Origins of the Yu (禹) surname
Chinese sources record 5 separate lines of origin for the Yu (禹) surname, and name 2 commanderies of origin (junwang). Each is summarised below with its source.
Originated from the Si (姒) surname
A branch of the Yu (禹) surname originated from the ancient sovereign Dayu (大禹), taking his personal name as their clan name. Dayu was the leader of the Si (姒) tribal confederation; later descendants of the Si (姒) surname changed their surname to Yu (禹), but the exact time and reasons for this evolution remain unconfirmed.
Originated from the Yun (妘) surname
After the annexation of the state of Yu (鄅) — a vassal state of the Chu (楚) state during the Western Zhou (西周) — the aristocratic descendants of Yu (鄅) adopted the former state's name Yu (鄅) as their surname; later, they dropped the 'city' radical (邑) and simplified it to Yu (禹) to commemorate their lost state.
Hui (Hui) ethnic group's sinicization and surname change
Yu (禹) Kaiyun (开云), the founding ancestor of the Hui (回) ethnic Yu (禹) lineage in the Qing (清) dynasty, migrated from Weinan (渭南) in Shaanxi (陕西) to Ankang (安康) in Shaanxi (陕西) during the Shunzhi (顺治) reign period, adopting the Han Chinese surname Yu (禹) through sinicization.
Manchu ethnic group's sinicization and surname change
The Manchu (满族) Yilari (伊拉哩) clan, beginning in the mid-Qing (清) dynasty, commonly adopted the Han Chinese surname Yu (禹); originally residing in Wula (乌喇) and Yehe (叶赫), the clan name Yilari (伊拉哩) means 'to open'.
Mongol ethnic group's sinicization and surname change
The Mongol (蒙古族) Yuer (禹尔) clan commonly adopted the Han Chinese surname Yu (禹) beginning in the mid-Qing (清) dynasty; another branch, the Yueerqi (禹儿乞) clan (also known as Zhuerqite (珠尔奇特) clan), likewise adopted the Han Chinese surname Yu (禹) during the same period.
Commanderies of origin (junwang)
- Langya (琅琊)
- Longxi (陇西)