NameCensus.

UK surname

Hong

A Chinese surname meaning "vast" or "expansive," referring to the wild geese that fly across the sky.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Hong surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 505, ranked #9,919, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, Lavenham and Lincoln St Peter at Gowts. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, Southwark and Hackney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hong is 505 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50400.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

505

2016, ranked #9,919

Peak year

2016

505 bearers

Map years

4

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hong had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 505 in 2016, ranked #9,919.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 105 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Hong surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hong surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Hong 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 22 #29,378
1861 historical 105 #20,298
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 21 #32,526
1901 historical 8 #33,289
1911 historical 16 #31,804
1997 modern 198 #17,729
1998 modern 217 #17,207
1999 modern 221 #17,126
2000 modern 232 #16,562
2001 modern 224 #16,716
2002 modern 261 #15,369
2003 modern 266 #14,987
2004 modern 273 #14,804
2005 modern 289 #14,166
2006 modern 289 #14,234
2007 modern 306 #13,862
2008 modern 321 #13,516
2009 modern 357 #12,766
2010 modern 410 #11,754
2011 modern 395 #11,966
2012 modern 425 #11,157
2013 modern 451 #10,814
2014 modern 479 #10,417
2015 modern 493 #10,100
2016 modern 505 #9,919

Geography

Back to top

Where Hongs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, Lavenham, Lincoln St Peter at Gowts, Toxteth Park and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Westminster, Southwark, Hackney and Brent. 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
2 Lavenham Suffolk
3 Lincoln St Peter at Gowts Lincolnshire
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Westminster 017 Westminster
2 Southwark 024 Southwark
3 Hackney 022 Hackney
4 Brent 007 Brent
5 Hackney 018 Hackney

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Hong

These lists show first names that appear often with the Hong surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Hong

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

Hong 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

Hong falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hong 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 - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Hong, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hong

The surname HONG originated in China, with records of its use dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Chinese word "hong," which means "vast" or "great." The name was likely first adopted by families who lived in regions with vast landscapes or fertile lands.

In ancient China, surnames were often associated with specific regions or geographical features. The HONG surname is believed to have originated in the provinces of Henan, Hubei, and Hunan, where the name was particularly prevalent among noble families and scholars.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the HONG surname can be found in the historical text "Shiji" (Records of the Grand Historian), written by Sima Qian during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). The text mentions several individuals with the surname HONG, including Hong Xiu, a renowned scholar and poet who lived during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 AD - 220 AD).

Another notable figure in Chinese history with the HONG surname was Hong Xiuquan (1814 - 1864), a Hakka Christian who led the Taiping Rebellion against the Qing Dynasty in the mid-19th century. This rebellion, which lasted from 1850 to 1864, was one of the bloodiest civil wars in human history and had a significant impact on Chinese society and politics.

In the realm of literature, the HONG surname is associated with Hong Sheng (1645 - 1704), a renowned poet and calligrapher during the Qing Dynasty. His works, known for their elegance and simplicity, are celebrated as some of the finest examples of classical Chinese poetry.

The HONG surname has also been prominent in the field of Chinese medicine. Hong Zicheng (1618 - 1662) was a renowned physician and author of the influential medical text "Zheng Zhi Zhun Sheng" (Guiding Principles for Diagnosing and Treating Diseases), which became a standard reference work in traditional Chinese medicine.

Another notable figure with the HONG surname was Hong Rengan (1822 - 1864), a scholar and reformist who played a significant role in the Self-Strengthening Movement of the late Qing Dynasty. He advocated for the adoption of Western technology and ideas to modernize China and strengthen its position against foreign powers.

While the HONG surname has its roots in ancient China, it has since spread to other parts of the world through immigration and cultural exchange. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in Chinese culture and tradition.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Hong families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hong 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. Kent leads with 1 Hongs recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.40x.

County Total Index
Kent 1 30.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Burham in Kent leads with 1 Hongs recorded in 1881 and an index of 0.00x.

Place Total Index
Burham 1 0.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 1

FAQ

Hong surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hong surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Hong surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hong surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 505 in 2016. That gives Hong a modern rank of #9,919.

What does the Hong surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "vast" or "expansive," referring to the wild geese that fly across the sky.

What does the Hong map show?

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