NameCensus.

UK surname

Ling

A Chinese surname meaning "hill" or "mound," or referring to a person who lived near such a feature.

In the 1881 census there were 2,829 people recorded with the Ling surname, ranking it #1,577 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,396, ranked #1,549, up from #1,577 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, London parishes and St Mary Islington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Suffolk Coastal, Mid Suffolk and Waveney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ling is 4,609 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 55.4%.

1881 census count

2,829

Ranked #1,577

Modern count

4,396

2016, ranked #1,549

Peak year

2002

4,609 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ling had 2,829 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,577 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,396 in 2016, ranked #1,549.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,114 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ling surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ling surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ling 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 1,962 #1,478
1861 historical 1,821 #1,590
1881 historical 2,829 #1,577
1891 historical 3,226 #1,472
1901 historical 3,760 #1,499
1911 historical 4,114 #1,252
1997 modern 4,345 #1,503
1998 modern 4,507 #1,501
1999 modern 4,501 #1,513
2000 modern 4,571 #1,489
2001 modern 4,486 #1,483
2002 modern 4,609 #1,481
2003 modern 4,433 #1,496
2004 modern 4,421 #1,502
2005 modern 4,350 #1,504
2006 modern 4,302 #1,520
2007 modern 4,327 #1,529
2008 modern 4,357 #1,528
2009 modern 4,445 #1,530
2010 modern 4,524 #1,541
2011 modern 4,419 #1,548
2012 modern 4,402 #1,527
2013 modern 4,482 #1,530
2014 modern 4,470 #1,545
2015 modern 4,426 #1,542
2016 modern 4,396 #1,549

Geography

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Where Lings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, London parishes, St Mary Islington and Ipswich St Mary Stoke. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Suffolk Coastal, Mid Suffolk and Waveney. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
5 Ipswich St Mary Stoke Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Suffolk Coastal 003 Suffolk Coastal
2 Mid Suffolk 010 Mid Suffolk
3 Waveney 015 Waveney
4 Waveney 013 Waveney
5 Suffolk Coastal 005 Suffolk Coastal

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ling

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ling

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ling, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Ling surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Ling 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Ling is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ling 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

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

Meaning and origin of Ling

The surname LING has its origins in England, and it is believed to have emerged in the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "ling," which means a heather plant or a type of low-growing shrub.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the LING surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a person named Richard de Ling is mentioned. This suggests that the name may have initially been a locational surname, referring to someone who lived near an area abundant with heather or ling plants.

In the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, there is a reference to a person named William Lyng, which is likely an early variant spelling of the LING surname. This record provides evidence of the name's existence and usage during the 13th century.

The LING surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Ling in Norfolk and Ling Rigg in Yorkshire. These place names may have contributed to the development and spread of the surname in different regions.

One notable individual bearing the LING surname was Sir Ralph Ling (c. 1520-1586), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent figure was Nicholas Ling (c. 1533-1607), an English printer and publisher who was known for printing works by playwrights like William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe. Ling's printing shop was located in London, and he played a significant role in the dissemination of literature during the Elizabethan era.

In the 17th century, Henry Ling (1610-1662) was a notable English clergyman and theologian who served as the Bishop of Norwich. He was recognized for his sermons and writings on religious subjects.

Moving forward to the 18th century, John Ling (1696-1768) was an English botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of plants and their classification. He is particularly known for his work on the flora of Cambridgeshire.

Lastly, in the 19th century, Peter John Ling (1837-1911) was a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Physicians.

These examples demonstrate the long-standing presence and historical significance of the LING surname, originating from its roots in England and spanning various fields and professions over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ling families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ling surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Suffolk leads with 801 Lings recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.82x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 801 23.82x
Middlesex 424 1.54x
Norfolk 284 6.69x
Surrey 231 1.72x
Essex 197 3.62x
Cambridgeshire 106 6.06x
Kent 101 1.07x
Yorkshire 100 0.37x
Derbyshire 62 1.43x
Lancashire 61 0.19x
Lincolnshire 54 1.22x
Somerset 54 1.22x
Staffordshire 45 0.48x
Warwickshire 43 0.62x
Sussex 30 0.64x
Durham 28 0.34x
Hampshire 27 0.48x
Gloucestershire 18 0.33x
Northumberland 16 0.39x
Devon 15 0.26x
Wiltshire 15 0.61x
Cumberland 13 0.55x
Hertfordshire 13 0.68x
Northamptonshire 10 0.39x
Bedfordshire 9 0.63x
Nottinghamshire 9 0.24x
Huntingdonshire 7 1.28x
Lanarkshire 7 0.08x
Westmorland 7 1.15x
Shropshire 6 0.25x
Channel Islands 5 0.61x
Dorset 5 0.28x
Leicestershire 5 0.16x
Midlothian 3 0.08x
Oxfordshire 3 0.18x
Berkshire 2 0.10x
Cheshire 2 0.03x
Glamorgan 2 0.04x
Royal Navy 2 0.61x
Angus 1 0.04x
Cornwall 1 0.03x
Fife 1 0.06x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.25x
Ross-shire 1 0.13x
Rutland 1 0.49x
Selkirkshire 1 0.40x
Wigtownshire 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blaxhall in Suffolk leads with 83 Lings recorded in 1881 and an index of 1707.82x.

Place Total Index
Blaxhall 83 1707.82x
Islington London 53 1.98x
Hundon 48 572.79x
Orford 45 415.13x
Deptford St Paul 42 5.78x
Wolverhampton 41 5.72x
West Ham 40 3.32x
Hackney London 34 2.20x
Weston Zoyland 34 537.97x
Camberwell 33 1.87x
Birmingham 30 1.29x
Beccles 28 51.74x
Lowestoft 28 17.63x
Bethnal Green London 27 2.25x
Bermondsey 26 3.16x
Shelton 25 1865.67x
Bow London 24 6.83x
Kensington London 22 1.43x
Ipswich St Margaret 21 18.40x
Lambeth 21 0.87x
Burston 20 515.46x
Campsea Ash 20 552.49x
Haslingfield 20 280.50x
St George Hanover Square 20 4.11x
St Marylebone London 20 1.36x
St Pancras London 20 0.90x
Whittlesey St Mary St 19 31.11x
Eye 18 82.83x
Streatham 18 8.79x
Mile End Old Town London 17 2.89x
Rochford 17 107.19x
Brighton 16 1.70x
Kenninghall 16 137.34x
Shoreditch London 16 1.34x
Alfreton 15 11.42x
Ipswich St Helen 15 37.63x
Poplar London 15 2.88x
Benhall 14 237.69x
Hammersmith London 14 2.06x
Hornsey 14 4.01x
Meltham 14 32.91x
Southwark St Saviour 14 9.87x
Woolwich 14 4.02x
Derby St Werburgh 13 5.21x
Hempstead 13 328.28x
Linthorpe 13 7.96x
Battersea 12 1.18x
Bedfield 12 338.03x
Croydon 12 1.61x
Derby St Alkmund 12 9.26x
Rotherham 12 7.78x
Stutton 12 236.22x
Wimbledon 12 7.95x
Bungay Holy Trinity 11 63.73x
Heigham 11 4.83x
Kedington 11 123.73x
Stanningfield 11 434.78x
Westminster St James 11 3.88x
Weston 11 436.51x
Great Wratting 10 270.27x
Great Yarmouth 10 2.84x
Hoveton St Peter 10 769.23x
Kingston On Thames 10 3.09x
Lewisham 10 1.99x
Salisbury St Edmund 10 25.52x
Tottenham 10 2.27x
Barton St Mary 9 40.65x
Cowlinge 9 139.97x
Cromer 9 59.64x
Ipswich St Peter 9 19.89x
Livesey 9 15.65x
Middleton 9 189.47x
North Lopham 9 136.16x
Paddington London 9 0.89x
Snape 9 187.50x
St George In East London 9 3.47x
Stradbroke 9 79.23x
Upwell 9 70.26x
Wennington 9 483.87x
Whatfield 9 344.83x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ling surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 149
Sarah 120
Elizabeth 92
Emma 56
Alice 50
Eliza 50
Ellen 44
Jane 39
Louisa 34
Emily 32
Annie 31
Hannah 27
Harriet 27
Martha 27
Ann 25
Charlotte 20
Caroline 17
Harriett 17
Maria 17
Edith 16
Fanny 16
Florence 16
Kate 15
Anna 13
Lucy 13
Clara 12
Margaret 12
Matilda 12
Ada 11
Sophia 11
Susan 11
Anne 10
Agnes 9
Susannah 9
Isabella 8
Rachel 8
Rebecca 8
Rosa 8
Catherine 7
Jessie 7
Minnie 7
Rose 7
Bessie 6
Esther 6
Ethel 6
Amelia 5
Gertrude 5
Julia 5
Maud 5
Phoebe 5

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Ling surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 176
John 134
George 127
James 77
Charles 70
Henry 63
Robert 49
Arthur 47
Edward 40
Frederick 38
Samuel 38
Thomas 37
Joseph 33
Alfred 29
Walter 29
Harry 28
Albert 16
Isaac 16
David 15
Herbert 15
Richard 14
Benjamin 13
Abraham 12
Ernest 11
Wm. 10
Francis 9
Fred 9
Frank 8
Horace 8
Sidney 7
Fredrick 6
Earnest 5
Edwin 5
Robt. 5
Saml. 5
Elijah 4
Ellis 4
Fredk. 4
Percy 4
Christopher 3
Edgar 3
Joshua 3
Marmaduke 3
Miles 3
Tom 3
Willm. 3
Josiah 2
Levi 2
Lewis 2
Mark 2

FAQ

Ling surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ling surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,829 people were recorded with the Ling surname. That placed it at #1,577 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ling surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,396 in 2016. That gives Ling a modern rank of #1,549.

What does the Ling surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "hill" or "mound," or referring to a person who lived near such a feature.

What does the Ling map show?

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