NameCensus.

UK surname

Shin

A Korean surname derived from the Chinese character 신 (shēn), meaning "godly," "spiritual," or "virtuous."

In the 1881 census there were 55 people recorded with the Shin surname, ranking it #25,862 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 193, ranked #20,039, up from #25,862 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edinburgh, Ovington and Gayton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kingston upon Thames, Westminster and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shin is 193 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 250.9%.

1881 census count

55

Ranked #25,862

Modern count

193

2016, ranked #20,039

Peak year

2016

193 bearers

Map years

3

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shin had 55 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,862 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 193 in 2016, ranked #20,039.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 128 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Shin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shin surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shin 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 88 #18,569
1861 historical 128 #17,375
1881 historical 55 #25,862
1891 historical 46 #30,657
1901 historical 35 #30,194
1911 historical 9 #32,754
1997 modern 61 #31,526
1998 modern 74 #30,562
1999 modern 71 #31,036
2000 modern 63 #31,829
2001 modern 66 #31,394
2002 modern 64 #32,007
2003 modern 89 #29,380
2004 modern 110 #26,451
2005 modern 131 #23,737
2006 modern 131 #23,942
2007 modern 133 #24,059
2008 modern 141 #23,383
2009 modern 150 #22,937
2010 modern 172 #21,404
2011 modern 169 #21,499
2012 modern 171 #21,303
2013 modern 179 #21,028
2014 modern 180 #21,115
2015 modern 188 #20,417
2016 modern 193 #20,039

Geography

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Where Shins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edinburgh, Ovington, Gayton, Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) and Eriswell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kingston upon Thames, Westminster and Ealing. 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 Edinburgh Edinburgh
2 Ovington Norfolk
3 Gayton Norfolk
4 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire
5 Eriswell Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kingston upon Thames 007 Kingston upon Thames
2 Kingston upon Thames 012 Kingston upon Thames
3 Westminster 011 Westminster
4 Ealing 017 Ealing
5 Kingston upon Thames 008 Kingston upon Thames

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shin

These lists show first names that appear often with the Shin surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shin

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

Shin 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

Shin falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Shin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Chinese

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

Meaning and origin of Shin

The surname SHIN is believed to have originated in Korea, where it has been a common family name for centuries. The name is derived from the Korean word "sin," which means "divine" or "sacred." It is thought to have been given to families associated with religious or spiritual roles in ancient Korean society.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SHIN can be found in the Samguk Sagi, a historical text from the 12th century that chronicles the history of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. The text mentions several prominent figures with the surname SHIN, including SHIN Sung-gyu, a Buddhist monk and scholar who lived in the 6th century.

During the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), the SHIN family was known for producing many talented scholars and officials. One notable figure was SHIN Suk-ju (1407-1459), a renowned Confucian scholar and politician who served as a minister during the reign of King Sejo.

In the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897), the SHIN family continued to play an important role in Korean society. SHIN Ryu (1491-1554) was a famous Neo-Confucian scholar and philosopher who contributed greatly to the development of Korean Confucian thought.

Another prominent figure was SHIN Hun (1539-1599), a military commander and scholar who played a crucial role in defending Korea against Japanese invasions in the late 16th century. He is celebrated as a national hero in Korean history.

In more recent times, SHIN Tae-yong (born 1970) is a well-known South Korean football coach who led the national team to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

While the name SHIN is most commonly associated with Korea, it has also been found in other East Asian countries, such as China and Japan, where it may have been adopted or derived from the Korean name. However, the origins and history of the name in these regions are less well-documented.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shin 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. Norfolk leads with 17 Shins recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.99x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 17 20.99x
Suffolk 8 12.47x
Lancashire 6 0.96x
Lincolnshire 6 7.12x
Cheshire 5 4.30x
Middlesex 4 0.76x
Midlothian 4 5.67x
Devon 1 0.91x
Gloucestershire 1 0.97x
Nottinghamshire 1 1.41x
Staffordshire 1 0.56x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mundford in Norfolk leads with 6 Shins recorded in 1881 and an index of 12000.00x.

Place Total Index
Mundford 6 12000.00x
Barton Mills 5 6250.00x
Hulme 5 38.31x
Kings Marsh 5 50000.00x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 14.09x
Frithville Boston Sibsey 4 6666.67x
Holme 3 6000.00x
Kempstone 3 30000.00x
Gorleston 2 122.70x
Ovington 2 4000.00x
Stoke Newington London 2 48.78x
Barton St Mary St Peter 1 625.00x
Chelsea London 1 6.30x
East Stonehouse 1 46.30x
Feltwell 1 625.00x
Harborne 1 17.54x
Hitcham 1 625.00x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 1 41.15x
Kirkdale 1 9.51x
Mansfield 1 40.65x
Quadring 1 625.00x
St Pancras London 1 2.36x
Westbury On Severn 1 243.90x
Wiggenhall St German 1 1000.00x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 5
William 4
Edward 2
George 2
Henry 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
E. 1
Frederick 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Mark 1
Patrick 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 Shin households.

FAQ

Shin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 55 people were recorded with the Shin surname. That placed it at #25,862 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 193 in 2016. That gives Shin a modern rank of #20,039.

What does the Shin surname mean?

A Korean surname derived from the Chinese character 신 (shēn), meaning "godly," "spiritual," or "virtuous."

What does the Shin map show?

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