Origins of the Lu (陆) surname
Chinese sources record 6 separate lines of origin for the Lu (陆) surname. Each is summarised below with its source.
Originated from Zhuanxu (颛顼)
One branch of the Lu (陆) surname originated from the descendants of the ancient sovereign Zhuanxu (颛顼); his grandson Wu Hui (吴回) had a son named Lu Zhong (陆终), whose clan established the State of Lu (陆国) in the Wenshang (汶上) area of present-day Shandong Province during the Shang Dynasty; the state was annexed by the State of Lu (鲁国) at the beginning of the Zhou Dynasty, and descendants adopted the state’s name as their surname.
Originated from the son of Duke Xuan of Qi (齐宣王)
A younger son of Duke Xuan of Qi (齐宣王), Prince Tong (公子通), was enfeoffed at Lu Xiang (陆乡) in Ban County (般县), Pingyuan Commandery (平原郡); his descendants adopted the name of their fief as their surname, forming one branch of the Lu (陆) surname.
Originated from the State of Luhun (陆浑国)
The State of Luhun (陆浑国), established by the Luhun Rong (陆浑戎) ethnic group during the Spring and Autumn period, was destroyed by the State of Jin (晋国) in 525 BCE; its surviving people adopted the former state’s name as their surname, becoming one source of the Lu (陆) surname.
Originated from Jie Yu (接舆) of Chu (楚国)
Jie Yu (接舆), a hermit of the State of Chu (楚国) during the Spring and Autumn period, had the personal name Tong (通) and the surname Lu (陆); he belonged to the Mi (芈) lineage and the Lu (陆) branch; some Lu (陆) clans revere him as their founding ancestor.
Originated from the Bulu Gu (步六孤) clan
During the sinicization reforms instituted by Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei (北魏孝文帝), the Xianbei (鲜卑) Bulu Gu (步六孤) clan complied with the imperial edict and changed their surname to Lu (陆).
Lu (祿) surname of ethnic minorities changed to Lu (陆)
Members of the Lu (祿) surname among ethnic minorities—including the Mongols (蒙古), Tu (土族), Miao (苗), and Hui (回)—changed their surname to Lu (陆) to advance sinicization.