NameCensus.

UK surname

Dong

A Chinese surname referring to the eastern direction or the mythological Dong mountain range.

In the 1881 census there were 7 people recorded with the Dong surname, ranking it #32,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 343, ranked #13,368, up from #32,765 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dong is 343 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 4800.0%.

1881 census count

7

Ranked #32,765

Modern count

343

2016, ranked #13,368

Peak year

2016

343 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dong had 7 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,765 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 343 in 2016, ranked #13,368.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 41 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Dong surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dong surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Dong 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 1 #33,412
1861 historical 41 #28,839
1881 historical 7 #32,765
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 7 #33,435
1911 historical 7 #33,083
1997 modern 50 #32,658
1998 modern 53 #32,633
1999 modern 64 #31,692
2000 modern 69 #31,273
2001 modern 72 #30,813
2002 modern 93 #28,920
2003 modern 119 #25,026
2004 modern 123 #24,679
2005 modern 139 #22,887
2006 modern 170 #20,214
2007 modern 180 #19,745
2008 modern 195 #18,958
2009 modern 211 #18,377
2010 modern 265 #16,115
2011 modern 251 #16,589
2012 modern 297 #14,607
2013 modern 321 #14,073
2014 modern 317 #14,269
2015 modern 332 #13,705
2016 modern 343 #13,368

Geography

Back to top

Where Dongs 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 Bromley, Barnet, Southwark, Tower Hamlets and Manchester. 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 Bromley 008 Bromley
2 Barnet 027 Barnet
3 Southwark 015 Southwark
4 Tower Hamlets 028 Tower Hamlets
5 Manchester 003 Manchester

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Dong

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

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Dong surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Dong 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Dong 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

Dong 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

Dong falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dong

The surname Dong has its origins in China, and it is believed to have emerged during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). The name is derived from the Chinese word "dong," which means "east" or "eastern." It was likely initially used as a topographic name, referring to people who lived in the eastern regions of China or near the eastern borders of the country.

One of the earliest known references to the Dong surname can be found in the "Tongzhi" or "Comprehensive Treatise," a historical work compiled during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). This work includes records of individuals with the Dong surname, suggesting that the name had already been in use for some time.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Dong Feng (1268-1346) is recorded as a prominent scholar and official during the Yuan Dynasty. He served as a high-ranking civil servant and is known for his contributions to the development of Neo-Confucianism.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the Dong surname gained further prominence. One of the most influential individuals with this name was Dong Qichang (1555-1636), a renowned artist, calligrapher, and art theorist. His works and teachings had a significant impact on the development of Chinese painting and calligraphy.

Another notable figure from this period was Dong Sizhang (1570-1625), a general and military strategist who played a crucial role in the defense of China against the invading Manchu forces. His military tactics and leadership were instrumental in several victories against the Manchus.

In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 AD), the Dong surname continued to be prominent. Dong Zhongshu (1679-1758) was a highly respected philosopher and scholar known for his contributions to the study of the Confucian classics and his influential writings on ethics and governance.

Dong Qinghu (1844-1904) was a renowned artist and calligrapher who lived during the late Qing Dynasty. His works were highly prized and are considered some of the finest examples of traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy from that era.

While the Dong surname has ancient roots in China, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and historical significance remain closely tied to its Chinese heritage and the various dynasties that shaped the nation's cultural and intellectual landscape.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Dong families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dong surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 4 Dongs recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.88x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 4 5.88x
Cornwall 3 38.91x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 4 Dongs recorded in 1881 and an index of 60.61x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 4 60.61x
St Blazey 3 4285.71x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Dong surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Jane 1
Mary 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Dong surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Daniel 1
Joseph 1
William 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Dong households.

FAQ

Dong surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dong surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7 people were recorded with the Dong surname. That placed it at #32,765 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dong surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 343 in 2016. That gives Dong a modern rank of #13,368.

What does the Dong surname mean?

A Chinese surname referring to the eastern direction or the mythological Dong mountain range.

What does the Dong map show?

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