Hsu 1

Hsu 1 is a Chinese surname. It is an alternate transcription of the Chinese character 徐 (see Xu 1). The character 徐 means "slowly, calmly" and its use as a surname derives from the ancient state of Xu, which existed until the 6th century BC in modern-day Jiangsu and Anhui provinces.

Origin and History

The surname Hsu (as a variant of Xu) traces its origins to the state of Xu (or Xú), a vassal state during the Zhou dynasty. After the state was conquered, its people adopted the name of their former kingdom as a surname. Over time, the name spread through northern and central China, and became one of the common Chinese surnames.

In Mandarin Chinese, the standard romanization is Xu (using Hanyu Pinyin), but in Wade-Giles romanization—which was widely used before the adoption of Pinyin—the name is spelled Hsu. This form is still common in Taiwan and among overseas Chinese communities, especially in the United States. The Cantonese variant is Tsui.

The character 徐 (Xú) is composed of the radical meaning "double person walk" and the phonetic component meaning "remainder, someone left behind," which combines to evoke the sense of slow movement or calmness. This dual meaning of slowness and calmness is said to reflect the temperament of many bearers.

Distribution and Notable Bearers

The surname Hsu is common in Taiwan, where the Wade-Giles romanization remains in official use. Notable individuals with the variant spelling Hsu include:
- Hsu Kai-Wen (Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha's former wife)
- Hsu Shu-ching, Taiwanese weightlifter and Olympic gold medalist
- Hsu Sanping, a renowned artist living in Beijing

Variants

• Xu 1 (Mandarin Pinyin)
• Tsui (Cantonese)

The spelling Hsu, though less common globally than Xu, is firmly established in historical records and among certain diaspora populations.