UK surname
Derived from a topographic name referring to someone who lived by a field or cultivated land.
In the 1881 census there were 100 people recorded with the Acker surname, ranking it #19,750 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 88, ranked #32,396, down from #19,750 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wimbish with Thunderley, St Leonard Shoreditch and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Acker is 100 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 12.0%.
1881 census count
100
Ranked #19,750
Modern count
88
2016, ranked #32,396
Peak year
1881
100 bearers
Map years
1
1881 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Acker surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Acker surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 44 | #25,328 |
| 1861 | historical | 94 | #21,883 |
| 1881 | historical | 100 | #19,750 |
| 1891 | historical | 67 | #28,424 |
| 1901 | historical | 69 | #26,499 |
| 1911 | historical | 80 | #24,821 |
| 1997 | modern | 69 | #30,712 |
| 1998 | modern | 82 | #29,754 |
| 1999 | modern | 90 | #29,056 |
| 2000 | modern | 78 | #30,361 |
| 2001 | modern | 76 | #30,366 |
| 2002 | modern | 80 | #30,387 |
| 2003 | modern | 71 | #31,393 |
| 2004 | modern | 79 | #30,799 |
| 2005 | modern | 78 | #31,058 |
| 2006 | modern | 77 | #31,510 |
| 2007 | modern | 78 | #31,748 |
| 2008 | modern | 81 | #31,713 |
| 2009 | modern | 89 | #31,235 |
| 2010 | modern | 91 | #31,497 |
| 2011 | modern | 86 | #32,006 |
| 2012 | modern | 90 | #31,790 |
| 2013 | modern | 85 | #32,658 |
| 2014 | modern | 83 | #32,910 |
| 2015 | modern | 85 | #32,693 |
| 2016 | modern | 88 | #32,396 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wimbish with Thunderley, St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, St Dunstan Stepney and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wimbish with Thunderley | Essex |
| 2 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Acker surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Acker, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Acker surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Acker household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Acker is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Acker is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Acker, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Acker is of German origin, derived from the Old High German word "ackar" or "acker," meaning "cultivated field" or "plowed land." It is an occupational surname that initially referred to someone who worked as a farmer or plowman.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Acker can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of Germany, including Bavaria and Saxony. It is believed that the name first emerged as a descriptive term for individuals whose primary occupation was tilling the soil and working on agricultural lands.
In medieval times, the Acker surname appeared in various historical records and documents, such as tax rolls, land deeds, and municipal records. One notable example is the mention of a Johannes Acker in a 14th-century land registry from the town of Nuremberg.
As the name Acker spread across different regions of Germany, it underwent various spelling variations, including Acker, Acker, Ackerr, and Ackermann. These variations often reflected regional dialects and local pronunciation differences.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Acker. One of the earliest recorded was Johann Acker (c. 1480-1548), a German Protestant reformer and theologian who played a significant role in the Reformation movement in Saxony.
Another prominent figure was Franz Acker (1863-1942), a German Catholic priest and philosopher who wrote extensively on topics such as ethics, epistemology, and metaphysics. His works, including "Das System der Philosophischen Weltanschauung" (The System of Philosophical Worldview), were widely influential in academic circles.
In the realm of literature, Kathy Acker (1947-1997) was an American avant-garde novelist, essayist, and feminist writer known for her innovative and boundary-pushing works, such as "Blood and Guts in High School" and "Empire of the Senseless."
The Acker surname also has a notable presence in the world of sports. One example is Curt Acker (1892-1966), an American professional baseball player who played as a pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and the St. Louis Browns in the early 20th century.
Another individual of note is Evan Acker (born 1981), a Canadian professional ice hockey player who has played for several teams in the National Hockey League (NHL), including the St. Louis Blues and the Calgary Flames.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Acker surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 43 Ackers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.71x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 43 | 3.71x |
| Middlesex | 26 | 2.67x |
| Essex | 18 | 9.35x |
| Surrey | 8 | 1.68x |
| Cambridgeshire | 5 | 8.09x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Adlington in Lancashire leads with 21 Ackers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1944.44x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Adlington | 21 | 1944.44x |
| Radwinter | 13 | 4642.86x |
| Upholland | 8 | 540.54x |
| Bermondsey | 7 | 24.10x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 7 | 33.72x |
| Islington London | 6 | 6.35x |
| St George In East London | 6 | 65.43x |
| Hammersmith London | 5 | 20.81x |
| Little Shelford | 5 | 2941.18x |
| Wimbish | 5 | 1785.71x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 4 | 15.81x |
| Barrow In Furness | 4 | 25.41x |
| Blackburn | 2 | 6.49x |
| Chorley | 2 | 30.77x |
| Ratcliffe London | 2 | 37.11x |
| Dalton In Furness | 1 | 22.37x |
| Ince In Makerfield | 1 | 18.55x |
| Mitcham | 1 | 33.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Acker surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Acker surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Acker households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 26 |
| Ag Lab | 4 |
| Ag Labourer | 4 |
| Blacksmith | 4 |
| Bricklayers Laborer | 3 |
| Cotton Weaver | 3 |
| Blacksmiths Wife | 2 |
| Ag Laborer | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Cotn Bleacher | 1 |
| Cotton Bleacher | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Excavator | 1 |
| Farmer Of 62 Acres Empl 1 Lab & 1 Boy | 1 |
| Farmers Wife | 1 |
| Furrier | 1 |
| General Servant(Dom) | 1 |
| Housemaid Ser | 1 |
| Juvenile Clothier | 1 |
| Lab | 1 |
| Lab (Parish) Scavenger | 1 |
| Machinist Iron (E&M) | 1 |
| Milliners Machinist | 1 |
| Stocktaker Foundry | 1 |
| Waiter | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
| Wood Turner At Splint Factory | 1 |
| Works At Brush Factory | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 100 people were recorded with the Acker surname. That placed it at #19,750 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 88 in 2016. That gives Acker a modern rank of #32,396.
Derived from a topographic name referring to someone who lived by a field or cultivated land.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Acker bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.