NameCensus.

UK surname

Yee

A Chinese surname meaning "willow tree" or referring to a place name.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Yee surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 452, ranked #10,768, up from #34,027 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Yee is 458 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 45100.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

452

2016, ranked #10,768

Peak year

2015

458 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Yee had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 452 in 2016, ranked #10,768.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 11 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Yee surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Yee surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Yee 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
1851 historical 11 #31,309
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1901 historical 9 #33,154
1997 modern 273 #14,417
1998 modern 275 #14,715
1999 modern 285 #14,438
2000 modern 283 #14,488
2001 modern 282 #14,294
2002 modern 287 #14,402
2003 modern 299 #13,850
2004 modern 303 #13,812
2005 modern 301 #13,812
2006 modern 313 #13,517
2007 modern 329 #13,168
2008 modern 330 #13,257
2009 modern 362 #12,637
2010 modern 414 #11,673
2011 modern 413 #11,560
2012 modern 412 #11,479
2013 modern 447 #10,885
2014 modern 441 #11,082
2015 modern 458 #10,678
2016 modern 452 #10,768

Geography

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Where Yees 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 Liverpool, Lambeth, Warrington, Cardiff and Manchester. 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 Liverpool 036 Liverpool
2 Lambeth 029 Lambeth
3 Warrington 011 Warrington
4 Cardiff 032 Cardiff
5 Manchester 055 Manchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Yee

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

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Yee is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Yee 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

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

Meaning and origin of Yee

The surname Yee originated in China, specifically in the Guangdong province during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is derived from the Chinese word "Yi" which means "second" or "one of two." The name was likely given to a second son or a younger sibling in a family.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Yee surname can be found in the "Pu Ding Yuan" genealogical records from the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), which mention a Yee family from the Xinhui region of Guangdong. This suggests that the name has been in use for over a millennium.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the Yee surname gained prominence in the coastal regions of Guangdong, particularly in the cities of Taishan and Kaiping. These areas were known for their strong clans and lineage organizations, which helped preserve and document the history of surnames like Yee.

In the early 20th century, many individuals with the Yee surname emigrated from Guangdong to various parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Southeast Asia. This diaspora helped to spread the name globally.

Notable historical figures with the Yee surname include:

1. Yee Pang-tsu (1559-1631), a renowned Chinese scholar and poet during the late Ming Dynasty. 2. Yee Ching (1775-1835), a Chinese martial artist and founder of the Yee Gee Tuan martial arts system. 3. Yee Fung (1857-1928), a prominent Chinese businessman and philanthropist who established the first Chinese-owned bank in California. 4. Yee Shun-hing (1908-1987), a Hong Kong politician and member of the Legislative Council. 5. Yee Chong-ming (1900-1992), a Chinese historian and author who documented the history of overseas Chinese communities.

The Yee surname has also been associated with various place names throughout history. For example, the village of Yee Pok in Guangdong's Taishan County was named after a Yee family that settled there centuries ago.

While the origins of the Yee surname can be traced back to ancient China, it has since become a part of the cultural heritage of many communities around the world, reflecting the global reach and influence of Chinese migration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Yee families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Yee 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. Devon leads with 1 Yees recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.75x.

County Total Index
Devon 1 49.75x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brixham in Devon leads with 1 Yees recorded in 1881 and an index of 5000.00x.

Place Total Index
Brixham 1 5000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alice 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 Yee households.

Occupation Count
Visitor 1

FAQ

Yee surname: questions and answers

How common was the Yee surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Yee surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Yee surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 452 in 2016. That gives Yee a modern rank of #10,768.

What does the Yee surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "willow tree" or referring to a place name.

What does the Yee map show?

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