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Updated January 23, 2020

Family name origins & meanings

  • Chinese : this name probably arose during the Zhou dynasty (1122–221 bc) in the area of Gansu province; the details are unclear. It was borne by a person named Niu Wen, who was a descendant of the eldest brother of the last king of the Shang dynasty, Zhou Xin (1154–1123bc).
  • Chinese : a second character pronounced Niu came into use as a surname during the Eastern Jin dynasty (317–420 ad) in Jiangsu province south of the Yangtze river.
  • Tongan : unexplained.

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