NameCensus.

UK surname

Shao

A Chinese surname meaning "few" or "rare," or referring to a place name in ancient China.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Birmingham, Brent and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shao is 102 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

102

2016, ranked #30,722

Peak year

2016

102 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 102 in 2016, ranked #30,722.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Shao surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shao surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shao 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
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 13 #36,672
1998 modern 17 #36,240
1999 modern 16 #36,371
2000 modern 21 #35,799
2001 modern 21 #35,646
2002 modern 22 #35,709
2003 modern 27 #35,279
2004 modern 30 #35,186
2005 modern 41 #34,478
2006 modern 56 #33,587
2007 modern 61 #33,440
2008 modern 66 #33,217
2009 modern 64 #33,675
2010 modern 84 #32,289
2011 modern 74 #33,151
2012 modern 95 #31,107
2013 modern 97 #31,239
2014 modern 97 #31,518
2015 modern 97 #31,499
2016 modern 102 #30,722

Geography

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Where Shaos 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 Birmingham, Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham and Lambeth. 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 Birmingham 079 Birmingham
2 Brent 013 Brent
3 Ealing 002 Ealing
4 Hammersmith and Fulham 020 Hammersmith and Fulham
5 Lambeth 007 Lambeth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shao

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

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Shao, 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 Shao surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Shao 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Shao 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

Shao 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

Shao falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Shao

The surname SHAO has its origins in China, with records dating back to the 3rd century BC. It is derived from the Old Chinese word 'shao', meaning 'small' or 'few'. The name was originally used as a descriptive term for someone with a small stature or belonging to a small family.

In ancient Chinese texts, such as the Shiji (Records of the Grand Historian) and the Hou Han Shu (Book of the Later Han), there are mentions of individuals bearing the SHAO surname. One notable figure was Shao Kan, a military general who lived during the Han Dynasty (25-220 AD).

The earliest recorded example of the SHAO surname can be found in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) genealogical records. During this period, the name was prominent in regions like Shandong, Henan, and Hebei provinces.

The SHAO surname has also been associated with several place names, such as Shaoxing, a city in Zhejiang Province. This name derives from the Old Chinese words 'shao' (small) and 'xing' (stream), indicating a small stream.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the SHAO surname. One example is Shao Yong (1011-1077 AD), a renowned philosopher, cosmologist, and poet during the Song Dynasty. Another is Shao Xunmei (1904-1976), a renowned linguist and scholar of the Chinese language.

Other famous individuals include Shao Qiqiu (1518-1588), a prominent scholar and calligrapher during the Ming Dynasty, and Shao Piaoping (1886-1926), a revolutionary and military leader who fought against warlordism in China.

During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), the SHAO surname was particularly prevalent in the provinces of Shandong, Hebei, and Henan. Many historical records from this period, such as local gazetteers and genealogical records, document the presence of the SHAO clan in these regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Shao surname: questions and answers

How common is the Shao surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 102 in 2016. That gives Shao a modern rank of #30,722.

What does the Shao surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "few" or "rare," or referring to a place name in ancient China.

What does the Shao map show?

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