NameCensus.

UK surname

He

A Chinese surname meaning "river," "riverbank," "estuary," or referring to someone living near a river.

In the 1881 census there were 27 people recorded with the He surname, ranking it #29,793 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,099, ranked #5,345, up from #29,793 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for He is 1,099 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 3970.4%.

1881 census count

27

Ranked #29,793

Modern count

1,099

2016, ranked #5,345

Peak year

2016

1,099 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • He had 27 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,793 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,099 in 2016, ranked #5,345.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 27 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

He surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

He surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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He 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 2 #33,133
1881 historical 27 #29,793
1901 historical 6 #33,591
1997 modern 56 #32,004
1998 modern 61 #31,841
1999 modern 69 #31,223
2000 modern 80 #30,139
2001 modern 82 #29,714
2002 modern 133 #23,585
2003 modern 209 #17,620
2004 modern 236 #16,335
2005 modern 275 #14,624
2006 modern 322 #13,234
2007 modern 384 #11,726
2008 modern 411 #11,232
2009 modern 467 #10,372
2010 modern 607 #8,710
2011 modern 582 #8,894
2012 modern 834 #6,628
2013 modern 927 #6,208
2014 modern 1,000 #5,857
2015 modern 1,045 #5,600
2016 modern 1,099 #5,345

Geography

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Where Hes 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 Southwark, Manchester, Liverpool, Lewisham and Tower Hamlets. 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 Southwark 014 Southwark
2 Manchester 018 Manchester
3 Liverpool 031 Liverpool
4 Lewisham 003 Lewisham
5 Tower Hamlets 028 Tower Hamlets

Forenames

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First names often paired with He

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

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

He 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

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

Meaning and origin of He

The surname "He" is believed to have originated in China, where it is one of the most common surnames. It dates back to ancient times, with records of people bearing this name dating as far back as the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600-1046 BC).

The name is thought to have derived from the Chinese character "何" (hé), which can be translated as "what" or "how". This character was likely used as a surname for individuals who were uncertain of their ancestry or family lineage.

In ancient China, surnames were often derived from place names, occupations, or personal characteristics. The surname "He" may have been given to people who lived in or near a place with a name derived from the character "何".

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname "He" can be found in the "Book of Documents" (Shujing), an ancient Chinese classic text compiled around the 6th century BC. The book mentions a person named "He Yu", who was a statesman and official during the Xia Dynasty (c. 2070-1600 BC).

Another notable figure in Chinese history with the surname "He" was He Xiu (129-182 AD), a renowned scholar and calligrapher during the Eastern Han Dynasty. He is credited with developing the "cursive script" style of Chinese calligraphy.

During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), the surname "He" was particularly prominent in the region of Shandong province. One famous individual from this period was He Zhizhang (659-744 AD), a celebrated poet and official who served under several Tang emperors.

In later Chinese history, the surname "He" continued to be widespread and associated with numerous scholars, officials, and literary figures. For example, He Qiaoyuan (1809-1888) was a notable Qing Dynasty scholar and poet who wrote extensively on classical Chinese literature.

While the surname "He" has its origins in China, it has also spread to other parts of the world through immigration and cultural exchange. However, its deepest roots and historical significance can be traced back to its Chinese heritage spanning thousands of years.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

He surname: questions and answers

How common was the He surname in 1881?

In 1881, 27 people were recorded with the He surname. That placed it at #29,793 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the He surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,099 in 2016. That gives He a modern rank of #5,345.

What does the He surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "river," "riverbank," "estuary," or referring to someone living near a river.

What does the He map show?

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