NameCensus.

UK surname

Chan

A common Chinese surname meaning "old" or "elderly," or referring to a hill or mound.

In the 1881 census there were 15 people recorded with the Chan surname, ranking it #31,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12,438, ranked #527, up from #31,451 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Camden, Coventry and Manchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chan is 12,438 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 82820.0%.

1881 census count

15

Ranked #31,451

Modern count

12,438

2016, ranked #527

Peak year

2016

12,438 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chan had 15 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,451 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 12,438 in 2016, ranked #527.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 82 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Chan surname distribution map

The map shows where the Chan surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Chan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chan over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 9 #31,675
1861 historical 82 #23,321
1881 historical 15 #31,451
1891 historical 17 #32,787
1901 historical 21 #31,686
1911 historical 21 #31,179
1997 modern 8,153 #779
1998 modern 8,753 #753
1999 modern 9,136 #726
2000 modern 9,101 #725
2001 modern 8,962 #720
2002 modern 9,533 #688
2003 modern 9,676 #658
2004 modern 9,901 #639
2005 modern 10,091 #615
2006 modern 10,284 #607
2007 modern 10,824 #578
2008 modern 10,943 #577
2009 modern 11,233 #572
2010 modern 11,878 #560
2011 modern 11,880 #550
2012 modern 11,890 #539
2013 modern 12,316 #535
2014 modern 12,387 #536
2015 modern 12,338 #534
2016 modern 12,438 #527

Geography

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Where Chans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Camden, Coventry, Manchester, Cambridge and Marchmont West. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Camden 025 Camden
2 Coventry 042 Coventry
3 Manchester 055 Manchester
4 Cambridge 007 Cambridge
5 Marchmont West City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chan

These lists show first names that appear often with the Chan surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Chan, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Student Living and Professional Footholds

Nationally, the Chan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Student Living and Professional Footholds, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Chan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

The Group includes many students, some of whom reside in communal residences. Single-person households are the most prevalent and the modal age band is 25 to 44. There are few families with dependent children. A significant number of White residents were born in EU countries (although UK-born residents are more common than in the rest of the Group), and households reflect a diversity of ethnic groups. Residential turnover is exceptionally high and, communal properties aside, flats are the norm. Some properties, including those in the private rental sector, are over-crowded. Many residents are professionals and technicians educated to degree level, and the Group is particularly common near the campuses of established university towns and cities.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Chan is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Chan is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Chan falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Chan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Chinese

This describes the area pattern most associated with Chan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Chan

The surname Chan originated in China and has a long and storied history dating back centuries. It is believed to have derived from the Chinese character "陈," which can be translated to mean "old" or "ancient." The name was particularly prevalent in the southern regions of China, such as Guangdong and Fujian provinces.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Chan surname can be found in the Shiji, a historical record written by Sima Qian during the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD). The text mentions a prominent figure named Chan Ping, who served as a military general and played a crucial role in the conquest of the Baiyue tribes in southern China.

During the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 AD), the Chan surname gained further prominence with the rise of Chan Buddhism, a school of Mahayana Buddhism that emphasized meditation and enlightenment. Several notable Chan Buddhist monks and philosophers, such as Chan Master Huineng (638 – 713 AD), played a significant role in the development and spread of this spiritual tradition.

In the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644 AD), the Chan surname was closely associated with the Chan family of Nanhai County in Guangdong Province. This influential family produced several scholars, officials, and literary figures, including Chan Kao (1507 – 1587 AD), a renowned poet and calligrapher.

Throughout history, the Chan surname has been associated with various place names and older spellings. For instance, the city of Chancheng in Foshan, Guangdong, was once known as Chankeng, potentially derived from the Chan surname. Additionally, the Chan surname has been spelled differently in various Chinese dialects, such as Chen in Cantonese and Tran in Vietnamese.

Notable individuals with the Chan surname include:

1. Chan Bing (1909 – 1990), a Chinese martial artist and actor who gained fame in Hong Kong action films. 2. Chan Kuo-tsai (1905 – 1980), a renowned Taiwanese painter and calligrapher known for his innovative brushwork. 3. Chan Wing-tsit (1901 – 1994), a Chinese philosopher and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of Neo-Confucianism. 4. Chan Kwok-hung (1954 – present), a Hong Kong politician and social activist known as "Long Hair." 5. Chan Laiwa (1934 – 2018), a celebrated Hong Kong actress and singer who appeared in numerous Cantonese films and television series.

The Chan surname has a rich cultural heritage, spanning centuries of Chinese history and encompassing various disciplines, from military and philosophy to literature and the arts. Its enduring presence across generations and regions reflects the diverse and profound impact of this name on Chinese society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chan surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Devon leads with 6 Chans recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.67x.

County Total Index
Devon 6 24.67x
Middlesex 3 2.57x
Lancashire 2 1.44x
Surrey 1 1.76x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tormoham in Devon leads with 6 Chans recorded in 1881 and an index of 582.52x.

Place Total Index
Tormoham 6 582.52x
Gorton 2 153.85x
Bromley London 1 38.91x
Hackney London 1 15.27x
Lambeth 1 9.81x
Paddington London 1 23.26x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Chan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Catherine 1
Eliza 1
Mary 1
Minnie 1
Myra 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Chan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 2
Alfred 1
Henry 1
Lenard 1
Louis 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Chan households.

FAQ

Chan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 15 people were recorded with the Chan surname. That placed it at #31,451 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 12,438 in 2016. That gives Chan a modern rank of #527.

What does the Chan surname mean?

A common Chinese surname meaning "old" or "elderly," or referring to a hill or mound.

What does the Chan map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Chan bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.