NameCensus.

UK surname

Suen

A Chinese surname, potentially referring to people from the Sui River region or descendants of nobility.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Suen is 188 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

187

2016, ranked #20,488

Peak year

2015

188 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 187 in 2016, ranked #20,488.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 16 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Suen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Suen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Suen 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 8 #31,867
1861 historical 4 #33,628
1891 historical 16 #32,868
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 139 #22,132
1998 modern 122 #24,556
1999 modern 128 #24,017
2000 modern 131 #23,672
2001 modern 126 #23,883
2002 modern 126 #24,393
2003 modern 132 #23,459
2004 modern 128 #24,117
2005 modern 135 #23,297
2006 modern 140 #22,948
2007 modern 163 #21,050
2008 modern 174 #20,385
2009 modern 176 #20,632
2010 modern 172 #21,404
2011 modern 167 #21,642
2012 modern 171 #21,303
2013 modern 181 #20,879
2014 modern 180 #21,115
2015 modern 188 #20,417
2016 modern 187 #20,488

Geography

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Where Suens 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, Colchester, Stockport, Richmond upon Thames and Waverley. 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 019 Camden
2 Colchester 020 Colchester
3 Stockport 032 Stockport
4 Richmond upon Thames 004 Richmond upon Thames
5 Waverley 018 Waverley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Suen

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

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Suen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Suen household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Suen is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Suen 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

Suen 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 Suen 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
Asian - Chinese

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

Meaning and origin of Suen

The surname Suen finds its origins in China, specifically in the Fujian province, where it has been documented since the 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the Chinese word "xuan," which means "profound" or "deep." This connection suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals who possessed a deep understanding or knowledge.

One of the earliest recorded appearances of the Suen surname can be found in the "Pu Tuan Lu," a Chinese genealogical record from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). This document mentions a family with the surname Suen residing in the Xiamen region of Fujian province.

In the 17th century, the Suen surname was also documented in the "Qing Bai Lei Chao," a compilation of historical documents from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). This text references a scholar named Suen Zhongxian, who lived during the Ming Dynasty and was known for his expertise in Confucian philosophy.

During the 18th century, the Suen surname gained prominence with the birth of Suen Xing (1718-1776), a celebrated poet and calligrapher from Fujian. His works were widely admired and have been preserved in various literary anthologies.

Another notable figure with the Suen surname was Suen Qingfeng (1844-1921), a reformist scholar and educator from Guangdong province. He played a significant role in advocating for modern educational reforms in China during the late Qing Dynasty.

In the 20th century, Suen Wai-hoi (1906-1986), a renowned Chinese architect, made significant contributions to the design and construction of iconic buildings in Hong Kong, including the former Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Headquarters and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

Over time, the Suen surname has spread beyond its origins in Fujian province, with individuals bearing this name found in various regions of China, as well as in Chinese diaspora communities around the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Suen surname: questions and answers

How common is the Suen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 187 in 2016. That gives Suen a modern rank of #20,488.

What does the Suen surname mean?

A Chinese surname, potentially referring to people from the Sui River region or descendants of nobility.

What does the Suen map show?

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