NameCensus.

UK surname

Ku

A Chinese surname meaning "withered" or "dried up," or referring to a place name.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Liverpool, Southampton and Kingston upon Thames.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ku is 134 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

123

2016, ranked #27,115

Peak year

2014

134 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 123 in 2016, ranked #27,115.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Ku surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ku surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Ku 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 65 #31,141
1998 modern 71 #30,869
1999 modern 79 #30,243
2000 modern 71 #31,082
2001 modern 73 #30,699
2002 modern 83 #30,070
2003 modern 87 #29,615
2004 modern 92 #29,197
2005 modern 92 #29,271
2006 modern 99 #28,453
2007 modern 104 #28,020
2008 modern 100 #29,001
2009 modern 108 #28,311
2010 modern 121 #27,005
2011 modern 117 #27,334
2012 modern 131 #25,439
2013 modern 131 #25,932
2014 modern 134 #25,711
2015 modern 128 #26,356
2016 modern 123 #27,115

Geography

Back to top

Where Kus 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 Liverpool, Southampton, Kingston upon Thames, North East Lincolnshire and Richmond upon Thames. 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 Liverpool 043 Liverpool
2 Southampton 008 Southampton
3 Kingston upon Thames 007 Kingston upon Thames
4 North East Lincolnshire 022 North East Lincolnshire
5 Richmond upon Thames 023 Richmond upon Thames

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Ku

These lists show first names that appear often with the Ku surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Ku

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Ku 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

Ku 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

Ku falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ku

The surname "Ku" is believed to have originated in China, with its roots dating back to ancient times. It is thought to be derived from the Chinese word "ku," which means "bitter" or "suffering." This name may have been given to individuals who had endured hardships or challenges in their lives.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname "Ku" can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), where it appeared in various historical records and documents. During this period, the name was often associated with prominent scholars and officials who held influential positions within the imperial court.

One notable figure bearing the surname "Ku" was Ku Yen-wu (1613-1682), a renowned Chinese philosopher and essayist during the Ming Dynasty. He was widely renowned for his works on Neo-Confucianism and his critique of the traditional examination system.

Another prominent individual with the surname "Ku" was Ku Hung-ming (1857-1928), a Chinese scholar, writer, and diplomat. He played a significant role in introducing Western ideas and philosophies to China during the late Qing Dynasty and the early years of the Republic of China.

Moving forward in history, the surname "Ku" also appeared in various ancient manuscripts and records from different regions of China. For instance, the "Ku" name was documented in the Guangdong Province during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), where it was associated with several influential families and clans.

In the field of literature, Ku Ling (1904-1990), a Chinese author and playwright, made significant contributions to modern Chinese literature. His works often explored themes of social injustice and the struggles of the working class.

Lastly, it is worth mentioning Ku Chieh-kang (1890-1935), a Chinese politician and military leader who played a crucial role in the Northern Expedition, a military campaign aimed at unifying China under the Kuomintang government in the 1920s.

Overall, the surname "Ku" has a rich and diverse history, with its origins rooted in ancient China. Throughout various dynasties and time periods, individuals bearing this name have made significant contributions to various fields, including philosophy, literature, politics, and diplomacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Ku surname: questions and answers

How common is the Ku surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 123 in 2016. That gives Ku a modern rank of #27,115.

What does the Ku surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "withered" or "dried up," or referring to a place name.

What does the Ku map show?

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