NameCensus.

UK surname

Kwan

A Chinese surname meaning "wide, broad, or expansive," often referring to a wide river or expanse of water.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waltham Forest, Carmarthenshire and Neath Port Talbot.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kwan is 607 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

598

2016, ranked #8,735

Peak year

2014

607 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 598 in 2016, ranked #8,735.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Kwan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kwan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kwan 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 1 #33,412
1861 historical 3 #33,861
1891 historical 2 #34,436
1901 historical 7 #33,435
1911 historical 4 #33,595
1997 modern 416 #10,696
1998 modern 418 #11,009
1999 modern 446 #10,513
2000 modern 437 #10,684
2001 modern 425 #10,716
2002 modern 446 #10,521
2003 modern 455 #10,201
2004 modern 477 #9,833
2005 modern 500 #9,443
2006 modern 529 #9,084
2007 modern 557 #8,813
2008 modern 568 #8,753
2009 modern 576 #8,851
2010 modern 591 #8,884
2011 modern 593 #8,767
2012 modern 580 #8,813
2013 modern 603 #8,713
2014 modern 607 #8,721
2015 modern 593 #8,806
2016 modern 598 #8,735

Geography

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Where Kwans 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 Waltham Forest, Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Hammersmith and Fulham 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 Waltham Forest 015 Waltham Forest
2 Carmarthenshire 024 Carmarthenshire
3 Neath Port Talbot 008 Neath Port Talbot
4 Hammersmith and Fulham 012 Hammersmith and Fulham
5 Westminster 017 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kwan

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

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Kwan is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kwan 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

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

Meaning and origin of Kwan

The surname KWAN originated in China, likely emerging during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is derived from the Chinese word 'kwan', meaning 'official' or 'mandarin'. The earliest known references to this name can be found in historical records from the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD).

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname KWAN was Kwan Chung (d. 645 BC), a renowned philosopher and statesman who served as the prime minister of the State of Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period. His writings and teachings greatly influenced the development of Confucian thought.

Another notable figure was Kwan Yu (162-219 AD), a legendary warrior and one of the most famous generals of the Three Kingdoms period. He was deified as the God of War and is revered in Chinese folk religion and Taoism.

During the Tang Dynasty, the KWAN surname was particularly prominent in the region around modern-day Guangdong province. Several members of the imperial clan bore this name, including Kwan Xiu (832-912 AD), a prominent statesman and poet who served as the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in the records of the Mongol Empire, with Kwan Yun-chi (1232-1301 AD) serving as a high-ranking official and diplomat during the reign of Kublai Khan.

The KWAN surname continued to be associated with scholars and officials throughout the Ming (1368-1644 AD) and Qing (1644-1912 AD) dynasties. One notable figure was Kwan Zhongxue (1612-1692 AD), a renowned philosopher and educator who made significant contributions to the Neo-Confucian movement.

As the Chinese diaspora spread across the world, the KWAN surname was carried to various regions, including Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe. While its origins can be traced back to ancient China, the name has become a part of diverse cultural and linguistic traditions over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Kwan surname: questions and answers

How common is the Kwan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 598 in 2016. That gives Kwan a modern rank of #8,735.

What does the Kwan surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "wide, broad, or expansive," often referring to a wide river or expanse of water.

What does the Kwan map show?

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