NameCensus.

UK surname

Arkle

A habitational surname derived from a place name in Scotland meaning "high hill".

In the 1881 census there were 409 people recorded with the Arkle surname, ranking it #7,842 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 554, ranked #9,230, down from #7,842 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Woodhorn, Gateshead and Morpeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Arkle is 587 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.5%.

1881 census count

409

Ranked #7,842

Modern count

554

2016, ranked #9,230

Peak year

1999

587 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Arkle had 409 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,842 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 554 in 2016, ranked #9,230.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 546 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Arkle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Arkle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Arkle 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 241 #9,037
1861 historical 276 #9,052
1881 historical 409 #7,842
1891 historical 410 #8,694
1901 historical 522 #7,802
1911 historical 546 #7,331
1997 modern 563 #8,516
1998 modern 575 #8,622
1999 modern 587 #8,569
2000 modern 563 #8,781
2001 modern 540 #8,919
2002 modern 547 #9,017
2003 modern 554 #8,788
2004 modern 551 #8,845
2005 modern 558 #8,701
2006 modern 552 #8,786
2007 modern 560 #8,782
2008 modern 563 #8,801
2009 modern 560 #9,042
2010 modern 562 #9,200
2011 modern 554 #9,212
2012 modern 537 #9,348
2013 modern 548 #9,359
2014 modern 557 #9,287
2015 modern 548 #9,338
2016 modern 554 #9,230

Geography

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Where Arkles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Woodhorn, Gateshead, Morpeth, Bedlington and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland. 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 Woodhorn Northumberland
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Morpeth Northumberland
4 Bedlington Northumberland
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 009 Northumberland
2 Northumberland 020 Northumberland
3 Northumberland 017 Northumberland
4 Northumberland 007 Northumberland
5 Northumberland 012 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Arkle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Arkle

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Arkle is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Arkle is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Arkle 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 Arkle is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Arkle

The surname Arkle is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English words 'ærn' meaning 'dwelling' and 'hyll' meaning 'hill'. It is believed to have originated in the region of Northumberland, England, during the 9th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Arkle can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as 'Arnehille'. This suggests that the name was already established in certain areas of England by the time of the Norman Conquest.

In the 12th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as 'Arnehull', 'Arnhill', and 'Arnhyll', reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common during that period. These early spellings were often associated with specific locations, such as Arnhill in Bedfordshire and Arnhill in Nottinghamshire.

Notable individuals with the surname Arkle include John Arkle (1533-1592), an English clergyman and academic who served as the President of Queen's College, Oxford. Another prominent figure was William Arkle (1670-1746), a British merchant and landowner from Northumberland.

In the 19th century, the name gained recognition through the exploits of Richard Arkle (1813-1891), a renowned English huntsman and horse breeder. His reputation as a skilled horseman and fox hunter earned him the nickname 'The Wizard of the North'.

Another significant bearer of the name was Annie Arkle (1854-1932), a pioneering British nurse and midwife who played a crucial role in establishing professional standards for midwifery education and practice in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The name Arkle has also been associated with various place names, such as Arkle Hill in Northumberland, Arkle Beck in Yorkshire, and Arkle Town in Lancashire, further highlighting its deep roots in the English landscape and regional history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Arkle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Arkle 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. Northumberland leads with 240 Arkles recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.43x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 240 40.43x
Durham 76 6.40x
Lancashire 26 0.55x
Cheshire 21 2.38x
Middlesex 17 0.43x
Warwickshire 7 0.70x
Lanarkshire 6 0.47x
Aberdeenshire 5 1.35x
Staffordshire 5 0.37x
Midlothian 3 0.56x
Derbyshire 1 0.16x
Gloucestershire 1 0.13x
Hampshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bedlington in Northumberland leads with 22 Arkles recorded in 1881 and an index of 111.00x.

Place Total Index
Bedlington 22 111.00x
Westoe 16 23.78x
East Denton 15 1111.11x
Gateshead 15 16.88x
Cramlington 13 165.82x
Cowpen 11 80.47x
Holywell 11 360.66x
Benwell 10 154.08x
Longbenton 10 39.78x
Monkwearmouth Shore 10 43.16x
Claughton With Grange 9 224.44x
Lancaster 9 31.95x
West Derby 9 6.50x
Woodside 9 6428.57x
Alnwick 8 78.35x
Bothal Demesne 8 281.69x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 8 15.56x
Whickham 8 73.26x
Elswick 7 14.77x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 7 19.75x
Byker 6 20.45x
Horton 6 204.78x
Netherwitton 6 2068.97x
Newcastle On Tyne St 6 19.50x
Tranwell High Church 6 4285.71x
Wallsend 6 31.86x
Whitley 6 312.50x
Wiston Robertson 6 779.22x
Aberdeen Old Machar 5 6.48x
Amble 5 185.19x
Chester St Oswald 5 31.35x
Haydon 5 153.85x
Highlaws 5 25000.00x
Kinver 5 128.87x
Monkwearmouth 5 44.01x
Morpeth 5 71.63x
Oxton 5 100.40x
Scotforth 5 162.34x
Southwick 5 44.48x
Thorneyburn 5 3125.00x
Bullers Green 4 888.89x
Islington London 4 1.03x
Longframlington 4 701.75x
Tanfield 4 28.35x
Wallington Demesne 4 1600.00x
Warkworth 4 416.67x
Coventry Holy Trinity 3 9.99x
Coventry St Michael 3 9.28x
Coxlodge 3 66.52x
Everton 3 1.99x
Mile End Old Town London 3 3.53x
Pegswood 3 225.56x
Stocksfield Hall 3 2000.00x
Woodhorn Hirst 3 909.09x
Bromley London 2 2.28x
Broomley 2 377.36x
Clerkenwell London 2 2.12x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 0.93x
Elvet 2 23.34x
Hendon 2 13.94x
Jesmond 2 23.95x
Liscard 2 12.60x
Rothbury 2 117.65x
Allesley 1 75.76x
Bishopwearmouth 1 0.98x
Ealing 1 2.80x
Greencroft 1 45.87x
Hackney London 1 0.45x
Inveresk 1 6.91x
Kensington London 1 0.45x
Kimblesworth 1 62.89x
Kirkwhelpington 1 322.58x
Mitford 1 322.58x
Paddington London 1 0.68x
Painswick 1 18.08x
Ryde 1 5.69x
Throckley 1 60.98x
Tynemouth 1 3.15x
West Chevington 1 144.93x
Westgate 1 2.72x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Margaret 18
Elizabeth 15
Jane 14
Annie 11
Isabella 11
Ann 7
Sarah 7
Eleanor 5
Ellen 5
Emma 4
Alice 3
Barbara 3
Dorothy 3
Hannah 3
Margret 3
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Esther 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Grace 2
Serina 2
Anne 1
Bella 1
Bessie 1
Charlot 1
Charlotta 1
Charlotte 1
Dorthy 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Ettie 1
Evelyn 1
Francis 1
Hellen 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Lissie 1
Lucinda 1
Lucretia 1
Lucy 1
Margary 1
Margery 1
Maria 1
Nancy 1
Nola 1
Rose 1
William 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Arkle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Arkle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 409 people were recorded with the Arkle surname. That placed it at #7,842 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Arkle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 554 in 2016. That gives Arkle a modern rank of #9,230.

What does the Arkle surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name in Scotland meaning "high hill".

What does the Arkle map show?

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