NameCensus.

UK surname

Teng

A Chinese surname derived from a place name or referring to a feudal state in ancient China.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Teng surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 128, ranked #26,401, up from #34,027 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Teng is 128 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12700.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

128

2016, ranked #26,401

Peak year

2016

128 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Teng had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016, ranked #26,401.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 12 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Teng surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Teng surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Teng 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
1861 historical 11 #32,452
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 12 #33,181
1901 historical 9 #33,154
1911 historical 4 #33,595
1997 modern 45 #33,168
1998 modern 42 #33,651
1999 modern 47 #33,320
2000 modern 35 #34,420
2001 modern 33 #34,436
2002 modern 41 #34,032
2003 modern 50 #33,362
2004 modern 53 #33,336
2005 modern 54 #33,433
2006 modern 63 #32,943
2007 modern 86 #30,808
2008 modern 88 #30,857
2009 modern 93 #30,682
2010 modern 108 #28,996
2011 modern 98 #30,384
2012 modern 94 #31,258
2013 modern 102 #30,415
2014 modern 117 #28,109
2015 modern 123 #27,088
2016 modern 128 #26,401

Geography

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Where Tengs 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 Westminster, Nottingham, Liverpool and Slough. 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 Westminster 013 Westminster
2 Nottingham 032 Nottingham
3 Westminster 003 Westminster
4 Liverpool 031 Liverpool
5 Slough 005 Slough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Teng

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

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

Teng 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

Teng falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Teng 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 Teng, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Teng

The surname Teng has its origins in China, with roots that can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD). It was initially a single-character surname derived from the Chinese character "滕," which referred to a specific region in what is now Shandong Province.

In ancient Chinese records, the earliest known mention of the surname Teng appears in the Book of Han, a historical text that chronicles the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-9 AD). The text mentions individuals with the surname Teng who held various government positions during that era.

During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), the surname Teng gained prominence, with several notable figures bearing this name. One such individual was Teng Xiayu (647-701 AD), a renowned calligrapher and poet who served as a minister during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian.

Another notable figure was Teng Shouzhi (979-1041 AD), a prominent Neo-Confucian scholar and philosopher who played a significant role in reviving Confucian thought during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD).

In the realm of literature, Teng Mu (1505-1572 AD) was a celebrated Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) playwright and novelist, best known for his work "The Peony Pavilion," a renowned romantic drama.

Moving forward in history, Teng Yun-shan (1830-1904 AD) was a prominent Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 AD) statesman and diplomat who served as the ambassador to various European countries, including France and Russia.

Beyond China, the surname Teng has also spread to other parts of the world, including Southeast Asia, where it has been adopted by ethnic Chinese communities. In Singapore, for instance, Teng Kee Hock (1899-1986) was a prominent businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to education and social welfare initiatives.

While the surname Teng may have evolved over time and across different regions, its Chinese roots and historical significance remain deeply ingrained in its legacy, reflecting the rich cultural and linguistic diversity of this ancient surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Teng families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Teng 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. Midlothian leads with 1 Tengs recorded in 1881 and an index of 77.52x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 1 77.52x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Queensferry in Midlothian leads with 1 Tengs recorded in 1881 and an index of 0.00x.

Place Total Index
Queensferry 1 0.00x

FAQ

Teng surname: questions and answers

How common was the Teng surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Teng surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016. That gives Teng a modern rank of #26,401.

What does the Teng surname mean?

A Chinese surname derived from a place name or referring to a feudal state in ancient China.

What does the Teng map show?

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