NameCensus.

UK surname

Choo

A Chinese surname that can be traced back to several different sources.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Choo surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 280, ranked #15,491, up from #33,721 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Choo is 280 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13900.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

280

2016, ranked #15,491

Peak year

2016

280 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Choo had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 280 in 2016, ranked #15,491.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Choo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Choo surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Choo 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
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1891 historical 8 #33,550
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 158 #20,422
1998 modern 160 #20,832
1999 modern 140 #22,789
2000 modern 138 #22,960
2001 modern 134 #23,037
2002 modern 148 #22,087
2003 modern 147 #21,977
2004 modern 160 #20,926
2005 modern 156 #21,221
2006 modern 161 #20,972
2007 modern 189 #19,146
2008 modern 197 #18,818
2009 modern 229 #17,431
2010 modern 256 #16,523
2011 modern 249 #16,684
2012 modern 265 #15,862
2013 modern 271 #15,875
2014 modern 276 #15,788
2015 modern 276 #15,673
2016 modern 280 #15,491

Geography

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Where Choos 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, Westminster, Trafford and Ealing. 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 026 Camden
2 Westminster 016 Westminster
3 Trafford 017 Trafford
4 Ealing 024 Ealing
5 Westminster 015 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Choo

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

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Choo 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

Choo 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

Choo falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Choo

The surname CHOO is of Chinese origin, traced back to the southern regions of China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is believed to have derived from the Chinese words "chu" or "choo," which referred to a specific geographic area or dialect.

One of the earliest recorded references to the CHOO surname can be found in the imperial archives of the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), where it was documented as a prominent family name in the Guangdong and Fujian provinces.

In the 13th century, during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 AD), a notable scholar named CHOO Tzu-yuen (1265-1330) gained recognition for his contributions to Neo-Confucian philosophy. His influential works became widely studied and helped solidify the CHOO surname's significance in Chinese history.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the CHOO family produced several prominent figures, including CHOO Hung (1535-1615), a renowned painter and calligrapher, and CHOO Cheng-hsun (1593-1670), a respected military strategist and statesman.

As Chinese migration increased in the 18th and 19th centuries, the CHOO surname spread to various parts of Southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia and Singapore. One notable figure from this period was CHOO Cheng-Eok (1824-1900), a successful businessman and philanthropist in British Malaya.

In more recent history, the CHOO surname has gained global recognition through the acclaimed fashion designer Jimmy CHOO (born 1961), whose eponymous luxury brand is renowned for its stylish footwear and accessories.

Other notable individuals with the CHOO surname include CHOO Cheng-Kyere (1929-2018), a respected Ghanaian statesman and diplomat, and CHOO Kwang-ho (born 1958), a South Korean actor and director known for his work in television and film.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Choo families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Choo 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. Northumberland leads with 1 Choos recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.84x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 1 34.84x
Renfrewshire 1 67.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Greenock Oldor West in Renfrewshire leads with 1 Choos recorded in 1881 and an index of 0.00x.

Place Total Index
Greenock Oldor West 1 0.00x
Newcastle On Tyne 1 0.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Chaw 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 Choo households.

Occupation Count
Steward 1

FAQ

Choo surname: questions and answers

How common was the Choo surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Choo surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Choo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 280 in 2016. That gives Choo a modern rank of #15,491.

What does the Choo surname mean?

A Chinese surname that can be traced back to several different sources.

What does the Choo map show?

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