[Interpretation]

The original meaning of Wu is "to speak loudly." According to the Shuowen Jiezi (an ancient Chinese dictionary), Wu is a surname and also a place name. In Jiaguwen (Oracle Bone Script), the character depicts a person with a large, tilted head, gesticulating joyfully and speaking in a loud voice.

[Origin]

The lineage primarily stems from the Ji clan, specifically the descendants of Gugong Danfu, the leader of the Zhou tribe:

• The Founding of the State: Gugong Danfu had three sons: Taibo, Zhongyong, and Jili. To allow the youngest (Jili) to succeed the throne, the eldest two, Taibo and Zhongyong, traveled to the Wu-Yue region along the southeast coast. They established the State of Wu with its capital at Wu (present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu).

• The Rise and Fall: In 585 BC, Shoumeng (the 19th-generation descendant of Zhongyong) officially declared himself King, and the state grew in power. However, during the reign of King Fuchai, the state was defeated by King Goujian of Yue and was eventually conquered in 473 BC.

• Adopting the Name: The members of the Wu royal family scattered to escape the turmoil. To honor their fallen kingdom, they adopted Wu as their surname.

• Ancient Ancestry: It is also noted that an even earlier branch of the Wu surname traces back to the descendants of Wu Quan, a minister to the ancient Emperor Zhuanxu, originating from present-day Puyang, Henan.