NameCensus.

UK surname

Sian

A Welsh surname derived from the Welsh word "siân", meaning Jane or Joan.

In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Sian surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 508, ranked #9,877, up from #33,498 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sian is 529 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16833.3%.

1881 census count

3

Ranked #33,498

Modern count

508

2016, ranked #9,877

Peak year

2011

529 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sian had 3 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,498 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 508 in 2016, ranked #9,877.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Sian surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sian surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sian 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 1 #33,412
1861 historical 2 #34,135
1881 historical 3 #33,498
1891 historical 3 #34,257
1901 historical 4 #33,876
1911 historical 3 #33,789
1997 modern 391 #11,196
1998 modern 422 #10,928
1999 modern 437 #10,717
2000 modern 459 #10,261
2001 modern 438 #10,462
2002 modern 443 #10,577
2003 modern 444 #10,393
2004 modern 473 #9,905
2005 modern 461 #10,022
2006 modern 459 #10,088
2007 modern 466 #10,070
2008 modern 480 #9,948
2009 modern 500 #9,862
2010 modern 523 #9,726
2011 modern 529 #9,555
2012 modern 496 #9,921
2013 modern 510 #9,871
2014 modern 502 #10,050
2015 modern 498 #10,035
2016 modern 508 #9,877

Geography

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Where Sians 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 Ealing, Derby, Leeds and Newham. 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 Ealing 014 Ealing
2 Derby 020 Derby
3 Leeds 044 Leeds
4 Newham 011 Newham
5 Leeds 023 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sian

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

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

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

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

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Sian is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, 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 households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

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

Sian 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

Sian falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sian 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 - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Sian

The surname "SIAN" is believed to have originated in Wales, with its earliest known records dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Welsh personal name "Siân," which is a Welsh form of the name "Jane" or "Joan." The name "Siân" is thought to have originated from the Hebrew name "Yohanan," meaning "Yahweh is gracious."

In the early 16th century, the surname SIAN appeared in various parish records and historical documents in Wales, particularly in the counties of Anglesey, Caernarfonshire, and Denbighshire. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name was in the Penrhyn Manuscripts, which contained numerous references to individuals with the surname SIAN in the Caernarfonshire area during the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the surname SIAN spread to other parts of Wales and England, with some variations in spelling, such as "Sione," "Syon," and "Sion." One notable bearer of the name was Siôn Phylip (1543-1620), a Welsh clergyman and translator who was known for his work in translating the Bible into Welsh.

In the 19th century, the surname SIAN was also found in various historical records, including census records and parish registers. One prominent figure with this surname was William Sian (1798-1879), a Welsh journalist and author who wrote extensively about Welsh history and culture.

Other notable individuals with the surname SIAN include:

1. Robert Sian (1837-1919), a Welsh engineer and inventor who developed several improvements to mining equipment. 2. Elizabeth Sian (1862-1942), a Welsh educator and advocate for women's rights, who founded several schools in Wales. 3. John Sian (1868-1945), a Welsh politician and member of parliament for the Caernarfon Boroughs constituency. 4. David Sian (1901-1981), a Welsh poet and writer, known for his contributions to the Welsh literary scene. 5. Megan Sian (born 1976), a contemporary Welsh artist and sculptor, renowned for her work in public art installations.

While the surname SIAN is most commonly found in Wales and among individuals of Welsh descent, it has also been adopted by families in other parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries with historical ties to Wales or the United Kingdom.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sian families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sian 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. Middlesex leads with 3 Sians recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.27x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 3 10.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kensington London in Middlesex leads with 3 Sians recorded in 1881 and an index of 185.19x.

Place Total Index
Kensington London 3 185.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Isabelle 1
Maria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Raymond 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 Sian households.

Occupation Count
Scholar 2
House... 1

FAQ

Sian surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sian surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Sian surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sian surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 508 in 2016. That gives Sian a modern rank of #9,877.

What does the Sian surname mean?

A Welsh surname derived from the Welsh word "siân", meaning Jane or Joan.

What does the Sian map show?

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