indicate the level to which a name has been verified.
Type Surname
Usage Chinese
Meaning & History
1 Chinese 牛: 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 ( 1154–1123 bc ).2 Chinese 钮: 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.3 Tongan: unexplained.