NameCensus.

UK surname

Dao

A Vietnamese surname derived from the Chinese surname 陶, meaning "pottery" or "ceramics."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hackney, Southwark and Greenwich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dao is 215 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

215

2016, ranked #18,670

Peak year

2016

215 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 215 in 2016, ranked #18,670.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Dao surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dao surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dao 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
1997 modern 61 #31,526
1998 modern 71 #30,869
1999 modern 74 #30,759
2000 modern 80 #30,139
2001 modern 81 #29,828
2002 modern 97 #28,383
2003 modern 110 #26,220
2004 modern 114 #25,870
2005 modern 115 #25,702
2006 modern 118 #25,556
2007 modern 132 #24,166
2008 modern 131 #24,583
2009 modern 141 #23,907
2010 modern 157 #22,800
2011 modern 172 #21,248
2012 modern 186 #20,141
2013 modern 195 #19,857
2014 modern 210 #19,064
2015 modern 212 #18,842
2016 modern 215 #18,670

Geography

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Where Daos 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 Hackney, Southwark and Greenwich. 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 Hackney 025 Hackney
2 Southwark 021 Southwark
3 Greenwich 005 Greenwich
4 Hackney 023 Hackney
5 Greenwich 007 Greenwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dao

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

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

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Dao surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Dao 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 younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

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, Dao 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

Dao 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

Dao falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dao is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Dao, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Dao

The surname Dao is believed to have originated in China, with roots dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Chinese word "dao," which means "way" or "path" in Mandarin Chinese. The name likely originated from a philosophical or spiritual context, referring to the Dao or the Way, a central concept in Daoism and Chinese philosophy.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Dao can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), where it was first mentioned in historical records and manuscripts. During this period, the name was associated with various scholars, philosophers, and practitioners of Daoism.

One notable historical figure with the surname Dao was Dao Sheng (360-434 AD), a renowned Buddhist monk and philosopher who lived during the Northern and Southern Dynasties period. He was influential in the development of the Yogacara school of Buddhist philosophy and is known for his commentaries on the Mahayana sutras.

Another prominent individual was Dao Guang (627-686 AD), a Tang Dynasty poet and scholar who served as a high-ranking official in the imperial court. His poems and literary works were widely acclaimed and studied by subsequent generations of scholars.

During the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the surname Dao gained further prominence with the rise of Neo-Confucianism. Dao Zhi (1021-1088 AD) was a notable Neo-Confucian philosopher and scholar who contributed to the development of this philosophical movement.

In more recent history, Dao Duy Anh (1904-1988) was a prominent Vietnamese politician and revolutionary who played a significant role in Vietnam's struggle for independence from French colonial rule. He served as the first President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) from 1945 to 1969.

Another notable figure was Dao Strom (born 1973), a Vietnamese-American author and artist who has written several books and received numerous literary awards for her work exploring themes of identity, culture, and displacement.

While the surname Dao has its roots in China, it has also spread to other regions, including Vietnam, where it is a common surname among the ethnic Vietnamese population. The name has also been adopted by individuals of various cultural backgrounds, transcending its original geographical and linguistic boundaries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Dao surname: questions and answers

How common is the Dao surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 215 in 2016. That gives Dao a modern rank of #18,670.

What does the Dao surname mean?

A Vietnamese surname derived from the Chinese surname 陶, meaning "pottery" or "ceramics."

What does the Dao map show?

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