NameCensus.

UK surname

Sing

A Chinese occupational surname referring to a worker who makes armor or military equipment.

In the 1881 census there were 168 people recorded with the Sing surname, ranking it #14,380 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 310, ranked #14,406, down from #14,380 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, King's Nympton and Bideford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Devon, Torridge and Cardiff.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sing is 315 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 84.5%.

1881 census count

168

Ranked #14,380

Modern count

310

2016, ranked #14,406

Peak year

1911

315 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sing had 168 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,380 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 310 in 2016, ranked #14,406.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 315 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Sing surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sing surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sing 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 144 #13,277
1861 historical 257 #9,629
1881 historical 168 #14,380
1891 historical 245 #12,950
1901 historical 197 #15,272
1911 historical 315 #11,050
1997 modern 244 #15,520
1998 modern 249 #15,720
1999 modern 238 #16,308
2000 modern 224 #16,934
2001 modern 206 #17,624
2002 modern 235 #16,495
2003 modern 240 #16,061
2004 modern 242 #16,050
2005 modern 243 #15,943
2006 modern 247 #15,860
2007 modern 245 #16,134
2008 modern 260 #15,648
2009 modern 264 #15,798
2010 modern 300 #14,730
2011 modern 282 #15,233
2012 modern 289 #14,875
2013 modern 286 #15,259
2014 modern 289 #15,251
2015 modern 298 #14,832
2016 modern 310 #14,406

Geography

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Where Sings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, King's Nympton, Bideford, Liverpool and Childwall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Devon, Torridge, Cardiff, Chelmsford and Liverpool. 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 London parishes London 1
2 King's Nympton Devon
3 Bideford Devon
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Childwall Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Devon 014 North Devon
2 Torridge 006 Torridge
3 Cardiff 044 Cardiff
4 Chelmsford 010 Chelmsford
5 Liverpool 045 Liverpool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sing

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sing

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

Sing 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

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

Meaning and origin of Sing

The surname SING has its origins in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "sing," which means "to sing" or "to chant." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to individuals who were singers, perhaps in religious or ceremonial contexts.

One of the earliest known records of the SING surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a person named Sygehird Sing. This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

In the 14th century, the SING surname appeared in various county records across England, such as the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, where a John Sing was listed. This indicates that the name had spread to different regions by that time.

The SING surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. In the 16th century, John Sing (1495-1538) was an English Catholic priest and martyr who was executed during the reign of Henry VIII for his refusal to accept the king's supremacy over the Church of England.

Another prominent figure was Samuel Sing (1638-1719), an English mathematician and surveyor who made significant contributions to the field of navigation. He published works on logarithms and trigonometry, which were widely used by navigators and astronomers of his time.

In the 18th century, the SING surname was also found in Scotland, as evidenced by the birth of James Sing (1762-1827) in Fife. Sing was a renowned painter and engraver who specialized in portraiture and landscape paintings.

Moving into the 19th century, the SING surname continued to be represented by notable individuals. John Sing (1809-1876) was an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Gresham Life Assurance Society's headquarters.

One of the most prominent figures with the SING surname was Samuel Sing (1838-1916), an English painter and etcher. He was a member of the Royal Academy and is best known for his etchings depicting rural landscapes and architectural scenes.

While the SING surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, the earliest recorded instances and historical references can be traced back to the British Isles, where the name evolved from its Old English origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sing families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sing 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. Devon leads with 59 Sings recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.94x.

County Total Index
Devon 59 17.94x
Middlesex 29 1.84x
Glamorgan 14 5.09x
Suffolk 9 4.68x
Warwickshire 9 2.26x
Lancashire 8 0.43x
Surrey 7 0.91x
Staffordshire 6 1.12x
Lanarkshire 3 0.59x
Royal Navy 3 15.93x
Lincolnshire 2 0.79x
Shropshire 2 1.47x
Angus 1 0.68x
Caernarfonshire 1 1.57x
Cambridgeshire 1 1.00x
Hampshire 1 0.31x
Huntingdonshire 1 3.19x
Kent 1 0.19x
Leicestershire 1 0.57x
Norfolk 1 0.41x
Northumberland 1 0.43x
Pembrokeshire 1 1.99x
Yorkshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Torrington in Devon leads with 30 Sings recorded in 1881 and an index of 1604.28x.

Place Total Index
Great Torrington 30 1604.28x
Aberavon 11 434.78x
Bideford 11 312.50x
Edgbaston 8 64.72x
Saxmundham 8 1126.76x
Ealing 7 49.58x
Kings Nympton 6 1764.71x
Garston 5 90.42x
Harborne 5 29.26x
St George Bloomsbury 5 55.13x
Chelsea London 4 8.40x
Landcross 4 8000.00x
Newington 4 6.85x
Chawleigh 3 833.33x
Govan 3 2.37x
Littleham 3 125.00x
Clerkenwell London 2 5.36x
Limehouse London 2 11.53x
Manthorpe Cum Little 2 103.63x
Neath 2 35.71x
Wavertree 2 33.33x
Worfield 2 210.53x
Aston 1 0.91x
Banham 1 161.29x
Bardsey Island 1 1428.57x
Beverley St Mary 1 43.67x
Burton Extra 1 32.68x
Camberwell 1 0.99x
Cardiff St Mary 1 6.60x
Chertsey 1 20.08x
Chesterton 1 32.36x
Dundee 1 1.83x
Exeter St David 1 35.59x
Fareham 1 25.71x
Godalming 1 20.62x
Hackney London 1 1.13x
Haverfordwest St Thomas 1 100.00x
Hendon 1 17.57x
Huntingdon St John 1 109.89x
Islington London 1 0.65x
Little Crosby 1 333.33x
Melton Mowbray 1 31.75x
Milton In Gravesend 1 12.38x
Newcastle On Tyne 1 400.00x
Paddington London 1 1.72x
Poplar London 1 3.35x
Royal Navy 1 6.21x
Shoreditch London 1 1.46x
St Marylebone London 1 1.19x
Tormoham 1 7.18x
Westminster St James 1 6.16x
Westminster St John 1 5.20x
Wickhambrook 1 138.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 15
John 8
Thomas 7
Ah 4
Charles 3
James 3
Edward 2
Frederick 2
George 2
Jno. 2
Samuel 2
Alexander 1
Arthur 1
Cum 1
D. 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Harry 1
J. 1
Joshua 1
Lewis 1
Man 1
Mark 1
Maurice 1
Mongel 1
Montague 1
Ohn 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Roger 1
Sam. 1
Soolan 1
Stafford 1
Wilfred 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Sing surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sing surname in 1881?

In 1881, 168 people were recorded with the Sing surname. That placed it at #14,380 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sing surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 310 in 2016. That gives Sing a modern rank of #14,406.

What does the Sing surname mean?

A Chinese occupational surname referring to a worker who makes armor or military equipment.

What does the Sing map show?

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