NameCensus.

UK surname

Peng

A Chinese surname meaning "friend" or "associate," or referring to a type of clay pot or vessel.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Peng surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 274, ranked #15,759, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Liverpool, Peterborough and Bournemouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Peng is 274 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27300.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

274

2016, ranked #15,759

Peak year

2016

274 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Peng had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 274 in 2016, ranked #15,759.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 25 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Peng surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Peng surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Peng 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 25 #30,804
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 15 #32,956
1901 historical 3 #34,063
1997 modern 58 #31,831
1998 modern 74 #30,562
1999 modern 80 #30,152
2000 modern 80 #30,139
2001 modern 79 #30,065
2002 modern 103 #27,443
2003 modern 118 #25,146
2004 modern 129 #24,019
2005 modern 142 #22,577
2006 modern 169 #20,294
2007 modern 168 #20,634
2008 modern 171 #20,595
2009 modern 190 #19,656
2010 modern 229 #17,805
2011 modern 220 #18,096
2012 modern 244 #16,793
2013 modern 255 #16,551
2014 modern 268 #16,111
2015 modern 269 #15,955
2016 modern 274 #15,759

Geography

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Where Pengs 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 Liverpool, Peterborough, Bournemouth, Kensington and Chelsea 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 Liverpool 031 Liverpool
2 Peterborough 002 Peterborough
3 Bournemouth 017 Bournemouth
4 Kensington and Chelsea 017 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Westminster 023 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Peng

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

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

City Support Workers

Within London, Peng is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, 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

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

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

Peng 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

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

Meaning and origin of Peng

The surname PENG has its origins in China, where it dates back to ancient times. It is derived from the Chinese word "peng," which means "level" or "flat," suggesting that the name may have been given to families who lived in regions with flat terrain or open plains.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the PENG surname can be found in the historical records of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), where it was mentioned as a prominent family name in the region of present-day Sichuan Province. During this period, the PENG family played a significant role in local governance and politics.

In the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the PENG surname gained further prominence with the rise of PENG Daya (945-1005), a renowned scholar and philosopher who made significant contributions to the development of Neo-Confucianism. His writings and teachings influenced generations of scholars and thinkers in China.

The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) also saw the PENG surname associated with notable figures, such as PENG Sunyu (1615-1677), a prominent military leader and strategist who played a crucial role in the defense of China against the Manchu invasion.

In the realm of literature, PENG Cheng (1938-2020) was a celebrated Chinese novelist and screenwriter, known for his realistic depictions of urban life in contemporary China. His novels, such as "The Wandering Falcon" and "The Scorching Sun," received critical acclaim and brought him international recognition.

Another notable figure with the PENG surname was PENG Dehuai (1898-1974), a prominent military leader who played a significant role in the Chinese Civil War and the Korean War. He served as the Vice-Premier of the People's Republic of China from 1954 to 1959.

While the PENG surname has its roots in China, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. In Taiwan, for instance, there is a sizable population with the PENG surname, reflecting the shared cultural heritage with mainland China.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Peng families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Peng 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. Surrey leads with 1 Pengs recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.28x.

County Total Index
Surrey 1 21.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Battersea in Surrey leads with 1 Pengs recorded in 1881 and an index of 285.71x.

Place Total Index
Battersea 1 285.71x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Christopher 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Peng households.

Occupation Count
Engine Fitter 1

FAQ

Peng surname: questions and answers

How common was the Peng surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Peng surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Peng surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 274 in 2016. That gives Peng a modern rank of #15,759.

What does the Peng surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "friend" or "associate," or referring to a type of clay pot or vessel.

What does the Peng map show?

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