NameCensus.

UK surname

Choy

A Chinese surname meaning "vegetable" or referring to a vegetable garden.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rutland, Poole and Cheshire West and Chester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Choy is 324 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

320

2016, ranked #14,096

Peak year

2010

324 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 320 in 2016, ranked #14,096.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Choy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Choy surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Choy 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 6 #33,230
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 6 #33,255
1997 modern 197 #17,792
1998 modern 209 #17,650
1999 modern 208 #17,808
2000 modern 200 #18,209
2001 modern 198 #18,047
2002 modern 215 #17,487
2003 modern 225 #16,808
2004 modern 226 #16,829
2005 modern 245 #15,857
2006 modern 255 #15,521
2007 modern 271 #15,042
2008 modern 276 #14,994
2009 modern 303 #14,315
2010 modern 324 #13,979
2011 modern 309 #14,322
2012 modern 316 #13,994
2013 modern 324 #13,961
2014 modern 319 #14,216
2015 modern 318 #14,155
2016 modern 320 #14,096

Geography

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Where Choys 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 Rutland, Poole, Cheshire West and Chester, Richmond upon Thames and Islington. 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 Rutland 004 Rutland
2 Poole 003 Poole
3 Cheshire West and Chester 007 Cheshire West and Chester
4 Richmond upon Thames 007 Richmond upon Thames
5 Islington 019 Islington

Forenames

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First names often paired with Choy

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

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Choy is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Choy 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

Choy 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 Choy 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 Choy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Choy

The surname Choy originated in China, with its roots traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is believed to have derived from the Cantonese pronunciation of the Chinese surname 蔡 (Choi or Tsoi). This surname was initially associated with people residing in the Guangdong province of southern China.

During the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the Choy surname appeared in historical records documenting notable scholars and officials. One such individual was Choy Yun-Wo, a renowned poet and calligrapher who lived from 1005 to 1064 AD.

The earliest recorded instance of the Choy surname can be found in the "Pu'an County Annals," a historical text dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD). This record mentions a prominent figure named Choy Ting-Fung, who served as a magistrate in Pu'an County (now part of Guangdong province) during the 15th century.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, numerous Choy families emigrated from Guangdong to various parts of the world, including Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe. This diaspora contributed to the spread and recognition of the Choy surname globally.

One notable bearer of the Choy surname was Sir Shouson Chow (1861-1935), a prominent Hong Kong businessman and philanthropist. He was instrumental in the development of several public projects in the city, including the Shouson Hill area, which bears his name.

Another famous individual with the Choy surname was Wilbur Choy (1915-1986), an American architect renowned for his contributions to modern architecture in Hawaii. His notable works include the IBM Building in Honolulu and the Kahala Hilton Hotel.

In the realm of sports, Choy Ching-Man (born 1989) is a Hong Kong professional footballer who has represented the Hong Kong national team and played for various clubs in Asia.

The Choy surname has also been associated with several notable academics and intellectuals, such as Choy Kwok-Keung (born 1958), a distinguished professor of physics at the University of Hong Kong, and Choy Yuen-Sang (1919-2007), a highly respected educator and writer in Hong Kong.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Choy surname: questions and answers

How common is the Choy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 320 in 2016. That gives Choy a modern rank of #14,096.

What does the Choy surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "vegetable" or referring to a vegetable garden.

What does the Choy map show?

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