NameCensus.

UK surname

Soh

A surname originating from China, potentially related to business or mercantile activities.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Soh surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 129, ranked #26,270, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Camden, West Berkshire and Nottingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Soh is 129 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6350.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

129

2016, ranked #26,270

Peak year

2016

129 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Soh had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016, ranked #26,270.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Soh surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Soh surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Soh 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
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1997 modern 50 #32,658
1998 modern 54 #32,518
1999 modern 61 #31,971
2000 modern 49 #33,187
2001 modern 49 #33,048
2002 modern 62 #32,214
2003 modern 52 #33,160
2004 modern 60 #32,684
2005 modern 59 #33,008
2006 modern 60 #33,235
2007 modern 71 #32,484
2008 modern 72 #32,656
2009 modern 87 #31,489
2010 modern 96 #30,854
2011 modern 104 #29,424
2012 modern 127 #25,992
2013 modern 126 #26,585
2014 modern 128 #26,490
2015 modern 126 #26,654
2016 modern 129 #26,270

Geography

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Where Sohs 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 Camden, West Berkshire and Nottingham. 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 Camden 025 Camden
2 West Berkshire 008 West Berkshire
3 Camden 026 Camden
4 Camden 028 Camden
5 Nottingham 031 Nottingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Soh

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

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Student Living and Professional Footholds

Nationally, the Soh surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Student Living and Professional Footholds, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Soh household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

The Group includes many students, some of whom reside in communal residences. Single-person households are the most prevalent and the modal age band is 25 to 44. There are few families with dependent children. A significant number of White residents were born in EU countries (although UK-born residents are more common than in the rest of the Group), and households reflect a diversity of ethnic groups. Residential turnover is exceptionally high and, communal properties aside, flats are the norm. Some properties, including those in the private rental sector, are over-crowded. Many residents are professionals and technicians educated to degree level, and the Group is particularly common near the campuses of established university towns and cities.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Central and City

Within London, Soh is most associated with areas classed as Central and City, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 high density central neighbourhoods are characterised by high levels of residential turnover. Few children are in evidence. Few individuals experience live with disability, with many in full-time employment or study. Levels of separation or divorce are low relative to the Supergroup average. The workforce is well-educated but not in the top flight of managerial occupations. Levels of affiliation to non-Christian religions are high.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Soh 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

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

Meaning and origin of Soh

The surname SOH originates from Germany, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "soh," which translates to "sow" or a female pig, suggesting that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive nickname or occupation reference for someone involved in pig farming or breeding.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name SOH was Hans Soh, who was mentioned in a tax record from the city of Nuremberg in 1524. In the same century, the name appeared in various other German regions, including a record of a Johann Soh in the town of Memmingen in 1587.

The SOH surname was also present in the historical records of the Holy Roman Empire, as evidenced by an entry from the year 1612, which documented a certain Margaretha Soh residing in the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

During the 17th century, the name started to spread beyond Germany, with instances recorded in neighboring regions such as the Netherlands and Switzerland. In 1672, a merchant named Pieter Soh was listed in the records of the Dutch East India Company, suggesting that bearers of the name had begun to establish themselves in international trade and commerce.

Notable individuals with the surname SOH throughout history include Johannes Soh, a German composer and organist who lived from 1628 to 1695, and was known for his contributions to sacred music. Another prominent figure was Friedrich Soh, a German politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Reichstag (the Imperial Diet) in the late 19th century, from 1877 to 1884.

In the realm of literature, the name SOH is associated with the German novelist and playwright Karl Soh, who was born in 1825 and passed away in 1899. His works, which often explored themes of social inequality and injustice, earned him critical acclaim during his lifetime.

Moving into the 20th century, one cannot overlook the legacy of Hans Soh, a German engineer and inventor who played a pivotal role in the development of early automotive technology. Born in 1892, his innovations in engine design and fuel efficiency were instrumental in shaping the automotive industry of the time.

While the surname SOH may have originated from humble beginnings, its bearers have left an indelible mark across various fields, from music and literature to politics and engineering, solidifying its place in the rich tapestry of German and European history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Soh families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Soh 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. Yorkshire leads with 2 Sohs recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.47x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 2 10.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Castleford in Yorkshire leads with 2 Sohs recorded in 1881 and an index of 2857.14x.

Place Total Index
Castleford 2 2857.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 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 Soh households.

Occupation Count
Pedlar 1

FAQ

Soh surname: questions and answers

How common was the Soh surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Soh surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016. That gives Soh a modern rank of #26,270.

What does the Soh surname mean?

A surname originating from China, potentially related to business or mercantile activities.

What does the Soh map show?

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