NameCensus.

UK surname

Tan

A Chinese surname derived from a state or fief named Tan during the Zhou dynasty period.

In the 1881 census there were 20 people recorded with the Tan surname, ranking it #30,738 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,633, ranked #1,873, up from #30,738 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tan is 3,633 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18065.0%.

1881 census count

20

Ranked #30,738

Modern count

3,633

2016, ranked #1,873

Peak year

2016

3,633 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tan had 20 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,738 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,633 in 2016, ranked #1,873.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 20 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Tan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tan 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 17 #30,267
1881 historical 20 #30,738
1901 historical 14 #32,506
1997 modern 1,794 #3,347
1998 modern 1,886 #3,319
1999 modern 2,027 #3,148
2000 modern 1,979 #3,195
2001 modern 1,934 #3,191
2002 modern 2,081 #3,070
2003 modern 2,034 #3,074
2004 modern 2,101 #2,978
2005 modern 2,346 #2,678
2006 modern 2,467 #2,571
2007 modern 2,660 #2,438
2008 modern 2,811 #2,345
2009 modern 2,940 #2,302
2010 modern 3,225 #2,141
2011 modern 3,229 #2,115
2012 modern 3,388 #1,985
2013 modern 3,566 #1,923
2014 modern 3,567 #1,939
2015 modern 3,530 #1,934
2016 modern 3,633 #1,873

Geography

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Where Tans 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, Cambridge, Kensington and Chelsea, City Centre East and Oxford. 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 Cambridge 007 Cambridge
3 Kensington and Chelsea 013 Kensington and Chelsea
4 City Centre East Glasgow City
5 Oxford 008 Oxford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tan

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

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tan, 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 Tan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Student Living and Professional Footholds, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Tan 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

Senior Professionals

Within London, Tan is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Tan 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

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

Meaning and origin of Tan

The surname Tan is believed to have originated from the Chinese language, specifically from the Mandarin Chinese word "tan" which means "tanbark" or "tanner." It is a common surname in various regions of China, particularly in the southeastern coastal provinces like Guangdong, Fujian, and Zhejiang.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Tan can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) in ancient China. During this period, the surname was often associated with individuals involved in the tanning industry or those who worked with leather.

In the 11th century, the Tan surname appears in the famous historical record known as the "Song Huiyao," a compilation of administrative documents from the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). This suggests that the name had already gained recognition and prominence by that time.

One notable figure in Chinese history bearing the surname Tan was Tan Qian (1594-1658), a renowned scholar and calligrapher during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. He was known for his exceptional calligraphy skills and his contributions to the development of the "Zhuang" calligraphic style.

Another significant individual with the surname Tan was Tan Zhongyi (1880-1976), a prominent educator and philosopher in modern China. He played a crucial role in the promotion of Western philosophical ideas and the modernization of Chinese education.

In the realm of literature, Tan Xizhi (1886-1973) was a celebrated writer and poet from Guangdong Province. His works often explored themes of social justice and the experiences of the common people.

Beyond China, the Tan surname has also gained prominence in other parts of the world, particularly in Southeast Asian countries with large Chinese diaspora communities, such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

One notable figure of Tan descent from Singapore was Tan Kah Kee (1874-1961), a prominent businessman, philanthropist, and community leader. He played a significant role in the development of education and social welfare in Singapore and the Chinese community in Southeast Asia.

In the United States, Tan Dun (born 1957) is a renowned Chinese-American composer and conductor. He is best known for his score for the film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," for which he won an Academy Award in 2001.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tan 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. Gloucestershire leads with 4 Tans recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.61x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 4 11.61x
Surrey 4 4.68x
Cumberland 2 13.23x
Middlesex 2 1.14x
Cornwall 1 5.03x
Devon 1 2.74x
Durham 1 1.91x
Lancashire 1 0.48x
Suffolk 1 4.68x
Yorkshire 1 0.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 4 Tans recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.65x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 4 35.65x
Stapleton 4 615.38x
Whitehaven 2 246.91x
Bethnal Green London 1 13.11x
Brandon Byshottles 1 153.85x
Frostenden 1 5000.00x
Holy Trinity 1 23.92x
Hornsey 1 45.05x
Hulme 1 22.99x
Stoke Damerel 1 39.06x
Wendron 1 357.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 3
Amy 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Jessie 1
Margaret 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 4
Alfd.Rd. 1
Charles 1
George 1
Joseph 1
Peter 1
Robert 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 Tan households.

FAQ

Tan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tan surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Tan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,633 in 2016. That gives Tan a modern rank of #1,873.

What does the Tan surname mean?

A Chinese surname derived from a state or fief named Tan during the Zhou dynasty period.

What does the Tan map show?

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