NameCensus.

UK surname

Loh

A Chinese surname derived from the state of Loh, granted to the descendants of the feudal lords.

In the 1881 census there were 6 people recorded with the Loh surname, ranking it #32,926 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 493, ranked #10,082, up from #32,926 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Loh is 493 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8116.7%.

1881 census count

6

Ranked #32,926

Modern count

493

2016, ranked #10,082

Peak year

2016

493 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Loh had 6 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,926 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 493 in 2016, ranked #10,082.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 10 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Loh surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Loh surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Loh 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
1881 historical 6 #32,926
1901 historical 10 #33,026
1997 modern 253 #15,152
1998 modern 275 #14,715
1999 modern 304 #13,843
2000 modern 295 #14,070
2001 modern 298 #13,784
2002 modern 316 #13,532
2003 modern 298 #13,886
2004 modern 314 #13,473
2005 modern 328 #12,992
2006 modern 339 #12,754
2007 modern 362 #12,271
2008 modern 387 #11,767
2009 modern 423 #11,204
2010 modern 444 #11,017
2011 modern 445 #10,880
2012 modern 470 #10,332
2013 modern 487 #10,227
2014 modern 492 #10,212
2015 modern 481 #10,296
2016 modern 493 #10,082

Geography

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Where Lohs 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, Barnet, Cambridge and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 026 Camden
2 Barnet 030 Barnet
3 Cambridge 007 Cambridge
4 Camden 025 Camden
5 Kensington and Chelsea 013 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Loh

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

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

Loh 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

Loh falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Loh

The surname Loh is believed to have originated in Germany, dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to have derived from the German word "lohe," which means "flame" or "blaze." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a forge or worked as a blacksmith.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Loh can be found in the town of Lohne, located in the state of Lower Saxony, Germany. Lohne was first mentioned in a document from the year 1154, and it is possible that the surname Loh emerged from this place name.

In the 17th century, the name Loh appeared in various records across Germany, including church registers and tax records. One notable individual with this surname was Johann Loh, a German composer and organist who lived from 1625 to 1699.

As the centuries passed, the Loh name spread across Europe, and some individuals with this surname left their mark in history. In the 18th century, Johann Konrad Loh (1720-1795) was a German theologian and author, known for his works on Christian ethics and theology.

In the 19th century, the Loh surname gained prominence in the field of science. Carl Ernst Adolf Loh (1821-1886) was a German chemist and mineralogist who made significant contributions to the study of minerals and their chemical composition.

Another notable figure with the surname Loh was Johann Loh (1848-1917), a German politician and trade unionist. He played a vital role in the formation of the Social Democratic Party of Germany and advocated for workers' rights and social reforms.

In the 20th century, the Loh name continued to be represented in various fields. Hans Loh (1903-1989) was a German-born American architect who designed several notable buildings in California, including the iconic Union 76 gas station in Beverly Hills.

While the surname Loh may have originated in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including Asia. However, the historical records and notable individuals mentioned above provide insight into the rich heritage and significance of this surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Loh families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Loh 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. Middlesex leads with 6 Lohs recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.27x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 6 10.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Marylebone London in Middlesex leads with 4 Lohs recorded in 1881 and an index of 128.21x.

Place Total Index
St Marylebone London 4 128.21x
Westminster St James 2 333.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Esther 2
Blanche 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Anthon 1
Anthony 1
Charles 1

FAQ

Loh surname: questions and answers

How common was the Loh surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6 people were recorded with the Loh surname. That placed it at #32,926 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Loh surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 493 in 2016. That gives Loh a modern rank of #10,082.

What does the Loh surname mean?

A Chinese surname derived from the state of Loh, granted to the descendants of the feudal lords.

What does the Loh map show?

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