NameCensus.

UK surname

Xie

A Chinese surname meaning "thank, gratitude, or to decline politely," derived from the ancient state of Xie.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Xie is 371 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

371

2016, ranked #12,561

Peak year

2016

371 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 371 in 2016, ranked #12,561.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Xie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Xie surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Xie 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 14 #36,528
1998 modern 16 #36,361
1999 modern 23 #35,612
2000 modern 31 #34,798
2001 modern 32 #34,537
2002 modern 47 #33,548
2003 modern 74 #31,091
2004 modern 94 #28,896
2005 modern 113 #25,974
2006 modern 132 #23,834
2007 modern 137 #23,590
2008 modern 152 #22,225
2009 modern 193 #19,463
2010 modern 244 #17,056
2011 modern 217 #18,271
2012 modern 295 #14,670
2013 modern 335 #13,604
2014 modern 349 #13,293
2015 modern 365 #12,743
2016 modern 371 #12,561

Geography

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Where Xies 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, Tower Hamlets, Westminster and Camden. 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 018 Southwark
2 Tower Hamlets 030 Tower Hamlets
3 Westminster 018 Westminster
4 Camden 022 Camden
5 Tower Hamlets 021 Tower Hamlets

Forenames

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First names often paired with Xie

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

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

Student Living and Professional Footholds

Nationally, the Xie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Student Living and Professional Footholds, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Xie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

The Group includes many students, some of whom reside in communal residences. Single-person households are the most prevalent and the modal age band is 25 to 44. There are few families with dependent children. A significant number of White residents were born in EU countries (although UK-born residents are more common than in the rest of the Group), and households reflect a diversity of ethnic groups. Residential turnover is exceptionally high and, communal properties aside, flats are the norm. Some properties, including those in the private rental sector, are over-crowded. Many residents are professionals and technicians educated to degree level, and the Group is particularly common near the campuses of established university towns and cities.

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, Xie 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

Xie 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

Xie falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Xie

The surname Xie originates from China and can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is believed to have derived from the word "xie" which means "scorpion" in Mandarin Chinese. The name was likely adopted as a surname during the reign of Emperor Gaozu of Tang, who implemented a system of using family names.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Xie surname can be found in the historical text "Zizhi Tongjian" (Resource for Governance), which documented events from the Han Dynasty to the Five Dynasties period. The text mentions a prominent official named Xie An (320-385 AD) who served during the Jin Dynasty.

During the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the Xie surname was particularly prevalent in the areas around present-day Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces. The city of Xieshi, located in Zhejiang, is believed to have been named after the Xie family who once held significant influence in the region.

In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), a scholar and poet named Xie Zhaozhi (1567-1624) gained recognition for his contributions to literature and calligraphy. He was also known for his expertise in the study of the classic text "Book of Changes".

Another notable figure with the Xie surname was Xie Jin (1369-1415), a military general who played a crucial role in the founding of the Ming Dynasty. He is renowned for his strategic military campaigns against the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty.

During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 AD), the Xie family produced several prominent scholars and officials. One such example is Xie Qikun (1737-1799), a renowned poet and essayist who served as a high-ranking official in the imperial court.

In more recent history, the Xie surname has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields. For instance, Xie Xide (1921-2000) was a renowned nuclear physicist who played a pivotal role in China's nuclear weapons program.

Overall, the Xie surname has a rich historical lineage dating back to ancient China and has been associated with numerous influential figures throughout the country's dynastic periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Xie surname: questions and answers

How common is the Xie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 371 in 2016. That gives Xie a modern rank of #12,561.

What does the Xie surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "thank, gratitude, or to decline politely," derived from the ancient state of Xie.

What does the Xie map show?

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