NameCensus.

UK surname

Goh

An uncommon surname of Chinese origin, possibly derived from the Hokkien dialect word "goh" meaning "lord" or "master".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include City Centre East, Cambridge and Oxford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Goh is 667 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

649

2016, ranked #8,190

Peak year

2013

667 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 649 in 2016, ranked #8,190.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Goh surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Goh surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Goh 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 4 #32,658
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1997 modern 397 #11,068
1998 modern 416 #11,037
1999 modern 442 #10,606
2000 modern 401 #11,382
2001 modern 407 #11,079
2002 modern 458 #10,295
2003 modern 430 #10,669
2004 modern 427 #10,749
2005 modern 485 #9,647
2006 modern 513 #9,305
2007 modern 560 #8,782
2008 modern 574 #8,690
2009 modern 594 #8,663
2010 modern 637 #8,371
2011 modern 627 #8,394
2012 modern 640 #8,156
2013 modern 667 #8,042
2014 modern 651 #8,244
2015 modern 636 #8,338
2016 modern 649 #8,190

Geography

Back to top

Where Gohs 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 City Centre East, Cambridge, Oxford, Camden and Leeds. 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 City Centre East Glasgow City
2 Cambridge 007 Cambridge
3 Oxford 008 Oxford
4 Camden 026 Camden
5 Leeds 055 Leeds

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Goh

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

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

Student Living and Professional Footholds

Nationally, the Goh surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Student Living and Professional Footholds, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Goh household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

The Group includes many students, some of whom reside in communal residences. Single-person households are the most prevalent and the modal age band is 25 to 44. There are few families with dependent children. A significant number of White residents were born in EU countries (although UK-born residents are more common than in the rest of the Group), and households reflect a diversity of ethnic groups. Residential turnover is exceptionally high and, communal properties aside, flats are the norm. Some properties, including those in the private rental sector, are over-crowded. Many residents are professionals and technicians educated to degree level, and the Group is particularly common near the campuses of established university towns and cities.

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Goh is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Goh 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

Goh falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Goh

The surname Goh is believed to have originated in China, specifically in the Guangdong province. It is a Cantonese surname that can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). The name is derived from the Chinese word "wu," which means "martial" or "military." It is thought that the surname was initially given to those who served in the military or were skilled in martial arts.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Goh surname can be found in the Sung Dynasty (960-1279 AD) historical records. During this period, there was a prominent military commander named Goh Shun-Ming who led troops in several battles against invading forces. His bravery and leadership earned him recognition, and his descendants adopted the surname Goh as a tribute to his achievements.

In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the Goh surname gained further prominence with the rise of Goh Kai, a renowned scholar and philosopher. Goh Kai's writings on Confucian principles and ethics were highly influential at the time, and he is considered one of the most important thinkers of the Ming era.

Another notable figure with the Goh surname was Goh Jiang (1573-1619), a famous poet and playwright during the late Ming Dynasty. His works, which often explored themes of love and nature, are still widely studied and appreciated today.

During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 AD), the Goh surname spread to other regions of China, including Fujian and Taiwan. One prominent individual from this period was Goh Kun (1766-1828), a successful merchant and philanthropist who established several schools and hospitals in his hometown.

In more recent history, Goh Chok Tong (born 1941) served as the second Prime Minister of Singapore from 1990 to 2004. He played a pivotal role in transforming Singapore into a modern and prosperous nation during his tenure.

These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals who have carried the Goh surname throughout history. While the name may have originated in China, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including Southeast Asia, where it remains a prominent surname today.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Goh surname: questions and answers

How common is the Goh surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 649 in 2016. That gives Goh a modern rank of #8,190.

What does the Goh surname mean?

An uncommon surname of Chinese origin, possibly derived from the Hokkien dialect word "goh" meaning "lord" or "master".

What does the Goh map show?

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