NameCensus.

UK surname

Thai

A surname referring to a person from Thailand or of Thai descent.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Thai is 157 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

155

2016, ranked #23,197

Peak year

2013

157 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 155 in 2016, ranked #23,197.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Thai surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Thai surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Thai 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
1997 modern 77 #29,874
1998 modern 81 #29,849
1999 modern 81 #30,037
2000 modern 84 #29,706
2001 modern 87 #29,161
2002 modern 86 #29,771
2003 modern 100 #27,722
2004 modern 107 #26,899
2005 modern 104 #27,369
2006 modern 101 #28,125
2007 modern 106 #27,722
2008 modern 110 #27,391
2009 modern 117 #26,927
2010 modern 118 #27,404
2011 modern 128 #25,793
2012 modern 151 #23,166
2013 modern 157 #22,904
2014 modern 154 #23,439
2015 modern 149 #23,817
2016 modern 155 #23,197

Geography

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Where Thais 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 Telford and Wrekin, Harrow, Nottingham, Kingston upon Hull and Newcastle-under-Lyme. 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 Telford and Wrekin 021 Telford and Wrekin
2 Harrow 028 Harrow
3 Nottingham 022 Nottingham
4 Kingston upon Hull 024 Kingston upon Hull, City of
5 Newcastle-under-Lyme 015 Newcastle-under-Lyme

Forenames

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First names often paired with Thai

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

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

Thai 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

Thai 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 Thai is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Thai

The surname "THAI" is believed to have originated in Thailand, formerly known as Siam. It is likely derived from the Thai language and is thought to have first emerged around the 13th century during the Sukhothai Kingdom period.

The name "THAI" is thought to be related to the word "Thai" which means "free" or "freedom" in the Thai language. This could suggest that the name may have been given to individuals or families who were free from servitude or bondage during that time.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name "THAI" can be found in the Ayutthaya Kingdom chronicles, which date back to the 14th century. These chronicles mention a prominent Thai family with the surname "THAI" who held significant influence and power during that period.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Phra Narai Thai (1633-1688) was the King of Ayutthaya from 1656 to 1688. He is considered one of the most influential Thai monarchs and played a crucial role in strengthening the kingdom's relationships with European powers.

Another historical figure with the surname "THAI" was Chao Phraya Chakri Thai (1772-1832), a Thai nobleman and military leader who was instrumental in the establishment of the Chakri Dynasty. He served as the regent during the reign of King Rama I and played a pivotal role in the consolidation of power in the early years of the dynasty.

During the late 19th century, a Thai nobleman named Chao Phraya Phanuphan Thai (1842-1916) held prominent positions in the government and played a significant role in the modernization and westernization of Thailand during the reigns of King Rama IV and King Rama V.

In more recent times, Puey Ungphakorn Thai (1916-1999) was a renowned Thai economist and statesman who served as the Governor of the Bank of Thailand and played a crucial role in shaping Thailand's economic policies in the latter half of the 20th century.

The surname "THAI" can also be found in various place names and geographical locations within Thailand, such as Thai Muang District in Phang Nga Province and Thai Samakkhi District in Chaiyaphum Province, further reinforcing its historical roots in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Thai surname: questions and answers

How common is the Thai surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 155 in 2016. That gives Thai a modern rank of #23,197.

What does the Thai surname mean?

A surname referring to a person from Thailand or of Thai descent.

What does the Thai map show?

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