NameCensus.

UK surname

Ngo

A Vietnamese surname referring to five types of fish or an abbreviation for a non-governmental organization.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lewisham, Tower Hamlets and Southwark.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ngo is 666 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

666

2016, ranked #8,017

Peak year

2016

666 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 666 in 2016, ranked #8,017.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Ngo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ngo surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ngo 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 338 #12,489
1998 modern 359 #12,321
1999 modern 381 #11,873
2000 modern 359 #12,333
2001 modern 360 #12,127
2002 modern 388 #11,689
2003 modern 396 #11,346
2004 modern 412 #11,029
2005 modern 422 #10,739
2006 modern 435 #10,525
2007 modern 468 #10,039
2008 modern 482 #9,913
2009 modern 527 #9,477
2010 modern 583 #8,971
2011 modern 589 #8,814
2012 modern 580 #8,813
2013 modern 643 #8,285
2014 modern 659 #8,161
2015 modern 665 #8,044
2016 modern 666 #8,017

Geography

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Where Ngos 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 Lewisham, Tower Hamlets, Southwark and Greenwich. 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 Lewisham 002 Lewisham
2 Lewisham 003 Lewisham
3 Tower Hamlets 012 Tower Hamlets
4 Southwark 019 Southwark
5 Greenwich 034 Greenwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ngo

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

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

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Ngo surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Ngo 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 younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

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, Ngo 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

Ngo 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

Ngo falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ngo 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 - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Ngo, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ngo

The surname Ngo originates from Vietnam, with its earliest known usage dating back to the 15th century during the Later Le Dynasty. It is believed to be derived from the Vietnamese word "ngo," which means "bamboo." The name was likely given to families who lived near or worked with bamboo groves.

Ngo is a relatively common surname in Vietnam, particularly in the northern and central regions. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Annals of the Lê Dynasty, a historical text from the 15th century, which mentions a courtier named Ngo Thi Nham.

In the 17th century, a prominent figure named Ngo Thi Ngan played a significant role in the resistance against the Trinh Lords, who ruled over northern Vietnam during that time. Ngo Thi Ngan was a renowned military leader and strategist, and her efforts are celebrated in Vietnamese folklore.

The name Ngo also has a connection to several place names in Vietnam. For instance, the village of Ngo Quyen in Hai Duong Province is named after a 10th-century Vietnamese military leader, Ngo Quyen, who played a crucial role in defeating the Chinese army and establishing Vietnamese independence.

Another notable individual with the surname Ngo was Ngo Dinh Diem, who served as the first President of South Vietnam from 1955 until his assassination in 1963. Ngo Dinh Diem's family originated from the village of Phu Cam in Quang Tri Province.

Other historical figures with the surname Ngo include Ngo Bao Chau, a renowned Vietnamese mathematician and scholar from the 18th century, and Ngo Gia Tu, a 19th-century Vietnamese poet and writer who is celebrated for his contributions to the country's literary heritage.

While the surname Ngo is most commonly associated with Vietnam, it has also been recorded in other Southeast Asian countries, such as Cambodia and Laos, likely due to migration and cultural exchange within the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Ngo surname: questions and answers

How common is the Ngo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 666 in 2016. That gives Ngo a modern rank of #8,017.

What does the Ngo surname mean?

A Vietnamese surname referring to five types of fish or an abbreviation for a non-governmental organization.

What does the Ngo map show?

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