where is the last name niu from

The last name Niu is most commonly a Chinese surname, written 牛 , and it usually means “ox” or “cow.” It can also have other Chinese origins in some cases, including different characters and romanizations.

Origin

• Main origin: Chinese.

• Meaning: “ox,” “cow,” or “bull.”

• Historical roots: It appears in old Chinese surname records and was especially associated with northern China, including Henan in some sources.

Other possibilities

• In some families, Niu may come from a different Chinese character or from another romanization tradition.

• A few sources also mention Tongan as another possible origin, though that is less common and less clearly explained.

Quick take

If someone’s last name is Niu, the most likely answer is that their family name comes from China.