NameCensus.

UK surname

Fung

A Chinese surname meaning "abundant" or "plentiful," originating from a word referring to a type of ancient cauldron.

In the 1881 census there were 6 people recorded with the Fung surname, ranking it #32,926 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,210, ranked #4,919, up from #32,926 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Enfield, Islington and Harrow.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fung is 1,251 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20066.7%.

1881 census count

6

Ranked #32,926

Modern count

1,210

2016, ranked #4,919

Peak year

2010

1,251 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fung had 6 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,926 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,210 in 2016, ranked #4,919.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 16 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Fung surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fung surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fung 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 16 #31,832
1881 historical 6 #32,926
1891 historical 8 #33,550
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 11 #32,463
1997 modern 840 #6,299
1998 modern 921 #6,043
1999 modern 970 #5,849
2000 modern 969 #5,840
2001 modern 976 #5,689
2002 modern 1,043 #5,494
2003 modern 1,047 #5,392
2004 modern 1,063 #5,338
2005 modern 1,052 #5,323
2006 modern 1,116 #5,080
2007 modern 1,137 #5,039
2008 modern 1,135 #5,090
2009 modern 1,160 #5,094
2010 modern 1,251 #4,869
2011 modern 1,222 #4,902
2012 modern 1,193 #4,937
2013 modern 1,233 #4,881
2014 modern 1,224 #4,935
2015 modern 1,203 #4,961
2016 modern 1,210 #4,919

Geography

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Where Fungs 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 Enfield, Islington, Harrow, Coventry and Newcastle upon Tyne. 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 Enfield 011 Enfield
2 Islington 005 Islington
3 Harrow 008 Harrow
4 Coventry 042 Coventry
5 Newcastle upon Tyne 024 Newcastle upon Tyne

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fung

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

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

Fung 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

Fung falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Fung

The surname FUNG is of Chinese origin and is believed to have originated in the Guangdong province of southern China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is a romanization of the Cantonese pronunciation of the Chinese character 馮, which is typically associated with the Mandarin pronunciation "Fēng".

The Chinese character 馮 has its roots in the ancient Chinese word "fung," which means "wind" or "breeze." It is likely that the surname was initially bestowed upon individuals who lived in areas known for their windy conditions or who were associated with occupations related to wind, such as sailing or wind-powered mills.

In ancient Chinese records, the earliest known reference to the FUNG surname can be found in the "Records of the Grand Historian" (史記), a monumental historical work by Sima Qian, written around 100 BC. This text mentions several individuals with the surname FUNG, indicating its existence during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD).

One notable figure in Chinese history bearing the FUNG surname was Fung Yüan (1554-1619), a renowned scholar and philosopher during the Ming Dynasty. He is best known for his work on Neo-Confucian philosophy and his contributions to the development of the "School of Mind" (心學) movement.

Another significant figure was Fung Tao-fen (1905-1976), a Chinese mathematician and physicist who made important contributions to the fields of electromagnetic theory and relativity. He was also a pioneer in the development of Chinese mathematics education.

In the realm of literature, Fung Ping Shan (1898-1985) was a prominent Chinese author and poet from Hong Kong. He is celebrated for his novels and short stories that explored the complexities of modern urban life and the cultural clashes between traditional Chinese values and Western influences.

The FUNG surname has also been associated with various place names throughout China. For instance, the town of Fengshun (鳳順) in Guangdong Province incorporates the character 馮 in its name, suggesting a possible connection to the surname's origins.

It is worth noting that the FUNG surname has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, including Feng, Foong, and Fong, among others. These variations arose due to the complexities of transliterating Chinese characters into different languages and dialects.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fung families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fung 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. Buckinghamshire leads with 2 Fungs recorded in 1881 and an index of 56.66x.

County Total Index
Buckinghamshire 2 56.66x
Middlesex 2 3.42x
Essex 1 8.67x
Lancashire 1 1.44x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wycombe in Buckinghamshire leads with 2 Fungs recorded in 1881 and an index of 769.23x.

Place Total Index
Wycombe 2 769.23x
Liverpool 1 23.75x
St Marylebone London 1 32.05x
West Ham 1 39.22x
Whitechapel London 1 172.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Ah 1
Christian 1
Fredrick 1
Henry 1
John 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 Fung households.

FAQ

Fung surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fung surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6 people were recorded with the Fung surname. That placed it at #32,926 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fung surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,210 in 2016. That gives Fung a modern rank of #4,919.

What does the Fung surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "abundant" or "plentiful," originating from a word referring to a type of ancient cauldron.

What does the Fung map show?

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