NameCensus.

UK surname

Sion

A Hebrew surname meaning "Mount Zion" or "high place".

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Sion surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 134, ranked #25,636, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gwynedd, Ceredigion and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sion is 134 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13300.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

134

2016, ranked #25,636

Peak year

2016

134 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sion had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 134 in 2016, ranked #25,636.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 40 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Multicultural Inner Suburbs.

Sion surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sion surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sion 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 3 #32,890
1861 historical 40 #28,970
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 22 #32,449
1901 historical 17 #32,146
1911 historical 9 #32,754
1997 modern 51 #32,545
1998 modern 52 #32,732
1999 modern 57 #32,367
2000 modern 57 #32,417
2001 modern 56 #32,379
2002 modern 68 #31,626
2003 modern 71 #31,393
2004 modern 79 #30,799
2005 modern 86 #30,094
2006 modern 92 #29,576
2007 modern 87 #30,666
2008 modern 97 #29,527
2009 modern 102 #29,286
2010 modern 106 #29,305
2011 modern 102 #29,759
2012 modern 120 #26,961
2013 modern 123 #26,974
2014 modern 124 #27,049
2015 modern 127 #26,494
2016 modern 134 #25,636

Geography

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Where Sions 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 Gwynedd, Ceredigion and Rhondda Cynon Taf. 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 Gwynedd 003 Gwynedd
2 Ceredigion 002 Ceredigion
3 Gwynedd 006 Gwynedd
4 Gwynedd 007 Gwynedd
5 Rhondda Cynon Taf 027 Rhondda Cynon Taf

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sion

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

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

Baseline UK

Group

Multicultural Inner Suburbs

Nationally, the Sion surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Multicultural Inner Suburbs, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Sion household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house many younger and middle-aged adults with children. All ethnic minorities, apart from those identifying as Pakistani or Bangladeshi, appear to be present in above average proportions. Affiliation to Christian religions is uncommon. Long-term disability rates are low, mirrored in limited provision of unpaid care. Privately rented terrace houses and flats are the norm. Managerial, professional and technical occupations are prevalent, and work is rarely part time. Many individuals have degree level qualifications. These areas form the inner suburbs of many of the UK’s towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Sion is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Sion 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

Sion falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sion is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Sion

The surname SION has its origins in France, with roots tracing back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the French toponym "Sion," referring to the town of Sion in the Swiss canton of Valais. This region was historically part of the Duchy of Savoy, which later became part of France.

SION is believed to have evolved from the Latin word "Seduni," the name of a Celtic tribe that inhabited the area around modern-day Sion in ancient times. The earliest recorded instances of the surname SION can be found in medieval French documents and records from the 12th and 13th centuries, often associated with individuals who hailed from or had connections to the town of Sion.

One notable historical figure bearing this surname was Gilles de SION, a 14th-century French priest and theologian (c. 1330 - c. 1400). He was known for his writings on theology and his participation in the Western Schism, a period of rivalry between competing claimants to the papacy.

Another prominent individual was Louis de SION (c. 1520 - 1590), a French Benedictine monk and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of ancient Greek texts. He is renowned for his translations and commentaries on various works by classical authors.

In the 17th century, Jean de SION (1592 - 1670) was a notable French lawyer and jurist who served as a counselor in the Parlement of Paris, one of the most influential judicial bodies in France at the time.

The surname SION also appears in historical records related to the French nobility. One example is Charles de SION (1682 - 1748), a French aristocrat and military officer who served in the War of the Spanish Succession and later became a Marshal of France.

Another notable figure was Marie-Thérèse de SION (1734 - 1794), a French noblewoman and nun who was executed during the French Revolution for her refusal to abandon her religious vows.

While the surname SION originated in France, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. However, its historical roots remain firmly grounded in the French-speaking regions of Europe, particularly in the areas surrounding the town of Sion in Switzerland and the former Duchy of Savoy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Sion surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sion surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Sion surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sion surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 134 in 2016. That gives Sion a modern rank of #25,636.

What does the Sion surname mean?

A Hebrew surname meaning "Mount Zion" or "high place".

What does the Sion map show?

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