NameCensus.

UK surname

Tu

A Chinese surname meaning "earth" or "soil," or a Vietnamese surname meaning "good luck" or "good fortune."

In the 1881 census there were 23 people recorded with the Tu surname, ranking it #30,339 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 342, ranked #13,398, up from #30,339 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Southwark, Manchester and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tu is 342 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1387.0%.

1881 census count

23

Ranked #30,339

Modern count

342

2016, ranked #13,398

Peak year

2016

342 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tu had 23 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,339 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 342 in 2016, ranked #13,398.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 23 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Tu surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tu surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tu 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 23 #30,339
1997 modern 185 #18,506
1998 modern 201 #18,047
1999 modern 215 #17,425
2000 modern 220 #17,138
2001 modern 207 #17,573
2002 modern 234 #16,543
2003 modern 249 #15,653
2004 modern 246 #15,854
2005 modern 255 #15,437
2006 modern 259 #15,370
2007 modern 272 #14,994
2008 modern 278 #14,901
2009 modern 283 #15,020
2010 modern 310 #14,378
2011 modern 298 #14,666
2012 modern 325 #13,720
2013 modern 327 #13,868
2014 modern 317 #14,269
2015 modern 321 #14,062
2016 modern 342 #13,398

Geography

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Where Tus 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 Southwark, Manchester, Bradford, Tower Hamlets and Greenwich. 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 Southwark 015 Southwark
2 Manchester 001 Manchester
3 Bradford 040 Bradford
4 Tower Hamlets 020 Tower Hamlets
5 Greenwich 011 Greenwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tu

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

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

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Tu surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Tu 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 younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Tu 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

Tu 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

Tu falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tu 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Tu

The surname Tu is believed to have originated in China, where it has been recorded for many centuries. It is derived from the Chinese word "tu," which means "earth" or "soil," suggesting that the name may have originally referred to someone who worked the land or lived in a rural area.

One of the earliest known references to the Tu surname can be found in the Zizhi Tongjian, a famous Chinese historical text completed in 1084 AD. This work mentions several individuals with the surname Tu who lived during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD).

In ancient China, surnames were often associated with specific regions or villages. The Tu name has been particularly prevalent in the eastern provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangsu, as well as in Guangdong and Fujian in the south.

Over the centuries, various notable figures have borne the Tu surname. One of the most famous was Tu Fu (712-770 AD), widely regarded as one of the greatest poets in Chinese history. His works, which often depicted the turmoil of his time, have had a lasting influence on Chinese literature.

Another prominent individual was Tu Youyou (born 1930), a Chinese pharmaceutical chemist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2015 for her discoveries related to the treatment of malaria.

In the realm of martial arts, Tu Xiduan (1789-1857) was a renowned practitioner of the Xingyi Quan style, and is credited with helping to preserve and spread this ancient fighting system.

The Tu surname has also been found in various place names throughout China, such as Tu Village in Zhejiang Province and Tu County in Sichuan Province, further reflecting its deep historical roots in the region.

While the surname Tu is most commonly associated with China, it has also been adopted by individuals in other parts of Asia, particularly in areas with significant Chinese populations or cultural influences.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Tu surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tu surname in 1881?

In 1881, 23 people were recorded with the Tu surname. That placed it at #30,339 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tu surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 342 in 2016. That gives Tu a modern rank of #13,398.

What does the Tu surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "earth" or "soil," or a Vietnamese surname meaning "good luck" or "good fortune."

What does the Tu map show?

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