NameCensus.

UK surname

Zheng

A Chinese surname meaning "to fix" or "to correct," often referring to an official government position.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Preston, Tower Hamlets and Manchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Zheng is 779 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

779

2016, ranked #7,078

Peak year

2016

779 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 779 in 2016, ranked #7,078.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Zheng surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Zheng surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Zheng 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 27 #35,016
1998 modern 39 #33,967
1999 modern 42 #33,778
2000 modern 73 #30,881
2001 modern 79 #30,065
2002 modern 118 #25,358
2003 modern 170 #20,023
2004 modern 215 #17,384
2005 modern 272 #14,742
2006 modern 284 #14,396
2007 modern 327 #13,229
2008 modern 350 #12,694
2009 modern 374 #12,343
2010 modern 495 #10,127
2011 modern 484 #10,194
2012 modern 641 #8,147
2013 modern 677 #7,949
2014 modern 716 #7,638
2015 modern 738 #7,413
2016 modern 779 #7,078

Geography

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Where Zhengs 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 Preston, Tower Hamlets, Manchester, Oxford and Eastleigh. 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 Preston 015 Preston
2 Tower Hamlets 028 Tower Hamlets
3 Manchester 019 Manchester
4 Oxford 008 Oxford
5 Eastleigh 006 Eastleigh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Zheng

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

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Zheng, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Zheng surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Zheng 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Zheng 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

Zheng 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

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

Meaning and origin of Zheng

The surname Zheng has its origins in China and can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is believed to have derived from the name of a place, possibly a village or town, in the region that is now known as Henan province. The name was initially written using different Chinese characters, but over time, the spelling standardized to the modern form.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Zheng surname can be found in historical documents from the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). During this period, the name appeared in various government records and official registers. It is worth noting that place names and their spellings often evolved over time, so the exact origin of the Zheng surname may have been slightly different from its modern form.

Throughout Chinese history, several notable individuals have borne the Zheng surname. One of the most famous was Zheng He (1371-1433), a renowned Chinese maritime explorer who commanded voyages that reached as far as the east coast of Africa during the Ming Dynasty. Another prominent figure was Zheng Chenggong (1624-1662), also known as Koxinga, a military leader who fought against the Qing Dynasty and established the Kingdom of Tungning on Taiwan.

In the realm of literature, Zheng Xuan (127-200 AD) was a respected scholar and commentator during the Eastern Han Dynasty, known for his annotations on classical Chinese texts. Zheng Banqiao (1693-1765) was a celebrated painter and calligrapher of the Qing Dynasty, renowned for his landscape paintings and bird-and-flower compositions.

More recently, Zheng Guanying (1842-1922) was a prominent entrepreneur and reformist who played a significant role in the modernization of China's textile industry during the late Qing Dynasty and the early years of the Republic of China.

While the Zheng surname has its roots in ancient China, it has since spread to other parts of the world through Chinese diaspora communities. However, this history focuses primarily on the surname's origins and notable figures from China, where it has a long and rich heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Zheng surname: questions and answers

How common is the Zheng surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 779 in 2016. That gives Zheng a modern rank of #7,078.

What does the Zheng surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "to fix" or "to correct," often referring to an official government position.

What does the Zheng map show?

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