NameCensus.

UK surname

Poon

A Chinese occupational surname referring to an official in charge of education or one who delivers goods.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Poon surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 752, ranked #7,274, up from #34,027 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Poon is 754 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 75100.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

752

2016, ranked #7,274

Peak year

2013

754 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Poon had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 752 in 2016, ranked #7,274.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 30 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Poon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Poon surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Poon 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 3 #32,890
1861 historical 30 #30,188
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 9 #33,451
1901 historical 3 #34,063
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 481 #9,584
1998 modern 503 #9,547
1999 modern 539 #9,116
2000 modern 551 #8,930
2001 modern 547 #8,833
2002 modern 603 #8,436
2003 modern 599 #8,351
2004 modern 633 #7,994
2005 modern 622 #8,047
2006 modern 641 #7,893
2007 modern 668 #7,708
2008 modern 690 #7,567
2009 modern 693 #7,697
2010 modern 734 #7,498
2011 modern 731 #7,459
2012 modern 737 #7,322
2013 modern 754 #7,311
2014 modern 745 #7,420
2015 modern 742 #7,364
2016 modern 752 #7,274

Geography

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Where Poons 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 Havering, Westminster and Barnet. 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 Havering 015 Havering
2 Westminster 013 Westminster
3 Barnet 025 Barnet
4 Barnet 030 Barnet
5 Westminster 016 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Poon

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

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

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Poon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Poon 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 never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Poon is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Poon 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

Poon falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Poon

The surname POON originated in China and has its roots in the Cantonese language. It is derived from the Chinese word "poon," which means "a fountain" or "a spring." The name was initially associated with individuals who lived near a natural water source or a well.

The earliest recorded mentions of the POON surname can be traced back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD) in the regions of Guangdong and Guangxi in southern China. During this period, the name appeared in various local records and documents.

In the 13th century, a prominent figure named POON Kwan-yu (1249-1333) was a renowned scholar and poet. He was born in Guangdong Province and is known for his contributions to Chinese literature and philosophy.

The POON surname later spread to other parts of China, including Hong Kong and Macau, as people migrated and settled in new areas. It is also found in overseas Chinese communities, particularly in Southeast Asia and North America.

One notable individual with the POON surname was POON Lim (1918-1991), a Chinese-British sailor who survived 133 days adrift on a small raft in the Atlantic Ocean after his ship was sunk during World War II. His remarkable story of survival is well-documented.

Another individual of historical significance was POON Tsz-hing (1890-1968), a prominent businessman and philanthropist from Hong Kong. He was instrumental in establishing several educational institutions and charitable organizations in the region.

In the realm of sports, POON Kin-shing (born 1963) is a former professional football (soccer) player from Hong Kong. He represented the Hong Kong national team and played for various clubs in Asia during his career.

The POON surname has also been associated with various place names in China, such as Poon Chau (a small island in Hong Kong) and Poon Chau Village (a village in Guangdong Province).

Over time, the POON surname has undergone slight variations in spelling, such as Pun, Pung, and Phoon, due to differences in romanization and regional dialects. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remain rooted in the Chinese language and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Poon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Poon 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. Northumberland leads with 1 Poons recorded in 1881 and an index of 69.93x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 1 69.93x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Hartford in Northumberland leads with 1 Poons recorded in 1881 and an index of 0.00x.

Place Total Index
West Hartford 1 0.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Annie 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 Poon households.

Occupation Count
Domestic Servant 1

FAQ

Poon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Poon surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Poon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 752 in 2016. That gives Poon a modern rank of #7,274.

What does the Poon surname mean?

A Chinese occupational surname referring to an official in charge of education or one who delivers goods.

What does the Poon map show?

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