NameCensus.

UK surname

Cui

A Romanian surname derived from the word "cuiu," meaning "nail" or "spike," likely referring to an ancestor's occupation.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Newham and Vale of White Horse.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cui is 167 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

166

2016, ranked #22,140

Peak year

2015

167 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 166 in 2016, ranked #22,140.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Cui surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cui surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cui 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
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1997 modern 7 #37,533
1998 modern 10 #37,048
1999 modern 9 #37,217
2000 modern 10 #37,001
2001 modern 13 #36,483
2002 modern 24 #35,520
2003 modern 44 #33,875
2004 modern 52 #33,418
2005 modern 60 #32,917
2006 modern 70 #32,240
2007 modern 74 #32,190
2008 modern 78 #32,081
2009 modern 84 #31,842
2010 modern 123 #26,728
2011 modern 106 #29,157
2012 modern 132 #25,289
2013 modern 145 #24,207
2014 modern 150 #23,864
2015 modern 167 #22,066
2016 modern 166 #22,140

Geography

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Where Cuis 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 Cornwall, Newham, Vale of White Horse, Swansea 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 Cornwall 021 Cornwall
2 Newham 013 Newham
3 Vale of White Horse 001 Vale of White Horse
4 Swansea 024 Swansea
5 Barnet 024 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cui

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

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cui, 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

Student Living and Professional Footholds

Nationally, the Cui surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Student Living and Professional Footholds, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Cui household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

The Group includes many students, some of whom reside in communal residences. Single-person households are the most prevalent and the modal age band is 25 to 44. There are few families with dependent children. A significant number of White residents were born in EU countries (although UK-born residents are more common than in the rest of the Group), and households reflect a diversity of ethnic groups. Residential turnover is exceptionally high and, communal properties aside, flats are the norm. Some properties, including those in the private rental sector, are over-crowded. Many residents are professionals and technicians educated to degree level, and the Group is particularly common near the campuses of established university towns and cities.

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

City Support Workers

Within London, Cui is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, 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

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

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

Cui 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

Cui falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cui

The surname Cui is believed to have originated in China, with roots dating back to the Xia Dynasty (c. 2070 BC–c. 1600 BC). It is derived from the ancient Chinese word "cui," which means "emerald" or "green jade," and was likely originally a descriptive name given to someone who worked with or had an affinity for jade.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Cui can be found in the Shiji, a monumental historical text written by Sima Qian in the 1st century BC. The Shiji mentions several individuals with the surname Cui, including Cui Zhouping, a powerful minister during the Warring States period (475–221 BC).

During the Han Dynasty (202 BC–220 AD), the name Cui gained prominence, with several notable figures bearing the surname. One of the most famous was Cui Bao (d. 450 AD), a renowned calligrapher and poet who served as a high-ranking official during the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

In the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD), the Cui family produced several influential poets and scholars, including Cui Hao (704–754 AD), a renowned poet and essayist, and Cui Rong (653–725 AD), a celebrated historian and author of the "Old Book of Tang."

The name Cui has also been associated with various place names throughout China's history. For instance, Cuizhou (formerly known as Cuixian) is a county in Hebei Province, and Cuihuang is a town in Zhejiang Province.

Among the notable Cui figures in more recent history are Cui Jian (born 1961), a pioneering rock musician and songwriter often referred to as the "Father of Chinese Rock"; Cui Zi'en (1904–1997), a prominent linguist and educator; and Cui Yuying (1904–1986), a celebrated actress and one of the "Four Great Dan Actresses" of Chinese opera.

While the surname Cui has its roots firmly planted in ancient Chinese history, it has since spread across the globe, with people of Chinese descent bearing this name found in many countries today.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Cui surname: questions and answers

How common is the Cui surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 166 in 2016. That gives Cui a modern rank of #22,140.

What does the Cui surname mean?

A Romanian surname derived from the word "cuiu," meaning "nail" or "spike," likely referring to an ancestor's occupation.

What does the Cui map show?

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