NameCensus.

UK surname

Ankers

Originally referring to an anchorite, a religious recluse or hermit.

In the 1881 census there were 748 people recorded with the Ankers surname, ranking it #4,914 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,379, ranked #4,378, up from #4,914 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolstanton, Toxteth Park and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire West and Chester and Shropshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ankers is 1,423 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 84.4%.

1881 census count

748

Ranked #4,914

Modern count

1,379

2016, ranked #4,378

Peak year

1999

1,423 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ankers had 748 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,914 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,379 in 2016, ranked #4,378.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,086 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Ankers surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ankers surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ankers 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 476 #5,228
1861 historical 428 #6,002
1881 historical 748 #4,914
1891 historical 857 #4,780
1901 historical 1,020 #4,679
1911 historical 1,086 #4,271
1997 modern 1,284 #4,440
1998 modern 1,409 #4,251
1999 modern 1,423 #4,242
2000 modern 1,377 #4,353
2001 modern 1,357 #4,313
2002 modern 1,386 #4,328
2003 modern 1,353 #4,343
2004 modern 1,308 #4,458
2005 modern 1,287 #4,471
2006 modern 1,316 #4,403
2007 modern 1,320 #4,429
2008 modern 1,322 #4,446
2009 modern 1,374 #4,392
2010 modern 1,421 #4,356
2011 modern 1,398 #4,363
2012 modern 1,388 #4,331
2013 modern 1,397 #4,381
2014 modern 1,393 #4,414
2015 modern 1,372 #4,420
2016 modern 1,379 #4,378

Geography

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Where Ankers' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolstanton, Toxteth Park, Manchester, Prescot and St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire West and Chester and Shropshire. 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 Wolstanton Staffordshire
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Prescot Lancashire
5 St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire West and Chester 030 Cheshire West and Chester
2 Cheshire West and Chester 046 Cheshire West and Chester
3 Shropshire 001 Shropshire
4 Shropshire 002 Shropshire
5 Cheshire West and Chester 047 Cheshire West and Chester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ankers

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ankers

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Ankers surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Ankers 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 predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Ankers 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

Ankers is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ankers 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 Ankers 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
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Ankers

The surname Ankers originated in England, with records indicating its presence as early as the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "ancor," meaning "anchorite" or "hermit," suggesting a possible connection to individuals who lived as religious recluses.

The name was initially concentrated in the northern counties of England, particularly in Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Cheshire. Early records show variations in spelling, including Anker, Ankers, Anekers, and Aneker, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal practices of the time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332, where a John Anekers is mentioned as a taxpayer. The Ankers family is also referenced in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1424, indicating their presence in the county.

In the 16th century, the Ankers name can be found in the parish records of Rochdale, Lancashire, with the baptism of John Ankers in 1569. Another notable individual was Robert Ankers, born in 1622 in Eccleston, Lancashire, who served as a member of the local militia during the English Civil War.

The name Ankers has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. In the 17th century, Thomas Ankers (1633-1712) was a prominent English clergyman and author, serving as the Dean of Battle in Sussex. His work, "The Inexplicable Doctrine of the Trinity," published in 1693, was a significant theological treatise of the time.

Moving into the 18th century, Samuel Ankers (1714-1799) was a respected English architect and surveyor, known for his work on various buildings in London, including the redesign of the Old Bailey courtrooms.

In the 19th century, Hubert Ankers Underwood (1833-1920) gained recognition as a British artist and illustrator, renowned for his depictions of rural life and landscapes. His works were widely exhibited at the Royal Academy and other prestigious galleries.

Continuing into the 20th century, Ralph Ankers (1901-1987) was a notable English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire and represented England in four Test matches against South Africa in the 1924-25 season.

While the surname Ankers has its roots in England, it has also been carried by individuals around the world, reflecting the migration patterns and dispersal of families over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ankers families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ankers 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. Cheshire leads with 265 Ankers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.47x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 265 16.47x
Lancashire 179 2.07x
Staffordshire 59 2.40x
Shropshire 38 6.04x
Flintshire 36 18.38x
Worcestershire 32 3.36x
Yorkshire 31 0.43x
Surrey 18 0.51x
Durham 16 0.74x
Denbighshire 13 4.72x
Northumberland 13 1.20x
Derbyshire 12 1.05x
Warwickshire 10 0.54x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.71x
Middlesex 5 0.07x
Anglesey 4 3.10x
Kent 4 0.16x
Leicestershire 4 0.50x
Herefordshire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nantwich in Cheshire leads with 37 Ankers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 197.97x.

Place Total Index
Nantwich 37 197.97x
Monks Coppenhall 35 57.66x
Kirkdale 29 19.94x
Salford 22 8.65x
Widnes 22 35.28x
Toxteth Park 21 7.17x
Hampton Bickley 18 962.57x
Clotton Hoofield 13 1529.41x
Audley 12 49.30x
Cleeve Prior 12 1690.14x
Whitchurch 12 98.20x
York St Giles In 12 176.21x
Bollington In 11 76.82x
Hope 11 112.82x
Over 11 67.28x
Hulme 10 5.54x
Keele 10 383.14x
York St Maurice 10 73.53x
Cholmondeley 9 1267.61x
Newcastle On Tyne St 9 16.01x
Pendleton In Salford 9 8.74x
Stafford St Mary 9 25.85x
Stanton By Dale 9 580.65x
Tanfield 9 34.91x
Willaston In Nantwich 9 181.45x
Claines 8 30.63x
Gorton 8 9.84x
Manchester 8 2.06x
York St Mary 8 26.75x
Chester St John Baptist 7 24.21x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 5.10x
Chrtltn Cdngtn Nwtn 7 546.88x
Drayton In Hales 7 53.93x
Ince In Makerfield 7 17.40x
Moulton Eaton In 7 522.39x
Shrewsbury St Mary 7 28.18x
Tattenhall 7 255.47x
Worthenbury 7 630.63x
Agdn In Whtchrch Brdly 6 937.50x
Dudley 6 5.19x
Everton 6 2.18x
Foulk Stapleford 6 937.50x
Higher Kinnerton 6 594.06x
Liverpool 6 1.14x
Oldbury 6 12.82x
Woking 6 28.04x
Wolstanton Knutton 6 39.95x
Church Coppenhall 5 69.54x
Great Boughton 5 90.25x
Lambeth 5 0.79x
Newton In Makerfield 5 18.88x
Sherburn 5 75.76x
Weston In Nantwich 5 387.60x
Withington 5 17.95x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 5 34.92x
Wolstanton Oldcott 5 56.12x
Birkenhead 4 3.12x
Guildford St Mary 4 91.53x
Hollingworth 4 60.33x
Holyhead 4 16.61x
Leighton 4 540.54x
Loughborough 4 10.91x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 4 6.18x
Stoke Upon Trent 4 1.53x
Wolstanton Chesterton 4 31.82x
Broughton 3 27.73x
Burslem 3 4.26x
Christleton Littleton 3 129.31x
Cotgrave 3 146.34x
Kinderton Cum Hulme 3 222.22x
Lewisham 3 2.26x
Marburywith Quoisley 3 178.57x
Mold 3 16.88x
Mold Leeswood 3 67.72x
Polesworth 3 34.36x
Runcorn 3 8.09x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 2.05x
Wellington 3 8.48x
Wolverhampton 3 1.59x
Wrexham Regis 3 14.68x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 59
Elizabeth 38
Sarah 37
Ann 16
Annie 13
Eliza 13
Martha 12
Ellen 11
Harriet 11
Margaret 11
Emma 10
Jane 10
Hannah 9
Alice 7
Emily 7
Ada 6
Clara 6
Amelia 4
Eleanor 4
Maria 4
Susan 4
Amy 3
Beatrice 3
Catharine 3
Catherine 3
Edith 3
Esther 3
Fanny 3
Kate 3
Lizzie 3
Lucy 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Caroline 2
Elizth. 2
Frances 2
Isabella 2
Jessie 2
Laura 2
Louisa 2
Betsey 1
C.R. 1
Deborah 1
Elenor 1
Elizer 1
Kezia 1
L.M. 1
Lessay 1
Lillian 1
Syth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 52
William 42
Thomas 40
George 28
James 25
Joseph 25
Richard 15
Arthur 13
Charles 10
Samuel 10
Edward 8
Frederick 8
Robert 8
Henry 7
Alfred 6
David 6
Harry 5
Albert 4
Edwin 4
Ernest 3
Wm. 3
Benjamin 2
Eli 2
F.J. 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Walter 2
Amos 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Emmerson 1
Evan 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Hedley 1
Hy. 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Jos. 1
Levi 1
Marshall 1
Moses 1
Peter 1
Robenson 1
Rolla 1
Simon 1

FAQ

Ankers surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ankers surname in 1881?

In 1881, 748 people were recorded with the Ankers surname. That placed it at #4,914 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ankers surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,379 in 2016. That gives Ankers a modern rank of #4,378.

What does the Ankers surname mean?

Originally referring to an anchorite, a religious recluse or hermit.

What does the Ankers map show?

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