NameCensus.

UK surname

Dai

A Chinese surname meaning "black" or "dark," likely referring to a person's physical characteristics or complexion.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Peterborough, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Dudley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dai is 186 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

186

2016, ranked #20,575

Peak year

2016

186 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 186 in 2016, ranked #20,575.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Dai surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dai surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Dai 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 2 #33,133
1997 modern 37 #33,964
1998 modern 43 #33,557
1999 modern 44 #33,601
2000 modern 36 #34,317
2001 modern 40 #33,842
2002 modern 44 #33,790
2003 modern 61 #32,352
2004 modern 63 #32,380
2005 modern 82 #30,617
2006 modern 88 #30,160
2007 modern 99 #28,852
2008 modern 106 #28,016
2009 modern 131 #25,056
2010 modern 180 #20,812
2011 modern 156 #22,690
2012 modern 181 #20,531
2013 modern 178 #21,108
2014 modern 179 #21,186
2015 modern 182 #20,856
2016 modern 186 #20,575

Geography

Back to top

Where Dais 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 Peterborough, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Dudley, Haringey and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 Peterborough 007 Peterborough
2 Rhondda Cynon Taf 011 Rhondda Cynon Taf
3 Dudley 026 Dudley
4 Haringey 010 Haringey
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 022 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Dai

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

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Dai surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Dai household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Dai is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dai 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

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

Meaning and origin of Dai

The surname DAI has its origins in China, with records dating back to the 7th century AD. It is believed to have derived from the Chinese word "dai," meaning "to carry" or "to bear." This name was likely given to those whose occupation involved carrying or transporting goods.

In ancient China, the DAI surname was particularly prevalent in the regions of Shandong, Henan, and Hebei provinces. One of the earliest recorded instances of this name can be found in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) census records, where several families with the DAI surname were documented.

During the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the DAI surname gained prominence, with several notable individuals bearing this name. One such individual was Dai Qing (1035-1093), a renowned poet and calligrapher who served as an official in the imperial court.

In the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 AD), the DAI surname continued to be widely used. The "Yuan Shi" (History of the Yuan Dynasty) mentions a military commander named Dai Bao (1278-1347), who played a crucial role in suppressing rebellions against the Mongol rule.

As Chinese immigration increased in the later centuries, the DAI surname spread to other parts of the world. In the 19th century, a prominent figure named Dai Xiying (1823-1899) was a Chinese diplomat and scholar who served as the first Chinese ambassador to several European countries.

Another notable individual with the DAI surname was Dai Wangshu (1905-1950), a Chinese communist revolutionary who played a significant role in the Chinese Civil War and the establishment of the People's Republic of China.

The DAI surname has also been associated with various place names throughout China's history. For instance, the city of Daixian in Shanxi Province was named after the Dai family, who held significant influence in the region during the Tang Dynasty.

While the DAI surname has its roots in ancient China, it has since become an established name in other parts of the world, thanks to Chinese immigration and cultural exchange. However, its origins can be traced back to the Chinese character "dai" and its association with the occupation of carrying or transporting goods in ancient times.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Dai surname: questions and answers

How common is the Dai surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 186 in 2016. That gives Dai a modern rank of #20,575.

What does the Dai surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "black" or "dark," likely referring to a person's physical characteristics or complexion.

What does the Dai map show?

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