NameCensus.

UK surname

Chou

A Chinese surname meaning "stinking" or "smelly," likely referring to a foul-smelling plant or strong-smelling spices.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Chou surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 138, ranked #25,127, up from #34,027 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chou is 138 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13700.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

138

2016, ranked #25,127

Peak year

2016

138 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chou had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016, ranked #25,127.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Chou surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chou surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chou 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 1 #34,435
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1997 modern 54 #32,210
1998 modern 57 #32,226
1999 modern 54 #32,660
2000 modern 58 #32,317
2001 modern 62 #31,798
2002 modern 69 #31,527
2003 modern 68 #31,689
2004 modern 77 #31,024
2005 modern 76 #31,267
2006 modern 73 #31,954
2007 modern 78 #31,748
2008 modern 73 #32,555
2009 modern 80 #32,277
2010 modern 100 #30,225
2011 modern 98 #30,384
2012 modern 101 #30,078
2013 modern 117 #27,838
2014 modern 121 #27,503
2015 modern 129 #26,226
2016 modern 138 #25,127

Geography

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Where Chous 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 Waverley, Telford and Wrekin, Kensington and Chelsea, Darlington and Cardiff. 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 Waverley 018 Waverley
2 Telford and Wrekin 015 Telford and Wrekin
3 Kensington and Chelsea 016 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Darlington 011 Darlington
5 Cardiff 036 Cardiff

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chou

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

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Chou 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

Chou 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

Chou falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Chou

The surname CHOU has its origins in China, dating back to the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BC). It is derived from the Chinese character 周, which means "surrounding" or "encompassing." The Zhou Dynasty was a pivotal period in Chinese history, during which the concept of the Mandate of Heaven was developed, establishing the legitimacy of the ruling house based on moral virtue.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname CHOU was Zhou Gong (周公), the Duke of Zhou, who lived in the 11th century BC. He was a prominent figure during the Western Zhou Dynasty and is credited with establishing many of the governmental and social structures that shaped Chinese civilization.

The CHOU surname has been associated with several notable figures throughout Chinese history. Zhou Dunyi (周敦颐, 1017–1073) was a renowned Neo-Confucian philosopher and one of the founders of the Lixue (理学) school of thought. His works, such as the "Taiji Tushuo" (太极图说), were highly influential in the development of Neo-Confucian cosmology.

Another prominent individual with the CHOU surname was Zhou Enlai (周恩来, 1898–1976), a Chinese revolutionary and statesman who served as the first Premier of the People's Republic of China from 1949 until his death. He played a crucial role in the establishment of the Communist government and was instrumental in shaping China's foreign policy during the Cold War era.

In the realm of literature, Zhou Shuren (周树人, 1881–1936), better known by his pen name Lu Xun (鲁迅), was a leading figure in the May Fourth Movement and is considered one of the most influential modern Chinese writers. His works, such as the short story collections "Nahan" (呐喊) and "Panghuang" (朋黄), exposed the social ills of traditional Chinese society and advocated for cultural and political reform.

The CHOU surname has also been associated with various place names in China, such as Zhouxian (周县) in Hebei Province and Zhoushan (舟山) in Zhejiang Province. These place names often derive from the Zhou Dynasty or are related to the surname's meaning of "surrounding" or "encompassing."

While the CHOU surname has a rich history and cultural significance in China, it has also gained recognition worldwide, with individuals bearing this surname making contributions across various fields, from politics and philosophy to literature and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Chou surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chou surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Chou surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chou surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016. That gives Chou a modern rank of #25,127.

What does the Chou surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "stinking" or "smelly," likely referring to a foul-smelling plant or strong-smelling spices.

What does the Chou map show?

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