NameCensus.

UK surname

Ark

A surname indicating an ancestral connection to the biblical Noah's Ark.

In the 1881 census there were 8 people recorded with the Ark surname, ranking it #32,581 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 112, ranked #28,844, up from #32,581 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hounslow, Redbridge and Coventry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ark is 112 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1300.0%.

1881 census count

8

Ranked #32,581

Modern count

112

2016, ranked #28,844

Peak year

2016

112 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ark had 8 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,581 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016, ranked #28,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 9 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Ark surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ark surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ark 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 9 #31,675
1881 historical 8 #32,581
1901 historical 8 #33,289
1997 modern 65 #31,141
1998 modern 63 #31,639
1999 modern 70 #31,135
2000 modern 64 #31,735
2001 modern 67 #31,297
2002 modern 69 #31,527
2003 modern 72 #31,281
2004 modern 74 #31,306
2005 modern 73 #31,616
2006 modern 72 #32,059
2007 modern 77 #31,856
2008 modern 86 #31,114
2009 modern 97 #30,076
2010 modern 109 #28,831
2011 modern 102 #29,759
2012 modern 98 #30,612
2013 modern 107 #29,561
2014 modern 108 #29,658
2015 modern 111 #28,986
2016 modern 112 #28,844

Geography

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Where Arks 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 Hounslow, Redbridge, Coventry, Derby and Slough. 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 Hounslow 013 Hounslow
2 Redbridge 031 Redbridge
3 Coventry 004 Coventry
4 Derby 026 Derby
5 Slough 004 Slough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ark

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

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

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Ark surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Ark household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Ark is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ark is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ark falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ark 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 - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Ark

The surname "ARK" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely derived from the Old English word "earc," meaning "ark" or "chest." This could suggest that the name may have been an occupational surname, referring to someone who made or worked with arks or chests.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "ARK" can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions an individual named "Arke" residing in Oxfordshire.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as "Arke," "Ark," and "Arcke," indicating the flexibility in spelling during that time. One notable figure bearing this name was John Ark, a member of the Parliament of England who represented the borough of Shoreham in 1295.

During the 14th century, the surname "ARK" was found in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Leicestershire, and Lincolnshire. In the Yorkshire Subsidy Rolls of 1379, there is a record of a "Robert Ark" living in the village of Otley.

In the 15th century, a prominent individual named William Ark (born circa 1420) was a wealthy merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol. He was known for his involvement in the wool trade and served as the Mayor of Bristol in 1462.

Another notable figure was Thomas Ark (1492-1551), a clergyman and scholar who served as the Archdeacon of Norfolk and authored several theological works during the English Reformation.

The name "ARK" also has connections to various place names in England, such as Arkholme in Lancashire and Arkengarthdale in Yorkshire. These place names may have influenced the adoption of the surname in those regions.

Throughout history, several other individuals with the surname "ARK" have made contributions in various fields, including John Ark (1620-1699), a British mathematician and astrologer, and Samuel Ark (1710-1787), an English painter known for his portraits and landscapes.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ark families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ark 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 4 Arks recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.06x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 4 38.06x
Kent 2 7.52x
Hampshire 1 6.25x
Middlesex 1 1.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Basford in Nottinghamshire leads with 4 Arks recorded in 1881 and an index of 833.33x.

Place Total Index
Basford 4 833.33x
Deptford St Nicholas 2 952.38x
Farlington 1 3333.33x
Paddington London 1 34.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 2
Fanny 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Arthur 1
George 1
James 1
John 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

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 Ark households.

FAQ

Ark surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ark surname in 1881?

In 1881, 8 people were recorded with the Ark surname. That placed it at #32,581 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ark surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016. That gives Ark a modern rank of #28,844.

What does the Ark surname mean?

A surname indicating an ancestral connection to the biblical Noah's Ark.

What does the Ark map show?

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