NameCensus.

UK surname

Cheng

A Chinese surname meaning "accomplished" or "successful," or referring to a place name.

In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Cheng surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,745, ranked #2,446, up from #33,498 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne and Oxford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cheng is 2,745 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 91400.0%.

1881 census count

3

Ranked #33,498

Modern count

2,745

2016, ranked #2,446

Peak year

2016

2,745 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cheng had 3 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,498 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,745 in 2016, ranked #2,446.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 21 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Cheng surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cheng surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cheng 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 5 #32,456
1861 historical 17 #31,714
1881 historical 3 #33,498
1891 historical 21 #32,526
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 11 #32,463
1997 modern 1,614 #3,674
1998 modern 1,730 #3,580
1999 modern 1,845 #3,402
2000 modern 1,848 #3,383
2001 modern 1,812 #3,373
2002 modern 1,952 #3,233
2003 modern 2,031 #3,077
2004 modern 2,103 #2,976
2005 modern 2,180 #2,858
2006 modern 2,208 #2,830
2007 modern 2,277 #2,768
2008 modern 2,300 #2,769
2009 modern 2,376 #2,757
2010 modern 2,596 #2,613
2011 modern 2,526 #2,653
2012 modern 2,571 #2,559
2013 modern 2,709 #2,489
2014 modern 2,692 #2,515
2015 modern 2,689 #2,498
2016 modern 2,745 #2,446

Geography

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Where Chengs 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 Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Oxford, Tower Hamlets and Inverness Inshes. 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 Manchester 055 Manchester
2 Newcastle upon Tyne 024 Newcastle upon Tyne
3 Oxford 008 Oxford
4 Tower Hamlets 028 Tower Hamlets
5 Inverness Inshes Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cheng

These lists show first names that appear often with the Cheng 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 Cheng

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

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Cheng surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Cheng 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Cheng is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cheng 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

Cheng falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cheng 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 Cheng, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cheng

The surname Cheng has its origins in China and dates back to ancient times. It is a Chinese family name that is transliterated from the Chinese characters 程. The characters 程 originate from an ancient Chinese word meaning "law" or "rule", suggesting that the surname may have initially been given to those who held positions related to legal or administrative roles.

In early Chinese history, the Cheng surname is recorded in various documents and manuscripts, such as the Shiji, a historical record from the Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD). The name is believed to have first emerged during the Spring and Autumn Period (771–476 BC) in the state of Lu, located in present-day Shandong Province.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Cheng was Cheng Yi, a renowned Confucian philosopher and writer who lived from 1033 to 1107 AD during the Song Dynasty. He was a prominent figure in the neo-Confucian movement and is remembered for his influential works on moral philosophy and ethics.

Another notable figure with the Cheng surname was Cheng Ho (1371–1433), a Chinese Muslim maritime explorer and fleet admiral who commanded expeditionary voyages throughout Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean during the Ming Dynasty. His voyages were significant in establishing diplomatic and trade relations with various regions.

In the realm of literature, Cheng Xueqin (1715–1763) was a notable Chinese writer and author of the classic novel "The Dream of the Red Chamber", considered one of the greatest works of Chinese fiction.

During the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD), the Cheng family was prominent in the region of Shandong, with some members holding influential positions in the imperial court. The name Cheng was also associated with several place names, such as Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, which derives its name from the ancient state of Cheng.

Throughout history, the Cheng surname has been widely dispersed across various regions of China and has also been adopted by Chinese communities in other parts of the world, including Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe. Despite its widespread distribution, the surname continues to hold deep cultural and historical significance, reflecting the rich heritage of China.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cheng families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cheng 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 2 Chengs recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.89x.

County Total Index
Devon 2 32.89x
Middlesex 1 3.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brixham in Devon leads with 2 Chengs recorded in 1881 and an index of 2857.14x.

Place Total Index
Brixham 2 2857.14x
St Pancras London 1 42.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Annie 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Micheal 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 Cheng households.

FAQ

Cheng surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cheng surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Cheng surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cheng surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,745 in 2016. That gives Cheng a modern rank of #2,446.

What does the Cheng surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "accomplished" or "successful," or referring to a place name.

What does the Cheng map show?

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