NameCensus.

UK surname

Su

A Chinese surname meaning "to revive" or "to resurrect," or referring to the ancient state of Su.

In the 1881 census there were 20 people recorded with the Su surname, ranking it #30,738 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 675, ranked #7,944, up from #30,738 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Greenwich, Southampton and King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Su is 675 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 3275.0%.

1881 census count

20

Ranked #30,738

Modern count

675

2016, ranked #7,944

Peak year

2016

675 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Su had 20 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,738 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 675 in 2016, ranked #7,944.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 20 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Su surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Su surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Su 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 20 #30,738
1997 modern 138 #22,227
1998 modern 150 #21,665
1999 modern 164 #20,621
2000 modern 180 #19,425
2001 modern 182 #19,039
2002 modern 225 #16,994
2003 modern 264 #15,071
2004 modern 281 #14,489
2005 modern 315 #13,375
2006 modern 356 #12,284
2007 modern 375 #11,955
2008 modern 409 #11,271
2009 modern 419 #11,282
2010 modern 473 #10,481
2011 modern 481 #10,244
2012 modern 575 #8,877
2013 modern 621 #8,509
2014 modern 646 #8,299
2015 modern 654 #8,154
2016 modern 675 #7,944

Geography

Back to top

Where Sus 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 Greenwich, Southampton, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Southwark and Bexley. 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 Greenwich 034 Greenwich
2 Southampton 021 Southampton
3 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 017 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
4 Southwark 020 Southwark
5 Bexley 002 Bexley

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Su

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Su

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Su surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Su household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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, Su 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

Su 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

Su 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 Su 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Su

The surname SU originates from China, and its roots can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). The name is derived from the Chinese character "苏," which means "revive" or "flourish." This character was often used as a surname during the Han Dynasty.

SU is a widespread surname in China, particularly in the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui. It is also found in regions with significant Chinese populations, such as Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia. The earliest recorded instances of the surname SU can be found in historical records dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD).

During the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), a prominent figure named Su Shi (1037-1101) emerged as a renowned poet, calligrapher, and statesman. He is considered one of the greatest literary figures in Chinese history and has left a lasting impact on Chinese culture.

Another notable individual with the surname SU was Su Dongpo (1037-1101), a contemporary of Su Shi and also a celebrated poet and calligrapher. His literary works and artistic achievements have been widely celebrated and studied throughout Chinese history.

In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), Su Zhe (1509-1566) was a prominent military strategist and general who played a crucial role in suppressing the Ningxia rebellion against the Ming Empire.

The surname SU has also been associated with various place names throughout Chinese history. For example, Suzhou, a city in Jiangsu Province, was historically known as Su or Sucheng, derived from the surname SU.

It is worth mentioning that the pronunciation and spelling of the surname SU may vary slightly in different regions and dialects of China, but its essential meaning and origin remain consistent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Su surname: questions and answers

How common was the Su surname in 1881?

In 1881, 20 people were recorded with the Su surname. That placed it at #30,738 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Su surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 675 in 2016. That gives Su a modern rank of #7,944.

What does the Su surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "to revive" or "to resurrect," or referring to the ancient state of Su.

What does the Su map show?

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