NameCensus.

UK surname

Koh

A Chinese surname derived from the state of Xu, meaning "great" or "high."

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Koh is 363 in 2012. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

362

2016, ranked #12,810

Peak year

2012

363 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 362 in 2016, ranked #12,810.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Koh surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Koh surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Koh 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
1997 modern 241 #15,638
1998 modern 231 #16,555
1999 modern 252 #15,707
2000 modern 240 #16,186
2001 modern 242 #15,832
2002 modern 257 #15,523
2003 modern 252 #15,530
2004 modern 257 #15,419
2005 modern 251 #15,590
2006 modern 265 #15,126
2007 modern 286 #14,496
2008 modern 296 #14,275
2009 modern 301 #14,386
2010 modern 316 #14,198
2011 modern 335 #13,528
2012 modern 363 #12,592
2013 modern 363 #12,815
2014 modern 356 #13,098
2015 modern 356 #13,009
2016 modern 362 #12,810

Geography

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Where Kohs 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 Camden, Cambridge, Barnet and Westminster. 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 Camden 024 Camden
2 Camden 025 Camden
3 Cambridge 007 Cambridge
4 Barnet 030 Barnet
5 Westminster 001 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Koh

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

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Koh 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

Koh 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

Koh falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Koh 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 - Chinese

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

Meaning and origin of Koh

The surname KOH has its origins in China, with the earliest known records dating back to the 6th century CE. It is believed to be derived from the Mandarin Chinese words "ke" and "hu," which translates to "guest" and "living," respectively. This suggests that the name may have been given to families who were known for their hospitality or for providing lodging to travelers.

One of the earliest known references to the KOH surname can be found in the Tang Dynasty archives, where a merchant named KOH Zhi-yuan is mentioned as having established a successful trade route between Chang'an (modern-day Xi'an) and the Silk Road cities in Central Asia. This suggests that the name was already well-established among the merchant class by the 7th century.

During the Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE), the KOH surname gained prominence in the southern regions of China, particularly in the provinces of Guangdong and Fujian. Several notable scholars and officials bore this name, including KOH Qian (1023-1094), a renowned philosopher and author of the treatise "On the Cultivation of the Mind."

As the KOH family spread across China, the name took on various regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. In the coastal regions of Fujian, for instance, it was sometimes written as "Kho" or "Kau," while in the northern provinces, it was more commonly spelled as "Koh" or "Ko."

One of the most famous individuals with the KOH surname was KOH Shun-chen (1592-1671), a celebrated artist and calligrapher who served as a court painter during the Ming Dynasty. His works are still highly regarded today and can be found in museums across China and Taiwan.

Another notable figure was KOH Tsu-tsung (1630-1716), a renowned scholar and mathematician who made significant contributions to the development of Chinese algebra and trigonometry. His work, "The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art," became a standard textbook for generations of students.

In the 19th century, the KOH surname gained international recognition with the exploits of KOH Ah Keng (1835-1901), a prominent Chinese merchant and community leader in Singapore. He founded one of the city's earliest Chinese temples and played a pivotal role in promoting Chinese culture and education in the region.

While the KOH surname has its roots in China, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with notable bearers in countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, and the United States. However, its rich history and cultural significance remain deeply rooted in its Chinese origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Koh surname: questions and answers

How common is the Koh surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 362 in 2016. That gives Koh a modern rank of #12,810.

What does the Koh surname mean?

A Chinese surname derived from the state of Xu, meaning "great" or "high."

What does the Koh map show?

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