NameCensus.

UK surname

Cheong

An uncommon East Asian surname of uncertain meaning or origin.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Islington and Westminster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cheong is 401 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

401

2016, ranked #11,857

Peak year

2013

401 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 401 in 2016, ranked #11,857.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Cheong surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cheong surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Cheong 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
1861 historical 4 #33,628
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 221 #16,565
1998 modern 246 #15,864
1999 modern 251 #15,751
2000 modern 247 #15,864
2001 modern 246 #15,684
2002 modern 269 #15,044
2003 modern 259 #15,254
2004 modern 249 #15,739
2005 modern 264 #15,085
2006 modern 278 #14,623
2007 modern 299 #14,077
2008 modern 305 #13,979
2009 modern 339 #13,281
2010 modern 371 #12,679
2011 modern 378 #12,363
2012 modern 397 #11,780
2013 modern 401 #11,890
2014 modern 384 #12,362
2015 modern 389 #12,165
2016 modern 401 #11,857

Geography

Back to top

Where Cheongs 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 Kensington and Chelsea, Islington, Westminster and Barnet. 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 Kensington and Chelsea 013 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Islington 013 Islington
3 Westminster 017 Westminster
4 Barnet 030 Barnet
5 Westminster 012 Westminster

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Cheong

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

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cheong, 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 Cheong surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Cheong 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, Cheong 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

Cheong 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

Cheong falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cheong

The surname Cheong originates from China, dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is believed to have derived from the Chinese word "qiong," which means "lofty" or "towering." The name was particularly prevalent in the southern regions of China, such as Guangdong and Fujian provinces.

During the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the name Cheong appeared in various historical records and manuscripts, indicating its widespread use among the Chinese population. One notable mention is found in the "Zizhi Tongjian," a renowned historical work compiled by scholars during the Northern Song period.

The earliest recorded instances of the Cheong surname can be traced back to the 11th century. In the "Dongchuan Village Annals," a document dating back to the Song Dynasty, several individuals bearing the Cheong surname were listed as residents of the village.

In the 13th century, a prominent figure named Cheong Xingjian (1232-1298) gained recognition as a renowned poet and calligrapher during the Yuan Dynasty. His works were highly celebrated and influenced the literary and artistic realms of his time.

Another notable individual was Cheong Liang (1519-1592), a revered scholar and philosopher during the Ming Dynasty. His writings on Confucianism and ethics had a profound impact on intellectual discourse in imperial China.

During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), the Cheong surname gained further prominence. Cheong Yiguang (1723-1807) was a respected statesman and advisor to the Qing court, known for his contributions to administrative reforms and policies.

In the 19th century, Cheong Fatt Tze (1840-1915), a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist, made significant contributions to the development of infrastructure and education in various regions of Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia and Singapore.

It is also worth noting that the Cheong surname has variants in its spelling and pronunciation across different regions and dialects. For instance, in Cantonese, it is often spelled as "Cheung," while in Hokkien, it may appear as "Tiang" or "Tiong."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Cheong surname: questions and answers

How common is the Cheong surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 401 in 2016. That gives Cheong a modern rank of #11,857.

What does the Cheong surname mean?

An uncommon East Asian surname of uncertain meaning or origin.

What does the Cheong map show?

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