最新300大姓排名（2008） [300 most common surnames in China (2008)] (in Chinese). Taiwan.cn. 2009-01-06. Retrieved 2014-10-28.
3. US Census Bureau. Op. cit. Public Broadcasting Service. "How Popular Is Your Last Name?" Accessed 6 Apr 2012.