NameCensus.

UK surname

Hy

An Anglicized version of the Chinese surname Hei or Xi.

In the 1881 census there were 4 people recorded with the Hy surname, ranking it #33,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 103, ranked #30,515, up from #33,288 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northampton, Leeds and Barnet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hy is 103 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2475.0%.

1881 census count

4

Ranked #33,288

Modern count

103

2016, ranked #30,515

Peak year

2016

103 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hy had 4 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,288 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 103 in 2016, ranked #30,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 16 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Hy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hy surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hy 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 16 #30,441
1881 historical 4 #33,288
1901 historical 3 #34,063
1997 modern 42 #33,459
1998 modern 47 #33,197
1999 modern 52 #32,848
2000 modern 51 #32,999
2001 modern 51 #32,850
2002 modern 49 #33,377
2003 modern 50 #33,362
2004 modern 51 #33,478
2005 modern 56 #33,264
2006 modern 65 #32,743
2007 modern 66 #32,948
2008 modern 65 #33,303
2009 modern 62 #33,832
2010 modern 75 #33,081
2011 modern 68 #33,613
2012 modern 80 #32,877
2013 modern 87 #32,472
2014 modern 91 #32,219
2015 modern 90 #32,245
2016 modern 103 #30,515

Geography

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Where Hys 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 Northampton, Leeds, Barnet, Lambeth and Camden. 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 Northampton 004 Northampton
2 Leeds 038 Leeds
3 Barnet 039 Barnet
4 Lambeth 011 Lambeth
5 Camden 005 Camden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hy

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

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

Hy 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

Hy 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 Hy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Hy

The surname "Hy" has its origins in China, with records dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is derived from the Chinese word "Xi" meaning "west" or "western". The earliest recorded use of the name appears in historical texts from the 8th century, referring to families from the western regions of China.

During the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the name "Hy" gained prominence as it was associated with several influential scholars and officials. One notable figure was Hy Yuanjing (1000-1064), a prominent philosopher and poet who served as a high-ranking government official.

In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the name "Hy" was recorded in the "Mingshi", a historical record of the Ming imperial family. This suggests that families with the surname held respected positions within the imperial court during this period.

The name "Hy" can also be traced back to various place names in China, such as Xizhou, a county in the Shanxi province. It is believed that some families adopted the surname based on their ancestral homeland or place of origin.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname "Hy" was Hy Yuan (1664-1738), a renowned Qing Dynasty painter and calligrapher. His works are highly regarded and can be found in many museums around the world.

Another notable figure was Hy Sheng (1910-1963), a prominent Chinese mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of differential geometry. His work influenced generations of mathematicians and scientists.

In more recent history, Hy Jintao (born 1942) served as the President of the People's Republic of China from 2003 to 2013, making him one of the most influential political leaders with the surname "Hy".

While the surname "Hy" has Chinese origins, it has also been adopted by families in other parts of Asia, such as Vietnam and Korea, through migration and cultural exchange over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hy 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 2 Hys recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.30x.

County Total Index
Surrey 2 21.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Croydon in Surrey leads with 2 Hys recorded in 1881 and an index of 384.62x.

Place Total Index
Croydon 2 384.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Harriet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Hobbs 1

FAQ

Hy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4 people were recorded with the Hy surname. That placed it at #33,288 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 103 in 2016. That gives Hy a modern rank of #30,515.

What does the Hy surname mean?

An Anglicized version of the Chinese surname Hei or Xi.

What does the Hy map show?

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