NameCensus.

UK surname

Koo

A Korean surname derived from the Chinese surname "Gu," meaning valley, ravine, or creek.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Hams, Carlisle and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Koo is 246 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

246

2016, ranked #16,993

Peak year

2016

246 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 246 in 2016, ranked #16,993.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Koo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Koo surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Koo 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
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1997 modern 142 #21,856
1998 modern 147 #21,935
1999 modern 156 #21,290
2000 modern 158 #21,055
2001 modern 165 #20,199
2002 modern 175 #19,902
2003 modern 166 #20,320
2004 modern 173 #19,937
2005 modern 183 #19,194
2006 modern 188 #19,023
2007 modern 197 #18,669
2008 modern 198 #18,753
2009 modern 210 #18,426
2010 modern 226 #17,942
2011 modern 227 #17,733
2012 modern 222 #17,921
2013 modern 230 #17,756
2014 modern 237 #17,528
2015 modern 245 #17,040
2016 modern 246 #16,993

Geography

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Where Koos 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 South Hams, Carlisle, Brent, Bingham, Magdalene and The Christians and Hounslow. 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 South Hams 010 South Hams
2 Carlisle 006 Carlisle
3 Brent 026 Brent
4 Bingham, Magdalene and The Christians City of Edinburgh
5 Hounslow 004 Hounslow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Koo

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

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Koo is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Koo 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

Koo 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 Koo 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 Koo, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Koo

The surname "Koo" is believed to have originated from China, specifically from the Guangdong and Fujian provinces, where it was commonly used during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1912). The name is derived from the Chinese character "谷" (gǔ), which means "valley" or "small ravine." It is thought that the name was initially given to families who lived in or near valleys or small ravines.

Historical records indicate that the surname "Koo" can be traced back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279), where it appeared in various governmental and administrative documents. One notable mention is in the "Xingshi Hengyan" (行實衡眼), a historical text compiled during the Ming Dynasty, which lists several prominent "Koo" families from the Guangdong region.

The earliest recorded example of the name "Koo" is found in the "Jinshi Zhi" (金石志), a collection of inscriptions and writings from the Tang Dynasty (618-907). This text mentions a scholar named "Koo Yingzhi" (谷應之) who lived during the 8th century.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname "Koo." For instance, Koo Hung-ming (1891-1965) was a renowned Chinese philosopher, writer, and diplomat during the early 20th century. Another significant figure was Koo Chen-fu (1888-1924), a prominent Chinese diplomat and politician who played a crucial role in the establishment of the League of Nations.

Other notable individuals with the surname "Koo" include Koo Kwang-mo (1892-1969), a Korean independence activist and politician; Koo Hui-sun (1914-1994), a South Korean politician and diplomat; and Koo Hee-je (1918-2001), a South Korean writer and academic.

It is worth noting that the surname "Koo" has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout China, such as Koo County (谷縣) in Henan Province and Koo Village (谷村) in Guangdong Province. These place names often reflect the geographical features of the region, further reinforcing the connection between the surname and its etymological roots.

While the surname "Koo" has a rich history and significance within Chinese and Korean cultures, it is important to recognize that this information is based on historical records and may not reflect the most up-to-date data or interpretations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Koo surname: questions and answers

How common is the Koo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 246 in 2016. That gives Koo a modern rank of #16,993.

What does the Koo surname mean?

A Korean surname derived from the Chinese surname "Gu," meaning valley, ravine, or creek.

What does the Koo map show?

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