NameCensus.

UK surname

Yip

A Chinese occupational surname referring to a trader or merchant, or perhaps someone prone to making sudden movements.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Yip is 1,619 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

1,586

2016, ranked #3,915

Peak year

2013

1,619 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,586 in 2016, ranked #3,915.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Yip surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Yip surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Yip 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 1,101 #5,060
1998 modern 1,179 #4,955
1999 modern 1,215 #4,875
2000 modern 1,219 #4,831
2001 modern 1,206 #4,782
2002 modern 1,298 #4,578
2003 modern 1,352 #4,346
2004 modern 1,339 #4,385
2005 modern 1,394 #4,203
2006 modern 1,408 #4,176
2007 modern 1,458 #4,099
2008 modern 1,490 #4,057
2009 modern 1,531 #4,041
2010 modern 1,599 #3,951
2011 modern 1,579 #3,957
2012 modern 1,564 #3,927
2013 modern 1,619 #3,874
2014 modern 1,600 #3,940
2015 modern 1,582 #3,935
2016 modern 1,586 #3,915

Geography

Back to top

Where Yips 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, Forfar Central, Liverpool, Stoke-on-Trent 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 Manchester 055 Manchester
2 Forfar Central Angus
3 Liverpool 037 Liverpool
4 Stoke-on-Trent 006 Stoke-on-Trent
5 Camden 025 Camden

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Yip

These lists show first names that appear often with the Yip surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Yip

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Yip 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

Yip 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

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

Meaning and origin of Yip

The surname YIP originated in China, with records dating back to the early 15th century. It is a phonetic rendering of the Chinese surname Ye, which is derived from the word "ye" meaning "leaf" or "foliage." The earliest recorded mention of the Ye surname can be found in the genealogical records of the Ming Dynasty.

The Ye surname was particularly prominent in the southern regions of China, particularly in the provinces of Guangdong and Fujian. As trade and migration patterns evolved, the Ye surname spread to other parts of China and eventually to other parts of the world, with the spelling sometimes being adapted to YIP in English-speaking regions.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the YIP surname was Yip Qing (1528-1599), a renowned scholar and philosopher during the Ming Dynasty. He was known for his contributions to Neo-Confucian thought and his influential writings on ethics and governance.

Another notable figure was Yip Fang (1719-1786), a celebrated painter and calligrapher during the Qing Dynasty. His works were highly sought after and are now preserved in various museums and collections around the world.

In more recent history, Yip Wing-sie (1904-1987) was a prominent Hong Kong businessman and philanthropist. He founded the Yip Kwong-chung Charitable Trust, which has supported numerous educational and charitable initiatives in Hong Kong and beyond.

Yip Kai-foon (1923-2005) was a respected Hong Kong architect who played a significant role in shaping the city's urban landscape. Some of his notable works include the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and the Hong Kong Museum of Art.

Yip Man (1893-1972) was a revered grandmaster of the Wing Chun martial arts style. He is credited with popularizing Wing Chun and training many notable practitioners, including Bruce Lee, who helped introduce Wing Chun to the western world.

Throughout history, the YIP surname has been associated with various place names and locations, particularly in southern China. For example, the village of Yip Tso in Guangdong province was once home to a substantial population of individuals with the YIP surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Yip surname: questions and answers

How common is the Yip surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,586 in 2016. That gives Yip a modern rank of #3,915.

What does the Yip surname mean?

A Chinese occupational surname referring to a trader or merchant, or perhaps someone prone to making sudden movements.

What does the Yip map show?

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