NameCensus.

UK surname

Fang

A Chinese surname meaning "square" or "four-sided," or referring to a square-shaped vessel or container.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Fang surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 296, ranked #14,882, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Richmond upon Thames, Oxford and Hounslow.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fang is 296 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14700.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

296

2016, ranked #14,882

Peak year

2016

296 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fang had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 296 in 2016, ranked #14,882.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 24 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Fang surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fang surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Fang 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 17 #30,267
1861 historical 24 #30,922
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1891 historical 10 #33,355
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 41 #33,552
1998 modern 47 #33,197
1999 modern 49 #33,130
2000 modern 56 #32,514
2001 modern 59 #32,080
2002 modern 73 #31,159
2003 modern 81 #30,311
2004 modern 95 #28,746
2005 modern 118 #25,301
2006 modern 136 #23,378
2007 modern 159 #21,387
2008 modern 182 #19,800
2009 modern 198 #19,145
2010 modern 233 #17,606
2011 modern 213 #18,502
2012 modern 250 #16,523
2013 modern 266 #16,098
2014 modern 284 #15,455
2015 modern 286 #15,270
2016 modern 296 #14,882

Geography

Back to top

Where Fangs 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 Richmond upon Thames, Oxford, Hounslow, Kensington and Chelsea and Waltham Forest. 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 Richmond upon Thames 020 Richmond upon Thames
2 Oxford 008 Oxford
3 Hounslow 003 Hounslow
4 Kensington and Chelsea 012 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Waltham Forest 006 Waltham Forest

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Fang

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

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

Fang 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

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

Meaning and origin of Fang

The surname "Fang" is of Chinese origin and has its roots dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Chinese character "方" (fāng), which means "square" or "rectangular". This name was likely given to families who lived in areas with square-shaped settlements or communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Fang" can be found in the "Shijing" (Book of Songs), a collection of ancient Chinese poems dating back to the 11th-8th centuries BC. The name is mentioned in several poems, suggesting its widespread use during that era.

During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), the Fang family was prominent in the central Chinese region of Henan. Several members of the family held important positions in the imperial government, including Fang Xuanling (579-648 AD), a renowned historian and compiler of the "Book of Jin" and "Book of Song".

In the 13th century, a branch of the Fang family migrated to Fujian Province in southeastern China. One notable figure from this lineage was Fang Xiaoru (1357-1402), a renowned Confucian scholar and writer who served as an official during the Ming Dynasty.

The Fang surname can also be found in historical records from other parts of China, such as Sichuan and Guangdong provinces. In the 16th century, Fang Yizhi (1611-1671) was a prominent philosopher and scholar from Guangdong who made significant contributions to the field of Neo-Confucianism.

Another notable figure with the surname "Fang" was Fang Zhongshu (1919-2008), a prominent Chinese linguist and philosopher who played a crucial role in reviving the study of classical Chinese texts in the 20th century.

Throughout history, the "Fang" surname has been carried by numerous individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, officials, writers, and artists. While its exact origin may be lost in time, the name remains deeply rooted in Chinese culture and history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Fang families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fang 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 1 Fangs recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.19x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1 5.19x
Midlothian 1 38.76x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 1 Fangs recorded in 1881 and an index of 96.15x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 96.15x
Paddington London 1 140.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 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 Fang households.

Occupation Count
Cook 1

FAQ

Fang surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fang surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Fang surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 296 in 2016. That gives Fang a modern rank of #14,882.

What does the Fang surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "square" or "four-sided," or referring to a square-shaped vessel or container.

What does the Fang map show?

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