NameCensus.

UK surname

You

A Chinese surname meaning "excellent" or "superior," or referring to a person from the ancient state of You.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sheffield, Richmond upon Thames and Redcar and Cleveland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for You is 122 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

122

2016, ranked #27,255

Peak year

2016

122 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 122 in 2016, ranked #27,255.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

You surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

You surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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You 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 2 #33,133
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1997 modern 24 #35,376
1998 modern 29 #34,948
1999 modern 25 #35,413
2000 modern 25 #35,382
2001 modern 22 #35,531
2002 modern 30 #34,950
2003 modern 39 #34,296
2004 modern 46 #33,883
2005 modern 51 #33,701
2006 modern 56 #33,587
2007 modern 63 #33,243
2008 modern 67 #33,135
2009 modern 74 #32,835
2010 modern 96 #30,854
2011 modern 107 #28,979
2012 modern 115 #27,717
2013 modern 116 #27,992
2014 modern 111 #29,113
2015 modern 120 #27,561
2016 modern 122 #27,255

Geography

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Where Yous 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 Sheffield, Richmond upon Thames, Redcar and Cleveland, Canterbury 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sheffield 026 Sheffield
2 Richmond upon Thames 015 Richmond upon Thames
3 Redcar and Cleveland 006 Redcar and Cleveland
4 Canterbury 012 Canterbury
5 Barnet 006 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with You

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

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, You is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

You 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

You falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of You

The surname "You" is believed to have originated in China, tracing its roots back to the 8th century AD. In the Chinese language, the word "you" translates to "friend" or "companion," suggesting that the name may have initially been a descriptive moniker for someone who was known for their amicable and sociable nature.

During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), the name "You" appears in several historical records, such as the "Biographical Records of Eminent Monks" and the "Old Book of Tang." These documents mention individuals with the surname "You," indicating that the name had already gained recognition and prevalence within certain regions of China.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name "You" can be found in the "Book of Sui," a historical text compiled during the Sui Dynasty (581-618 AD). This reference dates back to the 6th century and suggests that the name had established itself as a surname by that time.

In the 11th century, a prominent figure named You Shi (1053-1102) gained recognition as a celebrated poet and calligrapher during the Song Dynasty. His literary works and artistic contributions helped to further establish the name "You" within the cultural landscape of ancient China.

Another notable individual bearing the surname "You" was You Tong (1618-1704), a Qing Dynasty scholar and official who served as a tutor to the Kangxi Emperor. His expertise in classical Chinese literature and philosophy earned him significant respect and influence within the imperial court.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the name "You" also found its way into local place names, such as Youxian County in Hunan Province and Youyi County in Sichuan Province. These geographic designations further solidified the surname's presence and distribution across various regions of China.

It is worth noting that the surname "You" has also been documented in other parts of Asia, such as Japan and Korea, where it may have been adopted or adapted from the Chinese language and culture. However, the exact origins and migration patterns of the name in these regions are less well-documented and may have evolved independently over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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You families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the You 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. Royal Navy leads with 1 Yous recorded in 1881 and an index of 909.09x.

County Total Index
Royal Navy 1 909.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Royal Navy in Royal Navy leads with 1 Yous recorded in 1881 and an index of 1000.00x.

Place Total Index
Royal Navy 1 1000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Susan 1

FAQ

You surname: questions and answers

How common is the You surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 122 in 2016. That gives You a modern rank of #27,255.

What does the You surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "excellent" or "superior," or referring to a person from the ancient state of You.

What does the You map show?

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