All surnames

Chinese surname

Zhu

Vermilion/red

Descriptive surname

Zhu (朱) is a Chinese surname meaning 'vermilion' or 'red'. It is associated with several ancient lineages and with the Ming dynasty imperial family, whose surname was Zhu. Vermilion was a color of high status and ritual importance.

The surname is common in China. It carries both chromatic and historical associations.

More Chinese surnames

Give the Zhu name a real family story

Build a family tree with everyone's actual names, photos and relationships.

Build your family tree

Frequently asked questions

What does the surname Zhu mean?+

Vermilion/red. From 朱 (zhu, "vermilion"); the surname of the ruling family of the Ming dynasty.

Is Zhu a common surname?+

Zhu is a Chinese-origin surname. Popularity varies widely by country and region, and the same surname can be common in one place and rare in another.

Can two families with the same surname be unrelated?+

Yes. Surnames, especially occupational and descriptive ones like this, were often adopted independently by many unrelated families who happened to share a trade, appearance, or location.

Is my search logged?+

No account or personal details are required to look up a surname's meaning - this page is static reference content.