NameCensus.

UK surname

Hou

A Chinese surname meaning "marquis" or "nobleman," or referring to someone from Hou County in Shanxi Province, China.

In the 1881 census there were 12 people recorded with the Hou surname, ranking it #31,914 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 192, ranked #20,118, up from #31,914 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brent, Cheshire West and Chester and Lewisham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hou is 192 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1500.0%.

1881 census count

12

Ranked #31,914

Modern count

192

2016, ranked #20,118

Peak year

2016

192 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hou had 12 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,914 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016, ranked #20,118.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 12 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Hou surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hou surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hou 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 12 #31,914
1997 modern 74 #30,218
1998 modern 74 #30,562
1999 modern 78 #30,327
2000 modern 79 #30,249
2001 modern 82 #29,714
2002 modern 84 #29,982
2003 modern 102 #27,383
2004 modern 92 #29,197
2005 modern 108 #26,736
2006 modern 124 #24,750
2007 modern 121 #25,469
2008 modern 122 #25,638
2009 modern 151 #22,816
2010 modern 169 #21,652
2011 modern 152 #23,101
2012 modern 174 #21,065
2013 modern 177 #21,170
2014 modern 182 #20,958
2015 modern 185 #20,641
2016 modern 192 #20,118

Geography

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Where Hous 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 Brent, Cheshire West and Chester, Lewisham and Bromley. 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 Brent 032 Brent
2 Cheshire West and Chester 038 Cheshire West and Chester
3 Lewisham 019 Lewisham
4 Brent 001 Brent
5 Bromley 025 Bromley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hou

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

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Hou surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Hou household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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, Hou 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

Hou 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

Hou falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hou

The surname "HOU" is believed to have originated in China, with its earliest known records dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is thought to be derived from the Chinese word "hou," which means "marquis" or "lord," suggesting that the name may have been initially associated with individuals of noble or aristocratic status.

During the Tang Dynasty, the name "HOU" appeared in various historical documents and records, including government records and literary works. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the "Book of Tang," a historical record of the Tang Dynasty compiled in the 10th century.

The name "HOU" also has ties to several place names in China. For instance, the city of Hou'an in Fujian Province and the Hou River in Hubei Province may have contributed to the development and spread of the surname across different regions.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname "HOU" was Hou Junji (816-896 AD), a prominent scholar and poet during the late Tang Dynasty. Another notable figure was Hou Xun (1546-1620), a renowned calligrapher and painter during the Ming Dynasty.

In the 13th century, the Mongolian ruler Kublai Khan appointed Hou Anguo as the governor of Yunnan Province, further solidifying the presence of the "HOU" name in Chinese history.

During the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the name "HOU" was also associated with the Hou clan, a powerful family that produced several high-ranking officials and intellectuals, including Hou Gaoxiang (1023-1093), a prominent Neo-Confucian scholar and philosopher.

Throughout the centuries, the "HOU" surname has been carried by numerous individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields, including literature, art, politics, and academia. Some notable examples include Hou Hsiao-hsien, a celebrated Taiwanese film director born in 1947, and Hou Yifan, a Chinese chess grandmaster born in 1994.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hou families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hou 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. Surrey leads with 1 Hous recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.28x.

County Total Index
Surrey 1 21.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Reigate Foreign in Surrey leads with 1 Hous recorded in 1881 and an index of 2000.00x.

Place Total Index
Reigate Foreign 1 2000.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Fredk. 1

FAQ

Hou surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hou surname in 1881?

In 1881, 12 people were recorded with the Hou surname. That placed it at #31,914 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hou surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016. That gives Hou a modern rank of #20,118.

What does the Hou surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "marquis" or "nobleman," or referring to someone from Hou County in Shanxi Province, China.

What does the Hou map show?

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