NameCensus.

UK surname

Lui

A Chinese surname meaning "thunder," or referring to someone from the ancient Chinese state of Lu.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lui is 531 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

530

2016, ranked #9,572

Peak year

2014

531 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 530 in 2016, ranked #9,572.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Lui surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lui surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lui 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 5 #33,728
1997 modern 325 #12,832
1998 modern 368 #12,096
1999 modern 369 #12,147
2000 modern 390 #11,623
2001 modern 380 #11,660
2002 modern 409 #11,250
2003 modern 407 #11,136
2004 modern 440 #10,494
2005 modern 432 #10,531
2006 modern 444 #10,347
2007 modern 451 #10,318
2008 modern 438 #10,668
2009 modern 464 #10,407
2010 modern 501 #10,047
2011 modern 505 #9,884
2012 modern 497 #9,902
2013 modern 518 #9,755
2014 modern 531 #9,659
2015 modern 529 #9,623
2016 modern 530 #9,572

Geography

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Where Luis 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 Barnet, Cambridge, Manchester, Croydon 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 Barnet 030 Barnet
2 Cambridge 007 Cambridge
3 Manchester 055 Manchester
4 Croydon 002 Croydon
5 Kensington and Chelsea 010 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lui

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

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Lui is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lui 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

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

Meaning and origin of Lui

The surname "LUI" is of Italian origin, and it can be traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Italian word "lui," which means "he" or "him." This name was likely used as a nickname or a descriptive name for someone who was constantly referring to himself in the third person.

The earliest recorded instances of the name "LUI" can be found in various historical records from northern Italy, particularly in the regions of Lombardy and Veneto. It is possible that the name was initially used as a nickname or a distinguishing term for a family or individual before becoming a hereditary surname.

One of the earliest known references to the name "LUI" appears in a 14th-century document from the city of Verona, where a certain "Giovanni Lui" is mentioned as a merchant. This suggests that individuals bearing this surname were already established in urban centers and involved in trade and commerce during that period.

In the 15th century, the name "LUI" can be found in the records of the Venetian Republic, where several individuals with this surname held positions of importance. For instance, a certain "Marco Lui" was a prominent member of the Venetian nobility and served as a diplomat during the reign of the Doge Francesco Foscari (1423-1457).

Throughout the centuries, the surname "LUI" has been associated with various notable figures. One of the most famous individuals bearing this name was Girolamo Lui (1497-1576), a renowned Italian architect and engineer who was responsible for the construction of several iconic buildings in Venice, including the Procuratie Nuove in St. Mark's Square.

Another notable figure with the surname "LUI" was Vincenzo Lui (1629-1706), an Italian painter and engraver from Milan who was celebrated for his religious works and portraits. His artwork can be found in numerous churches and galleries across Italy.

In the 19th century, the name "LUI" gained prominence in the field of literature with the Italian poet and writer Alessandro Lui (1811-1879), who was known for his romantic and patriotic works.

Other notable individuals with the surname "LUI" include:

1. Enrico Lui (1888-1967), an Italian politician and statesman who served as a member of the Italian Parliament and held several ministerial positions. 2. Guido Lui (1903-1982), an Italian architect and urban planner who was instrumental in the reconstruction efforts after World War II. 3. Francesca Lui (1923-2018), an Italian actress and film director who gained recognition for her work in the Italian Neorealist cinema movement. 4. Lorenzo Lui (born 1961), an Italian businessman and entrepreneur who founded one of Italy's largest fashion and retail companies. 5. Martina Lui (born 1987), an Italian professional tennis player who has won several singles and doubles titles on the WTA Tour.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Lui surname: questions and answers

How common is the Lui surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 530 in 2016. That gives Lui a modern rank of #9,572.

What does the Lui surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "thunder," or referring to someone from the ancient Chinese state of Lu.

What does the Lui map show?

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