NameCensus.

UK surname

Che

A Chinese surname derived from a word meaning "cart" or "vehicle," likely referring to an ancestor's occupation.

In the 1881 census there were 5 people recorded with the Che surname, ranking it #33,110 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 133, ranked #25,765, up from #33,110 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet, Basildon and Lewisham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Che is 133 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2560.0%.

1881 census count

5

Ranked #33,110

Modern count

133

2016, ranked #25,765

Peak year

2016

133 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Che had 5 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,110 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016, ranked #25,765.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Che surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Che surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Che 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 1 #33,412
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1881 historical 5 #33,110
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1997 modern 33 #34,377
1998 modern 39 #33,967
1999 modern 43 #33,683
2000 modern 42 #33,791
2001 modern 41 #33,753
2002 modern 46 #33,631
2003 modern 54 #32,990
2004 modern 62 #32,478
2005 modern 78 #31,058
2006 modern 78 #31,385
2007 modern 85 #30,954
2008 modern 98 #29,355
2009 modern 105 #28,815
2010 modern 115 #27,874
2011 modern 121 #26,789
2012 modern 121 #26,829
2013 modern 124 #26,842
2014 modern 125 #26,896
2015 modern 126 #26,654
2016 modern 133 #25,765

Geography

Back to top

Where Ches 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 Barnet, Basildon, Lewisham and Lambeth. 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 Barnet 022 Barnet
2 Barnet 005 Barnet
3 Basildon 022 Basildon
4 Lewisham 039 Lewisham
5 Lambeth 015 Lambeth

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Che

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Che

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Che, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Che surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Che household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Che is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Che 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

Che falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Che is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Chinese

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

Meaning and origin of Che

The surname Che has its origins in Italy, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "chè," which is a contraction of the phrase "che è" meaning "what is." This suggests that the name may have originally been a nickname or a descriptive term.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Che was Giovanni Che, a merchant from the city of Genoa, who lived in the late 14th century. Records from this time period indicate that he was involved in the lucrative trade between Italy and the Byzantine Empire.

In the 15th century, the Che family was prominent in the city of Florence, and their name can be found in various historical documents and records from that era. Notably, a certain Giulio Che was a respected philosopher and scholar who wrote extensively on the works of Aristotle.

The Che surname also has ties to the town of Ché, located in the province of Pavia, in northern Italy. It is possible that some branches of the Che family originated from this place and took the town's name as their surname.

A notable figure bearing the Che surname was Guido Che (1450-1517), a renowned architect from Milan who was responsible for the design and construction of several significant buildings, including the Church of San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore.

In the 18th century, the Che family gained prominence in the field of medicine, with Giuseppe Che (1725-1802) being a highly respected physician and professor at the University of Padua. His contributions to the study of anatomy and physiology were widely recognized during his lifetime.

Another individual of note was Ernesto Che (1820-1892), a Italian politician and statesman who served as the Mayor of Rome from 1870 to 1876. He played a crucial role in the city's development and modernization following the unification of Italy.

While the Che surname has its roots in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including South America, where it gained particular prominence through the famous revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara (1928-1967), although his first name was not a surname but a nickname derived from his Argentine Spanish pronunciation of the word "che."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Che surname: questions and answers

How common was the Che surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5 people were recorded with the Che surname. That placed it at #33,110 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Che surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016. That gives Che a modern rank of #25,765.

What does the Che surname mean?

A Chinese surname derived from a word meaning "cart" or "vehicle," likely referring to an ancestor's occupation.

What does the Che map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Che 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.