NameCensus.

UK surname

Yong

A Chinese surname meaning "brave" or "courageous," or referring to the region of Yong in ancient China.

In the 1881 census there were 20 people recorded with the Yong surname, ranking it #30,738 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 606, ranked #8,646, up from #30,738 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Melrose, Earlston and Rochdale. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include City Centre East, Bristol and Camden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Yong is 606 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2930.0%.

1881 census count

20

Ranked #30,738

Modern count

606

2016, ranked #8,646

Peak year

2016

606 bearers

Map years

5

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Yong had 20 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,738 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 606 in 2016, ranked #8,646.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 111 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Yong surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Yong surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Yong 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 105 #16,618
1861 historical 111 #19,429
1881 historical 20 #30,738
1891 historical 89 #25,542
1901 historical 62 #27,252
1911 historical 42 #28,691
1997 modern 277 #14,253
1998 modern 283 #14,442
1999 modern 302 #13,895
2000 modern 312 #13,561
2001 modern 313 #13,361
2002 modern 326 #13,241
2003 modern 345 #12,549
2004 modern 354 #12,358
2005 modern 369 #11,901
2006 modern 403 #11,187
2007 modern 441 #10,513
2008 modern 458 #10,276
2009 modern 496 #9,929
2010 modern 540 #9,491
2011 modern 539 #9,428
2012 modern 550 #9,167
2013 modern 573 #9,034
2014 modern 578 #9,034
2015 modern 594 #8,798
2016 modern 606 #8,646

Geography

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Where Yongs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Melrose, Earlston, Rochdale, Wood Norton and Beverley St Martin and St Nicholas. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to City Centre East, Bristol, Camden and Barnet. 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 Melrose Roxburgh
2 Earlston Berwick
3 Rochdale Lancashire
4 Wood Norton Norfolk
5 Beverley St Martin and St Nicholas Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 City Centre East Glasgow City
2 Bristol 032 Bristol, City of
3 Camden 028 Camden
4 Camden 025 Camden
5 Barnet 030 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Yong

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Yong

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Yong is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, 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

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

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

Yong 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

Yong falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Yong

The surname Yong has its origins in China, where it is a relatively common family name. It is derived from the Chinese word 'yong', which can mean 'brave', 'valiant', or 'eternal'. The name likely originated in the southern Chinese provinces during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD).

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Yong surname can be found in the Riguanzhi, a historical text from the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279 AD), which mentions a notable figure named Yong Jia. This suggests that the name was already well-established by that time.

In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), there were several prominent individuals with the Yong surname. Yong Xingzhi (1572-1624) was a renowned scholar and philosopher, while Yong Wenhuan (1575-1608) was a respected poet and calligrapher.

During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), the Yong surname was associated with several influential figures. Yong Zhengxian (1775-1833) was a high-ranking official and scholar, while Yong Xiu (1623-1688) was a celebrated artist and poet.

In more recent history, Yong Pung How (1920-2005) was a prominent Singaporean businessman and philanthropist. He founded the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, one of the leading music schools in Southeast Asia.

Another notable bearer of the Yong surname was Yong Mun Sen (1896-1962), a Malaysian politician and lawyer who played a significant role in the country's independence movement.

Overall, the Yong surname has a rich history in China, with many notable individuals bearing this name throughout the centuries. While its origins can be traced back to ancient times, it continues to be a widespread and respected family name in various parts of the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Yong families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Yong 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. Kent leads with 6 Yongs recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.03x.

County Total Index
Kent 6 9.03x
Middlesex 3 1.54x
Norfolk 2 6.68x
Worcestershire 2 7.86x
Devon 1 2.47x
Gloucestershire 1 2.62x
Lancashire 1 0.43x
Northamptonshire 1 5.46x
Northumberland 1 3.45x
Surrey 1 1.05x
Sussex 1 3.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gravesend in Kent leads with 4 Yongs recorded in 1881 and an index of 714.29x.

Place Total Index
Gravesend 4 714.29x
St Marylebone London 3 28.85x
Great Yarmouth 2 80.65x
Northfield 2 416.67x
Hastings St Andrew 1 833.33x
Hindley 1 101.01x
Lewisham 1 28.17x
Long Ditton 1 625.00x
Newcastle On Tyne 1 3333.33x
Northampton All Sts 1 161.29x
Plymouth Charles The 1 55.87x
Tenterden 1 434.78x
Westbury On Severn East 1 116.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Maria 2
Amelia 1
C. 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Jane 1
Jemima 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 2
William 2
Andrew 1
Charles 1
Joseph 1
Mock 1
Richard 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 Yong households.

FAQ

Yong surname: questions and answers

How common was the Yong surname in 1881?

In 1881, 20 people were recorded with the Yong surname. That placed it at #30,738 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Yong surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 606 in 2016. That gives Yong a modern rank of #8,646.

What does the Yong surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "brave" or "courageous," or referring to the region of Yong in ancient China.

What does the Yong map show?

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