Save Type Surname (from location) Usage Chinese Scripts 许(Chinese) 許(Traditional Chinese) Pronounced Pron. SHUY [key·IPA] Meaning & History From Chinese 许 (xǔ) referring to the minor state of Xu, which existed to the 4th century BC in what is now Henan province. The character 许 means "allow, permit". Related NamesDetails VariantHsuSame SpellingXu 1