NameCensus.

UK surname

Shing

An occupational surname referring to a Chinese acrobat or juggler.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Shing surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 222, ranked #18,277, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Eastbourne, Sutton and Richmond upon Thames.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shing is 222 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11000.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

222

2016, ranked #18,277

Peak year

2016

222 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shing had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 222 in 2016, ranked #18,277.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 77 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Shing surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shing surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shing 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 77 #23,975
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1891 historical 43 #30,933
1901 historical 10 #33,026
1911 historical 12 #32,302
1997 modern 155 #20,684
1998 modern 150 #21,665
1999 modern 162 #20,781
2000 modern 158 #21,055
2001 modern 159 #20,710
2002 modern 178 #19,671
2003 modern 185 #18,999
2004 modern 177 #19,662
2005 modern 186 #18,985
2006 modern 191 #18,825
2007 modern 197 #18,669
2008 modern 200 #18,640
2009 modern 211 #18,377
2010 modern 217 #18,443
2011 modern 213 #18,502
2012 modern 199 #19,280
2013 modern 211 #18,872
2014 modern 211 #19,002
2015 modern 216 #18,600
2016 modern 222 #18,277

Geography

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Where Shings 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 Eastbourne, Sutton, Richmond upon Thames, Kingston upon Hull and Burnhill and Bankhead North. 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 Eastbourne 010 Eastbourne
2 Sutton 009 Sutton
3 Richmond upon Thames 006 Richmond upon Thames
4 Kingston upon Hull 012 Kingston upon Hull, City of
5 Burnhill and Bankhead North South Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shing

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

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Shing surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Shing household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Shing is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Shing 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

Shing falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Shing

The surname SHING is of Chinese origin, with its roots traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) in the Guangdong province of southern China. The name is derived from the Chinese word "sheng," which means "to rise" or "to ascend," and was likely given to someone who lived on a hillside or elevated location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname SHING can be found in the genealogical records of the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), where it appears as a clan name in the Guangdong region. During this period, the surname was also spelled as "Xing" or "Seng," reflecting the variations in romanization and pronunciation.

In the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 AD), the SHING surname gained prominence when a scholar named SHING Zhong (1249-1318) served as a high-ranking official in the imperial court. His contributions to literature and philosophy were well-documented, and his descendants continued to use the surname with pride.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the SHING family expanded its influence, with several notable figures emerging. One such individual was SHING Guangyu (1612-1688), a renowned painter and calligrapher who was celebrated for his landscape paintings and his mastery of the "cursive script" calligraphic style.

In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 AD), the SHING surname was widespread across various regions of China, including Guangdong, Fujian, and Hong Kong. One notable figure from this era was SHING Yat-sen (1866-1925), a revolutionary leader and the founding father of modern China, who played a pivotal role in overthrowing the Qing Dynasty and establishing the Republic of China.

Another prominent individual with the SHING surname was SHING Qing-hua (1903-1997), a renowned physicist and academic who made significant contributions to the development of nuclear physics in China. He was also the first president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Other notable figures with the SHING surname include SHING Chun-hsiung (1912-2009), a Taiwanese writer and scholar known for his work on Chinese literature and culture, and SHING Shou-yu (1904-1985), a Chinese painter and calligrapher celebrated for his ink-wash landscape paintings.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shing families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shing 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 Shings recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.65x.

County Total Index
Surrey 1 10.65x
Wigtownshire 1 384.62x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 1 Shings recorded in 1881 and an index of 81.30x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 1 81.30x
Inch 1 5000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 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 Shing households.

Occupation Count
Housemaid 1

FAQ

Shing surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shing surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Shing surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shing surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 222 in 2016. That gives Shing a modern rank of #18,277.

What does the Shing surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a Chinese acrobat or juggler.

What does the Shing map show?

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