NameCensus.

UK surname

Ye

A Chinese surname meaning "leaf" or "page," or a Korean surname meaning "art" or "craft."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cambridge, Hastings and Liverpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ye is 314 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

314

2016, ranked #14,291

Peak year

2016

314 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 314 in 2016, ranked #14,291.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Ye surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ye surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ye 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 24 #35,376
1998 modern 36 #34,246
1999 modern 45 #33,511
2000 modern 44 #33,602
2001 modern 48 #33,129
2002 modern 59 #32,468
2003 modern 69 #31,587
2004 modern 77 #31,024
2005 modern 105 #27,203
2006 modern 117 #25,695
2007 modern 133 #24,059
2008 modern 152 #22,225
2009 modern 174 #20,782
2010 modern 200 #19,457
2011 modern 205 #18,965
2012 modern 259 #16,126
2013 modern 291 #15,067
2014 modern 296 #14,982
2015 modern 309 #14,430
2016 modern 314 #14,291

Geography

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Where Yes 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 Cambridge, Hastings, Liverpool and St. Helens. 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 Cambridge 005 Cambridge
2 Hastings 008 Hastings
3 Liverpool 044 Liverpool
4 St. Helens 014 St. Helens
5 St. Helens 017 St. Helens

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ye

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

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ye, 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 Ye surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Student Living and Professional Footholds, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Ye 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, Ye 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

Ye 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

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

Meaning and origin of Ye

The surname Ye originated in China and is believed to have derived from the Chinese word "ye" meaning "leaf." It is a relatively common surname, particularly in the southern regions of China, such as Guangdong and Fujian provinces.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Ye can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), where it was mentioned in various historical records and genealogical texts. During this period, the name was often associated with scholars and government officials.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Ye was Ye Fashan (594-668 AD), a renowned Buddhist monk and calligrapher who lived during the Tang Dynasty. Another notable figure was Ye Mengde (1077-1148 AD), a prominent Confucian scholar and philosopher from the Song Dynasty.

In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the surname Ye was particularly prominent in the region of Guangdong. The Ming Dynasty scholar and writer Ye Xianggao (1562-1627 AD) was a notable figure from this period, known for his works on literature and poetry.

During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 AD), the Ye surname continued to be well-represented among scholars and officials. One prominent individual was Ye Zhaoqi (1646-1718 AD), a scholar-official who served as a governor and made significant contributions to the compilation of local gazetteers.

In more recent history, the Ye surname has produced several notable figures in various fields. Ye Shengtao (1894-1988 AD) was a renowned educator and linguist who played a crucial role in the development of the Chinese language and writing system. Ye Qianyu (1904-1995 AD) was a respected artist and calligrapher, known for his innovative techniques and contributions to modern Chinese art.

While the surname Ye has its roots in China, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. Individuals with this surname can be found in various countries, including Taiwan, Singapore, and diaspora communities in North America and Europe.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ye families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ye 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. Durham leads with 1 Yes recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.84x.

County Total Index
Durham 1 34.84x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Darlington in Durham leads with 1 Yes recorded in 1881 and an index of 909.09x.

Place Total Index
Darlington 1 909.09x

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Ye 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 Ye households.

Occupation Count
Laborer (General) 1

FAQ

Ye surname: questions and answers

How common is the Ye surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 314 in 2016. That gives Ye a modern rank of #14,291.

What does the Ye surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "leaf" or "page," or a Korean surname meaning "art" or "craft."

What does the Ye map show?

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