NameCensus.

UK surname

Chu

A Chinese surname meaning "place" or referring to someone living near a kitchen, storage place, or repository.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Chu surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,518, ranked #4,076, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tower Hamlets, Kinning Park and Festival Park and Bexley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chu is 1,546 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 75800.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

1,518

2016, ranked #4,076

Peak year

2014

1,546 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chu had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,518 in 2016, ranked #4,076.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Chu surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chu surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Chu 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
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1997 modern 919 #5,882
1998 modern 1,003 #5,663
1999 modern 1,054 #5,468
2000 modern 1,059 #5,434
2001 modern 1,044 #5,393
2002 modern 1,155 #5,081
2003 modern 1,205 #4,796
2004 modern 1,187 #4,858
2005 modern 1,242 #4,623
2006 modern 1,261 #4,565
2007 modern 1,342 #4,375
2008 modern 1,367 #4,333
2009 modern 1,419 #4,285
2010 modern 1,479 #4,235
2011 modern 1,505 #4,148
2012 modern 1,486 #4,124
2013 modern 1,522 #4,107
2014 modern 1,546 #4,065
2015 modern 1,512 #4,110
2016 modern 1,518 #4,076

Geography

Back to top

Where Chus 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 Tower Hamlets, Kinning Park and Festival Park, Bexley, Oxford and Hackney. 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 Tower Hamlets 031 Tower Hamlets
2 Kinning Park and Festival Park Glasgow City
3 Bexley 002 Bexley
4 Oxford 006 Oxford
5 Hackney 021 Hackney

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Chu

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

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

Chu 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

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

Meaning and origin of Chu

The surname Chu originated in China and can be traced back to the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BC). It is derived from the Chinese word "chu," which means "dwellings" or "place of residence." The name was initially associated with people who lived in a specific area or village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Chu can be found in the Shiji, a historical record compiled by Sima Qian in the 1st century BC. The book mentions several individuals with the surname Chu, including Chu Sheng, a prominent minister during the reign of King Zhao of Qin (313–310 BC).

During the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD), the surname Chu gained further prominence. One notable figure from this period was Chu Suiliang (596–658 AD), a renowned calligrapher and scholar. His works are still studied and celebrated in the field of Chinese calligraphy.

In the Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD), the Chu family played a significant role in the literary and political circles. Chu Hsi (1130–1200 AD), a renowned philosopher and scholar, was one of the most influential figures of Neo-Confucianism. His teachings and interpretations of Confucian texts had a lasting impact on Chinese culture and education.

The surname Chu can also be found in ancient place names and geographic locations in China. For instance, the city of Chuzhou in Anhui Province, China, derives its name from the Chu surname, suggesting a historical connection between the name and the region.

Throughout history, several other notable individuals have borne the surname Chu. These include Chu Shijie (1599–1682 AD), a Ming Dynasty scholar and poet; Chu Yuanzhang (1328–1398 AD), the founder of the Ming Dynasty; and Chu Hsi (1130–1200 AD), mentioned earlier, who was a prominent philosopher and educator.

While the surname Chu has its roots in ancient China, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe, carried by Chinese diaspora communities over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Chu surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chu surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Chu surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,518 in 2016. That gives Chu a modern rank of #4,076.

What does the Chu surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "place" or referring to someone living near a kitchen, storage place, or repository.

What does the Chu map show?

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