NameCensus.

UK surname

Pham

A Vietnamese surname derived from the Chinese surname Fàn, meaning "sail" or "ocean," indicating an ancestral occupation in sailing or fishing.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pham is 964 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

964

2016, ranked #5,964

Peak year

2016

964 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 964 in 2016, ranked #5,964.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 18 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Pham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pham surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pham 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 4 #32,658
1861 historical 18 #31,580
1891 historical 10 #33,355
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1997 modern 324 #12,859
1998 modern 351 #12,511
1999 modern 386 #11,740
2000 modern 417 #11,068
2001 modern 406 #11,096
2002 modern 471 #10,076
2003 modern 493 #9,588
2004 modern 512 #9,352
2005 modern 567 #8,608
2006 modern 599 #8,292
2007 modern 625 #8,093
2008 modern 653 #7,890
2009 modern 705 #7,603
2010 modern 773 #7,213
2011 modern 773 #7,144
2012 modern 870 #6,407
2013 modern 932 #6,181
2014 modern 937 #6,195
2015 modern 948 #6,081
2016 modern 964 #5,964

Geography

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Where Phams 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 Manchester, Hackney, Lewisham, Greenwich and Hammersmith and Fulham. 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 Manchester 013 Manchester
2 Hackney 002 Hackney
3 Lewisham 002 Lewisham
4 Greenwich 015 Greenwich
5 Hammersmith and Fulham 017 Hammersmith and Fulham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pham

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

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Pham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Pham 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Pham 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

Pham 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

Pham 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 Pham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Pham

The surname Pham originates from Vietnam and has its roots in the Vietnamese language. It is thought to have derived from the word "pham," which means "dynasty" or "reign" in Vietnamese. This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals who had some connection to a particular dynastic rule or period in Vietnamese history.

The earliest recorded instances of the Pham surname can be traced back to the 10th century, during the Ly Dynasty of Vietnam. Records from this time period mention individuals bearing the Pham name, indicating that the surname was already in use by that point.

One notable historical figure with the Pham surname was Pham Ngu Lao, a renowned Vietnamese poet and scholar who lived in the 18th century (1712-1785). His works were highly influential in the literary circles of his time and are still studied today.

Another prominent individual bearing this name was Pham Van Dong (1906-2000), a Vietnamese revolutionary and politician who served as the Prime Minister of North Vietnam from 1955 to 1976 and as the Prime Minister of the reunified Vietnam from 1976 to 1987.

In the 13th century, there are records of a village named Pham Xa, located in what is now the Hanoi region of Vietnam. It is possible that this place name was derived from the Pham surname, suggesting that individuals with this surname may have been among the early settlers or residents of the area.

The Pham surname has also been found in historical documents from neighboring countries, such as China and Cambodia, indicating that individuals bearing this name may have migrated or established communities in these regions over the centuries.

One other notable figure with the Pham surname was Pham Duy Ton (1572-1644), a Vietnamese scholar and philosopher who made significant contributions to the field of Confucian thought and ethics during the Le Dynasty.

Throughout its history, the Pham surname has maintained a strong presence in Vietnam and has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, poets, politicians, and philosophers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Pham surname: questions and answers

How common is the Pham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 964 in 2016. That gives Pham a modern rank of #5,964.

What does the Pham surname mean?

A Vietnamese surname derived from the Chinese surname Fàn, meaning "sail" or "ocean," indicating an ancestral occupation in sailing or fishing.

What does the Pham map show?

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