NameCensus.

UK surname

Ho

A Chinese surname meaning "river," or a Vietnamese surname derived from the Chinese surname "Hú," meaning "lake" or "fox."

In the 1881 census there were 41 people recorded with the Ho surname, ranking it #27,870 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,074, ranked #1,337, up from #27,870 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newcastle upon Tyne, Sunderland and Meadows and Southside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ho is 5,074 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12275.6%.

1881 census count

41

Ranked #27,870

Modern count

5,074

2016, ranked #1,337

Peak year

2016

5,074 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ho had 41 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,870 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,074 in 2016, ranked #1,337.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 41 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Ho surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ho surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ho 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 5 #32,456
1881 historical 41 #27,870
1901 historical 3 #34,063
1997 modern 3,186 #2,017
1998 modern 3,435 #1,947
1999 modern 3,582 #1,899
2000 modern 3,613 #1,880
2001 modern 3,559 #1,859
2002 modern 3,771 #1,799
2003 modern 3,819 #1,742
2004 modern 3,959 #1,674
2005 modern 4,072 #1,597
2006 modern 4,266 #1,528
2007 modern 4,445 #1,485
2008 modern 4,476 #1,492
2009 modern 4,588 #1,490
2010 modern 4,878 #1,424
2011 modern 4,911 #1,395
2012 modern 4,904 #1,366
2013 modern 5,033 #1,353
2014 modern 5,020 #1,365
2015 modern 4,983 #1,360
2016 modern 5,074 #1,337

Geography

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Where Hos 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 Newcastle upon Tyne, Sunderland, Meadows and Southside, Coventry and North Tyneside. 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 Newcastle upon Tyne 007 Newcastle upon Tyne
2 Sunderland 006 Sunderland
3 Meadows and Southside City of Edinburgh
4 Coventry 042 Coventry
5 North Tyneside 025 North Tyneside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ho

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

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ho, 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 Ho surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Student Living and Professional Footholds, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Ho 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Ho is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ho 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

Ho falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ho

The surname Ho has its origins in China, dating back to the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BC). It is believed to have originated from the ancient Chinese word 'ho', which means 'river' or 'stream'. The name may have been derived from people living near a river or stream, or it could have been an occupational name for someone who worked on or near a river.

During the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD), the Ho surname appeared in various historical records and manuscripts. It was particularly prevalent in the regions of Guangdong and Fujian provinces, where many Ho families resided.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the Ho surname can be found in the Tang Dynasty's 'Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government', a historical text that documented events from 959 to 976 AD. This work mentions several individuals with the Ho surname, including Ho Qingmu, a prominent scholar and official who lived from 915 to 982 AD.

Another notable figure in Chinese history with the Ho surname was Ho Qidan (1090–1153 AD), a celebrated painter and calligrapher during the Song Dynasty. His works were highly regarded and influenced the development of Chinese art.

In the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644 AD), the Ho surname was prominent in various regions, including Guangdong, Fujian, and Zhejiang provinces. One of the most famous individuals from this era was Ho Qingyuan (1545–1617 AD), a renowned scholar and philosopher who made significant contributions to Neo-Confucianism.

During the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912 AD), the Ho surname continued to be widespread, particularly in the southern regions of China. One notable figure from this period was Ho Shen (1799–1873 AD), a prominent scholar and educator who played a significant role in reforming the imperial examination system.

Another influential individual with the Ho surname was Ho Chi Minh (1890–1969 AD), a Vietnamese revolutionary leader who led the struggle for independence from French colonial rule and later became the prime minister of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

While the Ho surname has its roots in China, it has also been adopted by families in various other countries, including Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia, where it has been adapted to local languages and spellings.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ho families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ho 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. Derbyshire leads with 2 Hos recorded in 1881 and an index of 66.23x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 2 66.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mickleover in Derbyshire leads with 2 Hos recorded in 1881 and an index of 20000.00x.

Place Total Index
Mickleover 2 20000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
S. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
T. 1

FAQ

Ho surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ho surname in 1881?

In 1881, 41 people were recorded with the Ho surname. That placed it at #27,870 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ho surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,074 in 2016. That gives Ho a modern rank of #1,337.

What does the Ho surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "river," or a Vietnamese surname derived from the Chinese surname "Hú," meaning "lake" or "fox."

What does the Ho map show?

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