NameCensus.

UK surname

Woo

A Chinese surname derived from the ancient state of Wu or the profession of hunting.

In the 1881 census there were 6 people recorded with the Woo surname, ranking it #32,926 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 453, ranked #10,748, up from #32,926 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Woo is 453 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7450.0%.

1881 census count

6

Ranked #32,926

Modern count

453

2016, ranked #10,748

Peak year

2016

453 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Woo had 6 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,926 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 453 in 2016, ranked #10,748.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Woo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Woo surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Woo 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 6 #32,926
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1997 modern 296 #13,646
1998 modern 298 #13,937
1999 modern 314 #13,556
2000 modern 291 #14,200
2001 modern 286 #14,160
2002 modern 302 #13,938
2003 modern 297 #13,917
2004 modern 325 #13,161
2005 modern 340 #12,642
2006 modern 351 #12,420
2007 modern 372 #12,032
2008 modern 379 #11,960
2009 modern 407 #11,556
2010 modern 440 #11,101
2011 modern 438 #11,017
2012 modern 434 #10,977
2013 modern 447 #10,885
2014 modern 442 #11,057
2015 modern 446 #10,898
2016 modern 453 #10,748

Geography

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Where Woos 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 Westminster, Wolverhampton, Camden, Seaton and Firhill. 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 Westminster 019 Westminster
2 Wolverhampton 019 Wolverhampton
3 Camden 025 Camden
4 Seaton Aberdeen City
5 Firhill Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Woo

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

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

Woo 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

Woo falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Woo

The surname "Woo" is believed to have originated in China, specifically in the Guangdong province of southern China. It is a transliteration of the Chinese surname 胡, which can be traced back to the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BC) and is one of the oldest Chinese surnames.

The name "Woo" is derived from the ancient Chinese word "Hu," which referred to the nomadic people who lived in the northern and northwestern regions of China. The Hu people were known for their martial prowess and played a significant role in the history of ancient China.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname "Woo" can be found in the "Book of Han," a historical text written during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD). The book documents the existence of several prominent individuals with the surname "Hu," which was later transliterated into "Woo" in the English language.

During the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD), the surname "Woo" gained prominence, and several notable figures with this surname emerged. One such individual was Woo Tsung-hsien (629–706 AD), a renowned scholar and poet who served as a high-ranking official in the imperial court.

In the 13th century, a branch of the Woo family migrated to the Korean Peninsula, where the surname was adapted and pronounced as "U" or "Woo." This branch of the family produced several notable figures, including Woo Kwon-hun (1479–1552), a prominent military leader and diplomat during the Joseon Dynasty.

Another notable figure with the surname "Woo" was Woo Tseyan (1609–1688), a Chinese poet and calligrapher who lived during the Qing Dynasty. His works are widely celebrated and have had a lasting influence on Chinese literature and calligraphy.

In more recent times, the surname "Woo" has been carried by individuals such as Woo Bong-seo (1888–1958), a Korean independence activist and politician, and Woo Jae-il (1937–2015), a prominent South Korean actor and director.

While the surname "Woo" is most commonly associated with Chinese and Korean heritage, it has also been adopted by individuals from other cultural backgrounds, reflecting the diversity and global reach of this ancient name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Woo families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Woo 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. Derbyshire leads with 1 Woos recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.88x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 1 21.88x
Devon 1 16.45x
Kent 1 10.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mickleover in Derbyshire leads with 1 Woos recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.

Place Total Index
Mickleover 1 10000.00x
Tormoham 1 384.62x
Wateringbury 1 10000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
A. 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 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 Woo households.

FAQ

Woo surname: questions and answers

How common was the Woo surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6 people were recorded with the Woo surname. That placed it at #32,926 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Woo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 453 in 2016. That gives Woo a modern rank of #10,748.

What does the Woo surname mean?

A Chinese surname derived from the ancient state of Wu or the profession of hunting.

What does the Woo map show?

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