NameCensus.

UK surname

Tsai

A Chinese surname meaning "talent" or "ability," likely referring to a skilled ancestor or family trait.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Tsai surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 134, ranked #25,636, up from #34,027 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tsai is 134 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13300.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

134

2016, ranked #25,636

Peak year

2016

134 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tsai had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 134 in 2016, ranked #25,636.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Tsai surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tsai surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tsai 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 1 #34,027
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 45 #33,168
1998 modern 45 #33,374
1999 modern 56 #32,461
2000 modern 60 #32,124
2001 modern 56 #32,379
2002 modern 69 #31,527
2003 modern 84 #29,978
2004 modern 89 #29,623
2005 modern 98 #28,325
2006 modern 98 #28,621
2007 modern 99 #28,852
2008 modern 102 #28,664
2009 modern 103 #29,127
2010 modern 110 #28,666
2011 modern 109 #28,653
2012 modern 112 #28,174
2013 modern 129 #26,211
2014 modern 128 #26,490
2015 modern 130 #26,093
2016 modern 134 #25,636

Geography

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Where Tsais 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, Westminster, Liverpool and Rotherham. 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 016 Telford and Wrekin
2 Westminster 007 Westminster
3 Liverpool 049 Liverpool
4 Liverpool 039 Liverpool
5 Rotherham 002 Rotherham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tsai

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tsai

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

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Tsai surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Tsai 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

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, Tsai 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

Tsai 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

Tsai falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Tsai

The surname "TSAI" is of Chinese origin and can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) in China. It is derived from the ancient Chinese word "cài" which means "vegetable" or "plant." During this period, the name was primarily used as a surname by families who were involved in agriculture or the cultivation of crops.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname "TSAI" can be found in the genealogical records of the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). These records document a family with the surname "TSAI" residing in the Zhejiang province of China. The name was also prevalent in other regions such as Guangdong and Fujian, where many families with the surname "TSAI" were engaged in farming and agriculture.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the surname "TSAI" gained prominence and was associated with several notable figures. One such figure was Tsai Lun (63-121 AD), who is credited with inventing paper and the papermaking process. Tsai Lun's contributions played a significant role in the development of written communication and the spread of knowledge in ancient China.

Another prominent individual with the surname "TSAI" was Tsai Ying-wen (born in 1956), who served as the President of Taiwan from 2016 to 2020. She was the first woman to hold the office of the President in Taiwan and played a crucial role in promoting democracy and human rights in the country.

In the field of literature, Tsai Chih-chung (1601-1676) was a renowned Chinese playwright and novelist during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. His works, such as the novel "The Dream of the Red Chamber," are considered classics of Chinese literature and have been widely studied and celebrated.

Another notable figure with the surname "TSAI" was Tsai Ting-kan (1669-1738), a Chinese landscape painter and calligrapher during the Qing Dynasty. His paintings and calligraphic works were highly acclaimed and are showcased in various art museums and collections around the world.

The surname "TSAI" has also been associated with various place names and locations in China, such as the Tsai River in Sichuan province and the Tsai Village in Guangdong province. These places were often named after prominent families or individuals with the surname "TSAI" who resided in those areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tsai families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tsai 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. Middlesex leads with 1 Tsais recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.37x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1 10.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Marylebone London in Middlesex leads with 1 Tsais recorded in 1881 and an index of 196.08x.

Place Total Index
St Marylebone London 1 196.08x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Li 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 Tsai households.

Occupation Count
General Servant Domestic 1

FAQ

Tsai surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tsai surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Tsai surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 134 in 2016. That gives Tsai a modern rank of #25,636.

What does the Tsai surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "talent" or "ability," likely referring to a skilled ancestor or family trait.

What does the Tsai map show?

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