Xun Yu
Xun You was born in the influential Xun family, whose ancestral home was in Yingyin County (), Yingchuan Commandery (), which is in present-day Xuchang, Henan. His grandfather, Xun Tan (), whose courtesy name was Yuanzhi (), served as the Administrator () of Guangling Commandery (廣陵郡; around present-day Huai'an, Jiangsu). Xun You's father, Xun Yi (), served as a commandery-level Assistant Officer (). Xun Yi was a second cousin of Xun Yu, hence Xun You was Xun Yu's second cousin-nephew even though he was six years older than Xun Yu.