NameCensus.

UK surname

Vo

A Vietnamese surname derived from the Chinese surname Wu, meaning "military" or "martial."

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Vo is 249 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

249

2016, ranked #16,847

Peak year

2016

249 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 249 in 2016, ranked #16,847.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Vo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Vo surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Vo 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 92 #28,079
1998 modern 82 #29,754
1999 modern 90 #29,056
2000 modern 104 #27,150
2001 modern 96 #27,976
2002 modern 120 #25,110
2003 modern 134 #23,260
2004 modern 139 #22,891
2005 modern 151 #21,667
2006 modern 166 #20,534
2007 modern 176 #20,028
2008 modern 180 #19,946
2009 modern 197 #19,218
2010 modern 213 #18,660
2011 modern 216 #18,321
2012 modern 233 #17,339
2013 modern 229 #17,816
2014 modern 243 #17,232
2015 modern 243 #17,141
2016 modern 249 #16,847

Geography

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Where Vos 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 Manchester, Stockport, Birmingham, Newham 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 Manchester 041 Manchester
2 Stockport 003 Stockport
3 Birmingham 036 Birmingham
4 Newham 027 Newham
5 Greenwich 034 Greenwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Vo

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

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

Vo 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

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

Meaning and origin of Vo

The surname "Vo" is believed to have originated in Vietnam, deriving from the Vietnamese word "vo" which means "ginger." It is thought to have been a descriptive name, given to individuals who may have cultivated or traded in ginger.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Vo" can be found in the Annals of Dai Viet, a historical text dating back to the 13th century. This text mentions a scholar named Vo Van Ngan, who lived during the Tran Dynasty (1225-1400).

During the 15th century, the name "Vo" appeared in several Vietnamese administrative records, indicating that individuals with this surname held positions within the imperial bureaucracy. Notably, a man named Vo Van Trinh (born around 1420) served as a high-ranking official under the Le Dynasty.

As Vietnamese people migrated to different parts of the world, the name "Vo" spread to other countries. In France, for instance, there are records of a Vietnamese refugee named Vo Thi Kim Lien (1924-2005), who played a significant role in advocating for the Vietnamese community in Paris.

In the United States, one of the earliest documented individuals with the surname "Vo" was Vo Dinh Cuong (1924-2008), a South Vietnamese military officer who later became a prominent member of the Vietnamese-American community in California.

Another notable figure with the surname "Vo" is the Vietnamese-American author and poet Vo Quy (born 1948), known for his works exploring themes of diaspora and cultural identity.

In Australia, the name "Vo" can be traced back to the late 20th century, when Vietnamese refugees began settling in the country. One notable individual is Vo Van Ai (born 1954), a human rights activist and founder of the Vietnam Committee on Human Rights.

Throughout history, the surname "Vo" has also been associated with various place names and older spellings. For example, the village of Vo Tranh in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam, and the commune of Vo Cuong in Hai Duong Province, both derive their names from individuals with the surname "Vo."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Vo surname: questions and answers

How common is the Vo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 249 in 2016. That gives Vo a modern rank of #16,847.

What does the Vo surname mean?

A Vietnamese surname derived from the Chinese surname Wu, meaning "military" or "martial."

What does the Vo map show?

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