NameCensus.

UK surname

Tsui

A Chinese surname meaning "to follow," "chase," or "pursue," likely referring to a soldier or hunter.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Oldham, Birmingham and Dudley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tsui is 421 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

414

2016, ranked #11,574

Peak year

2010

421 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 414 in 2016, ranked #11,574.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Tsui surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tsui surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tsui 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 260 #14,880
1998 modern 309 #13,612
1999 modern 333 #13,049
2000 modern 310 #13,618
2001 modern 313 #13,361
2002 modern 323 #13,325
2003 modern 333 #12,875
2004 modern 333 #12,927
2005 modern 340 #12,642
2006 modern 337 #12,810
2007 modern 362 #12,271
2008 modern 373 #12,104
2009 modern 397 #11,793
2010 modern 421 #11,519
2011 modern 391 #12,062
2012 modern 389 #11,963
2013 modern 411 #11,669
2014 modern 400 #12,006
2015 modern 396 #11,994
2016 modern 414 #11,574

Geography

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Where Tsuis 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 Oldham, Birmingham, Dudley, South Cambridgeshire and Epsom and Ewell. 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 Oldham 022 Oldham
2 Birmingham 010 Birmingham
3 Dudley 018 Dudley
4 South Cambridgeshire 017 South Cambridgeshire
5 Epsom and Ewell 007 Epsom and Ewell

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tsui

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

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tsui, 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 Tsui surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Tsui 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Tsui is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Tsui 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

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

Meaning and origin of Tsui

The surname Tsui is of Chinese origin and can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) in China. It is believed to have originated from the Cantonese pronunciation of the Chinese characters 徐 or 崔, which were common family names in southern China.

Historically, the name Tsui was prevalent in the Guangdong and Fujian provinces of China, as well as in Hong Kong. Some records indicate that the name may have been derived from the ancient Chinese word "cui," which referred to a type of bamboo plant.

In ancient Chinese texts, there are mentions of individuals with the surname Tsui serving as government officials or scholars during various dynasties. For example, Tsui Ying (834-916 AD) was a prominent scholar and poet during the Tang Dynasty.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tsui can be found in the "Pu'er Prefecture Gazetteer," a historical document from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), which lists several villages and families with this surname in the Pu'er region of Yunnan Province.

Over the centuries, the name Tsui has been associated with several notable individuals. One example is Tsui Hark (born 1950), a renowned Hong Kong film director and producer known for his work in the kung fu and action genres.

Another notable figure is Tsui Tsin-tong (1895-1966), a prominent Hong Kong businessman and philanthropist who founded the Tsui Tsin-tong Charitable Foundation, which supported education and social welfare initiatives.

In the literary world, Tsui Tze-ki (1924-2013) was a respected Hong Kong novelist and essayist, known for his works exploring the cultural identity of Hong Kong.

Tsui Lap-chee (1915-1991) was a renowned architect who played a significant role in shaping the modern skyline of Hong Kong, designing iconic buildings such as the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

Tsui Sing-luen (1949-2019) was a respected Hong Kong academic and linguist who made significant contributions to the study of Cantonese language and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Tsui surname: questions and answers

How common is the Tsui surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 414 in 2016. That gives Tsui a modern rank of #11,574.

What does the Tsui surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "to follow," "chase," or "pursue," likely referring to a soldier or hunter.

What does the Tsui map show?

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