NameCensus.

UK surname

Ackers

An English occupational surname referring to someone who lived near or worked in oak trees or an oak forest.

In the 1881 census there were 535 people recorded with the Ackers surname, ranking it #6,427 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 785, ranked #7,030, down from #6,427 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wigan, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Lancashire, Wigan and Hyndburn.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ackers is 850 in 1997. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.7%.

1881 census count

535

Ranked #6,427

Modern count

785

2016, ranked #7,030

Peak year

1997

850 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ackers had 535 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,427 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 785 in 2016, ranked #7,030.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 783 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Ackers surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ackers surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ackers 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 291 #7,827
1861 historical 338 #7,541
1881 historical 535 #6,427
1891 historical 567 #6,705
1901 historical 668 #6,512
1911 historical 783 #5,559
1997 modern 850 #6,239
1998 modern 825 #6,596
1999 modern 832 #6,594
2000 modern 839 #6,522
2001 modern 810 #6,585
2002 modern 834 #6,555
2003 modern 820 #6,521
2004 modern 811 #6,598
2005 modern 825 #6,448
2006 modern 827 #6,448
2007 modern 823 #6,540
2008 modern 811 #6,668
2009 modern 836 #6,655
2010 modern 843 #6,739
2011 modern 827 #6,757
2012 modern 774 #7,050
2013 modern 792 #7,020
2014 modern 786 #7,107
2015 modern 793 #6,987
2016 modern 785 #7,030

Geography

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Where Ackers' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wigan, Manchester, Liverpool, Leigh and Ormskirk. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Lancashire, Wigan and Hyndburn. 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 Wigan Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Leigh Lancashire
5 Ormskirk Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Lancashire 003 West Lancashire
2 Wigan 032 Wigan
3 Hyndburn 003 Hyndburn
4 Wigan 016 Wigan
5 Wigan 027 Wigan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ackers

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ackers

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Ackers surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Ackers household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Ackers is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ackers is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ackers falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ackers is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Ackers, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ackers

The surname Ackers has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "æceras," which means fields or cultivated land. This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived near or worked on farmland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Achere." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, recorded landowners and their holdings across England.

During the 13th century, the name was commonly spelled "Acker" or "Akyr." It was often associated with place names, such as Ackers Green in Birmingham, which was first mentioned in records from 1346.

In the 14th century, the spelling "Ackers" became more prevalent. One notable bearer of this surname was John Ackers, a merchant and alderman from the city of Bristol, who lived from around 1380 to 1448.

The 16th century saw the rise of Thomas Ackers, a prominent English politician and landowner. Born in 1515, he served as a Member of Parliament and played a significant role in the dissolution of the monasteries under King Henry VIII.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Richard Ackers stood out as a staunch Royalist supporter. He fought alongside King Charles I's forces and was later granted lands in recognition of his loyalty.

In the 18th century, the Ackers family established themselves as influential industrialists in the Black Country region of England. One of their most notable members was Benjamin Ackers, born in 1747, who founded the successful Ackers Gasworks in Birmingham.

The 19th century brought forth James Ackers, a renowned architect and civil engineer. Born in 1820, he was responsible for designing several notable buildings, including the Worcester Royal Infirmary and the Shire Hall in Stafford.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ackers families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ackers 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. Lancashire leads with 410 Ackers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.66x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 410 6.66x
Middlesex 21 0.40x
Cheshire 17 1.48x
Essex 13 1.27x
Gloucestershire 8 0.79x
Surrey 8 0.32x
Caernarfonshire 7 3.34x
Cumberland 7 1.57x
Denbighshire 6 3.06x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.57x
Shropshire 4 0.89x
Staffordshire 4 0.23x
Northamptonshire 3 0.61x
Warwickshire 3 0.23x
Bedfordshire 2 0.74x
Kent 2 0.11x
Monmouthshire 2 0.53x
Sussex 2 0.23x
Yorkshire 2 0.04x
Berkshire 1 0.26x
Hampshire 1 0.09x
Herefordshire 1 0.47x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.97x
Leicestershire 1 0.17x
Renfrewshire 1 0.25x
Suffolk 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 40 Ackers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.70x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 40 10.70x
Wigan 24 27.89x
Manchester 23 8.31x
Great Bolton 20 24.52x
Abram 18 380.55x
Westleigh 18 128.76x
Hindley 17 64.74x
Scarisbrick 16 223.78x
Ince In Makerfield 12 41.88x
Pennington In Leigh 12 101.61x
Livesey 11 101.76x
Newton 11 23.18x
Kirkdale 10 9.65x
West Derby 10 5.55x
Altcar 9 918.37x
Ashton In Makerfield 8 45.64x
Westhoughton 8 48.69x
Great Dunmow 7 131.09x
Higher Bebington 7 95.50x
North Meols 7 11.61x
Prinknash 7 17500.00x
Rickergate 7 74.07x
Runcorn 7 26.51x
Ynyscynhaiarn 7 71.65x
Bootle Cum Linacre 6 12.27x
Bury 6 8.53x
Didsbury 6 73.35x
Everton 6 3.06x
Pemberton 6 24.44x
Prescot 6 53.86x
Toxteth Park 6 2.88x
Wavertree 6 30.44x
Battersea 5 2.62x
Billinge Higher End 5 200.80x
Eccleston In Prescot 5 16.18x
Great Crosby 5 29.78x
Little Bolton 5 6.31x
Penketh 5 225.23x
Rainhill 5 126.58x
St Botolph Aldgate London 5 46.77x
Sutton 5 24.21x
Upholland 5 63.37x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 2.97x
Halsall 4 164.61x
Llangollen Bache 4 179.37x
Ratcliffe On Soar 4 1538.46x
Warrington 4 5.48x
Beswick 3 19.05x
Edmonton 3 7.18x
Islington London 3 0.60x
Leamington Priors 3 9.32x
Orrell 3 39.16x
Preston 3 1.82x
Stoke Upon Trent 3 1.62x
Walton Le Dale 3 18.13x
Bedford 2 15.53x
Bow London 2 3.03x
Denton 2 14.65x
Downholland 2 235.29x
Floore 2 109.29x
Kelvedon 2 73.26x
Kensington London 2 0.69x
Lathom 2 26.88x
Llanbedr 2 136.99x
Luton 2 4.30x
Parr 2 9.08x
Radcliffe 2 6.74x
Ruyton Of Eleven Towns 2 101.01x
Sheffield 2 1.22x
Trevethin 2 5.64x
Whiston 2 41.67x
Barking 1 3.34x
Bredenbury 1 666.67x
Gillingham 1 2.74x
Halliwell 1 4.46x
Leicester St Margaret 1 0.71x
Longworth 1 94.34x
Paddington London 1 0.52x
Salford 1 0.55x
Wolstanton 1 1.88x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 43
Elizabeth 38
Ellen 20
Ann 18
Margaret 17
Alice 15
Sarah 13
Jane 11
Annie 8
Martha 7
Edith 5
Emma 4
Cath. 3
Charlotte 3
Emily 3
Hannah 3
Harriet 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Betty 2
Catherine 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Isabella 2
Rachael 2
Rachel 2
Susan 2
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Bridget 1
Clara 1
Clementine 1
Elizth 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Esther 1
Florance 1
Hariet 1
Jemima 1
Julia 1
Lettice 1
Louise 1
Lydia 1
Magt. 1
Matilda 1
Nancy 1
Treeney 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 41
John 39
James 30
Thomas 27
Joseph 20
Robert 13
Henry 12
Edward 9
George 9
Peter 7
Richard 6
Wm. 5
Charles 4
Hugh 4
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Frederick 3
Samuel 3
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Walter 2
Abraham 1
Albert 1
Benjamin 1
David 1
Demetries 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Hamblett 1
Humphrey 1
Isaac 1
Jacks 1
Jonathon 1
Richd. 1
Roger 1
Sam. 1
Thos. 1
Wm.Bowker 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Ackers surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ackers surname in 1881?

In 1881, 535 people were recorded with the Ackers surname. That placed it at #6,427 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ackers surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 785 in 2016. That gives Ackers a modern rank of #7,030.

What does the Ackers surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to someone who lived near or worked in oak trees or an oak forest.

What does the Ackers map show?

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