NameCensus.

UK surname

Siaw

An archaic British surname possibly referring to geographical location.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Merton, Lambeth and Newham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Siaw is 104 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

104

2016, ranked #30,317

Peak year

2016

104 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016, ranked #30,317.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Siaw surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Siaw surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Siaw 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
1997 modern 44 #33,275
1998 modern 39 #33,967
1999 modern 49 #33,130
2000 modern 50 #33,087
2001 modern 49 #33,048
2002 modern 58 #32,564
2003 modern 63 #32,152
2004 modern 68 #31,880
2005 modern 75 #31,400
2006 modern 75 #31,733
2007 modern 76 #31,966
2008 modern 84 #31,370
2009 modern 92 #30,820
2010 modern 98 #30,540
2011 modern 97 #30,552
2012 modern 90 #31,790
2013 modern 96 #31,381
2014 modern 96 #31,667
2015 modern 101 #30,816
2016 modern 104 #30,317

Geography

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Where Siaws 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 Merton, Lambeth 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 Merton 019 Merton
2 Lambeth 029 Lambeth
3 Merton 013 Merton
4 Lambeth 006 Lambeth
5 Newham 007 Newham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Siaw

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

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Siaw, 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 Siaw surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Siaw 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Siaw 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

Siaw 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

Siaw 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 Siaw 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 Siaw, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Siaw

The surname SIAW is thought to have originated in the southern regions of China, likely in the Guangdong or Guangxi provinces, during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It is believed to be derived from a dialectal variation of the Chinese word "siu," which means "small" or "petite."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SIAW surname can be found in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) genealogical records of the Xinhui County in Guangdong Province. These records mention a SIAW family that had lived in the area for several generations, tracing their roots back to the late Ming Dynasty.

In the 18th century, a notable figure named SIAW Yat-Cheung (1720-1795) was a prominent scholar and calligrapher from Guangdong. His calligraphic works and teachings were highly regarded during his lifetime and contributed to the preservation of the SIAW surname's cultural legacy.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many Chinese immigrants from Guangdong and Guangxi regions settled in various parts of Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. This diaspora helped to further spread the SIAW surname across the region.

One of the most famous individuals with the SIAW surname was SIAW Khai-Siong (1893-1968), a prominent businessman and philanthropist from Penang, Malaysia. He founded several successful enterprises and was actively involved in various charitable organizations, leaving a lasting impact on the local community.

Another notable figure was SIAW Kai-Kee (1921-2005), a highly respected journalist and author from Singapore. He wrote extensively on Southeast Asian affairs and was a vocal advocate for regional cooperation and development.

In the field of academia, SIAW Hui-Lin (1936-2012) was a renowned linguist and scholar of Chinese languages. She made significant contributions to the study of Chinese dialectology and was widely published in her field.

While the SIAW surname may not be among the most common in the Chinese diaspora, it has a rich history and has produced several notable individuals who have left their mark in various fields and regions over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Siaw surname: questions and answers

How common is the Siaw surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016. That gives Siaw a modern rank of #30,317.

What does the Siaw surname mean?

An archaic British surname possibly referring to geographical location.

What does the Siaw map show?

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