Chinese surname · rank 136

柳

柳 is read as liǔ.

Pinyin

liǔ

Script forms

Simplified and traditional 柳

Basic meaning

willow tree

Five element

Wood

Origin

Time: Zhou and later Liu place/tree-name traditions; Zhou and later surname traditions, from 1046-256 BCE onward

Place: Multiple Liu place traditions across northern and central China

Origin note

Liu surname traditions include place-name and tree-name layers. The willow meaning gives a clear English-facing visual and name-reading layer.

773-819 CE · Tang writer

A major Tang prose writer and poet.

c. 987-c. 1053 CE · Northern Song ci poet

A major Song lyric poet.