Gu () is a Chinese family name. Some places such as South Korea, and early immigrants from Wu-speaking region in China usually romanize this family name as "Koo" or "Ku". It is the 93rd name on the Hundred Family Surnames poem. The family name Gù () is the most common pronounced "Gu", as well as the only one pronounced "Gù" (Mandarin 4th tone) and is ranked #88 on the list of top Chinese family names, according to the 2006 Chinese census (excluding Taiwan). History China Northern lineage The surname Gu ("顾") descends from the kings of the first hereditary dynasty in China, Xia dynasty. A branch of the royal family was given a domain or a subsidiary kingdom with this name near the capital of Xia dynasty. On the way of taking over from Xia dynasty, the second dynasty, Shang dynasty, first attacked and annexed the subsidiary kingdom with this surname and another subsidiary kingdom named "Wei" ("韦") of Xia dynasty. The survivors of the former subsidiary kingdom adopted the name and became the northern lineage of the family Gu. Southern lineage The founder king of Xia dynasty, Yu the Great, died in Kuaiji ("会稽"), nowadays Shaoxing (“绍兴”), on his last imperial inspection tour, and was buried there ("禹穴"). During the reign of Xia dynasty, a branch of the royal family - which may or may not be the same branch of the subsidiary kingdom as mentioned above - was dispatched to Kuaiji ("会稽") to take care of the burial site ("禹穴") of the founder king, Yu the Great, and memorial rites commemorating the king. This branch evolved into Yue Kingdom around or possibly before the Spring and Autumn period in the third dynasty Zhou dynasty, as unearthed second dynasty Shang dynasty oracle bone already contemporaneously indicates the presence of a domain or kingdom named Yue. An ancestor of the Gu family was the most famous king of this Yue Kingdom, Goujian. He was the last of the five Hegemons in the historic Spring and Autumn period, and had an incredibly beautiful sword unearthed in near mint condition several decades ago. A second, southern lineage of the family Gu descends from this branch, although they technically did not obtain that name until the Han dynasty. The Southern lineage of Gu family makes up the majority of all those who bear the name today. A book of family tree was published.