NameCensus.

UK surname

Khoo

A Chinese surname meaning "outpost" or "hillock", originating from Hokkien or Cantonese.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Khoo is 361 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

354

2016, ranked #13,054

Peak year

2013

361 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 354 in 2016, ranked #13,054.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Khoo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Khoo surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Khoo 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
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 216 #16,802
1998 modern 247 #15,813
1999 modern 258 #15,467
2000 modern 236 #16,380
2001 modern 238 #16,004
2002 modern 250 #15,819
2003 modern 260 #15,216
2004 modern 268 #14,995
2005 modern 281 #14,411
2006 modern 310 #13,603
2007 modern 311 #13,703
2008 modern 325 #13,406
2009 modern 331 #13,483
2010 modern 338 #13,550
2011 modern 339 #13,404
2012 modern 348 #13,020
2013 modern 361 #12,861
2014 modern 353 #13,183
2015 modern 345 #13,312
2016 modern 354 #13,054

Geography

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Where Khoos 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 Cambridge, Leeds, Westminster and Birmingham. 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 Cambridge 007 Cambridge
2 Leeds 055 Leeds
3 Westminster 011 Westminster
4 Birmingham 079 Birmingham
5 Westminster 017 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Khoo

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

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Khoo is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Khoo 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

Khoo falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Khoo

The surname KHOO originated from the Hokkien Chinese dialect and is associated with the Minnan people from the Fujian province of China. It is believed to have emerged during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) when many Chinese surnames were first formalized.

One theory suggests that the name KHOO derives from the ancient Chinese word "Khou" which means "groove" or "ditch". This could indicate that the earliest bearers of the name may have lived near a groove or ditch-like geographical feature. Another theory links the name to the Hokkien word "Khu" which means "hut" or "dwelling", suggesting the name may have originated from a familial place of residence.

The earliest recorded instances of the KHOO surname can be traced back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD) in the Fujian region of China. Historical records from this period, such as local gazetteers and genealogical records, document the presence of KHOO families in various parts of Fujian.

One notable early figure with the KHOO surname was Khoo Seok Wan (1550-1612), a Hokkien scholar and poet who lived during the Ming Dynasty. He was renowned for his literary works and contributions to the education system in Fujian.

As the Hokkien people migrated to various parts of Southeast Asia, the KHOO surname spread to regions like Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. One of the earliest recorded KHOO families in Southeast Asia was the Khoo Kongsi, a prominent clan association based in Penang, Malaysia, which can trace its roots back to the 17th century.

Another significant figure with the KHOO surname was Khoo Teck Puat (1917-2004), a Singaporean businessman and philanthropist. He was the founder of the Goodwood Group of Hotels and made substantial donations to education and healthcare institutions in Singapore.

Khoo Kay Kim (1937-2019) was a renowned Malaysian architect and urban planner, known for his contributions to the development of cities like Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. He was awarded the Tan Sri title, one of Malaysia's highest honors, for his outstanding achievements.

In Indonesia, one notable KHOO figure was Khoo Siong Gie (1907-1994), a Chinese-Indonesian businessman and philanthropist. He was recognized for his contributions to the development of the Pekanbaru region in Sumatra and his support for educational institutions.

The KHOO surname has also been recorded in various historical documents and genealogical records from China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, providing valuable insights into the history and migration patterns of the Hokkien Chinese diaspora.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Khoo surname: questions and answers

How common is the Khoo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 354 in 2016. That gives Khoo a modern rank of #13,054.

What does the Khoo surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "outpost" or "hillock", originating from Hokkien or Cantonese.

What does the Khoo map show?

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