NameCensus.

UK surname

Bark

An English surname transferred from an Old English nickname, referring to a harsh-tempered or loud person.

In the 1881 census there were 461 people recorded with the Bark surname, ranking it #7,193 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 785, ranked #7,030, up from #7,193 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Lindsey, Stranraer East and Tweeddale West Area.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bark is 791 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 70.3%.

1881 census count

461

Ranked #7,193

Modern count

785

2016, ranked #7,030

Peak year

2014

791 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bark had 461 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,193 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 742 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Bark surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bark surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bark 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 440 #5,586
1861 historical 742 #3,675
1881 historical 461 #7,193
1891 historical 568 #6,687
1901 historical 585 #7,209
1911 historical 623 #6,640
1997 modern 704 #7,217
1998 modern 746 #7,135
1999 modern 730 #7,290
2000 modern 706 #7,441
2001 modern 688 #7,468
2002 modern 701 #7,501
2003 modern 693 #7,444
2004 modern 700 #7,400
2005 modern 695 #7,392
2006 modern 702 #7,332
2007 modern 689 #7,515
2008 modern 689 #7,576
2009 modern 741 #7,319
2010 modern 748 #7,387
2011 modern 754 #7,282
2012 modern 768 #7,103
2013 modern 781 #7,110
2014 modern 791 #7,068
2015 modern 777 #7,103
2016 modern 785 #7,030

Geography

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Where Barks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Sheffield and Clown. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Lindsey, Stranraer East, Tweeddale West Area and Charnwood. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Clown Nottinghamshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Lindsey 011 East Lindsey
2 East Lindsey 009 East Lindsey
3 Stranraer East Dumfries and Galloway
4 Tweeddale West Area Scottish Borders
5 Charnwood 018 Charnwood

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bark

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bark

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

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Bark surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Bark household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

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, Bark 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

Bark is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bark falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bark 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 Bark, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bark

The surname BARK is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the medieval era. This name is derived from the Old English word "barca," which referred to a type of tan or bark used in the tanning process of leather. The earliest recorded instances of the name BARK can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Barcarius" in Norfolk and Suffolk counties.

During the 13th century, the name BARK began to emerge in various regions of England, particularly in areas with a significant tanning industry. In Yorkshire, records show individuals with the surname BARK residing in the village of Barksland, which likely derived its name from the same root word.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname BARK was John Bark, a prominent tanner who lived in Nottinghamshire in the late 14th century. Another early mention of the name can be found in the Wiltshire Assize Rolls of 1377, where a certain William Bark was recorded as a resident of the village of Chippenham.

In the 16th century, the surname BARK was well-established in various parts of England, including Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Warwickshire. During this period, the name underwent several spelling variations, such as Barke, Barcke, and Barkker.

One of the most renowned individuals with the surname BARK was Sir John Bark (1563-1638), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Staffordshire. He served as the High Sheriff of Staffordshire in 1609 and was knighted by King James I in 1617.

Another notable figure with the surname BARK was Robert Bark (1622-1692), a prominent Puritan minister and author from Nottinghamshire. He wrote several influential works on religious subjects and served as the vicar of Salehurst in Sussex.

In the 18th century, the name BARK continued to be prevalent in various parts of England, with individuals bearing this surname found in counties such as Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Gloucestershire. One example is William Bark (1734-1805), a successful businessman and landowner from Yorkshire, who owned extensive estates in the region.

As the centuries passed, the surname BARK spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, carried by English immigrants and their descendants. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval tanning industry in England and the Old English word "barca."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bark families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bark 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. Lincolnshire leads with 91 Barks recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.77x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 91 12.77x
Derbyshire 63 9.03x
Lancashire 60 1.13x
Nottinghamshire 48 7.99x
Yorkshire 48 1.09x
Wigtownshire 29 48.99x
Middlesex 25 0.56x
Surrey 18 0.83x
Kent 14 0.92x
Warwickshire 10 0.89x
Buckinghamshire 7 2.60x
Leicestershire 7 1.42x
Angus 6 1.45x
Worcestershire 5 0.86x
Gloucestershire 4 0.46x
Wiltshire 4 1.01x
Sussex 3 0.40x
Durham 2 0.15x
Montgomeryshire 2 1.96x
Northamptonshire 2 0.48x
Northumberland 2 0.30x
Renfrewshire 2 0.58x
Hampshire 1 0.11x
Royal Navy 1 1.88x
Somerset 1 0.14x
Staffordshire 1 0.07x
Suffolk 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Everton in Lancashire leads with 20 Barks recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.86x.

Place Total Index
Everton 20 11.86x
Kirkcolm 16 563.38x
Kirkdale 13 14.61x
Beeston 12 173.91x
Elston 12 1714.29x
Clowne 11 397.11x
Alfreton 9 42.45x
Brinkhill 9 3913.04x
Farndon 9 841.12x
Beeley 8 1454.55x
Brightside Bierlow 8 9.23x
Candlesby 8 2105.26x
Godalming 8 58.52x
South Ormsby 8 1777.78x
Clee With Weelsby 7 44.87x
Ecclesall Bierlow 7 7.79x
Little Marlow 7 469.80x
Sheffield 7 4.98x
Woodhall 7 1627.91x
Woolwich 7 12.46x
Aston 6 1.94x
Aswardby 6 6666.67x
Bootle Cum Linacre 6 14.28x
Burgh In Marsh 6 344.83x
Dundee 6 3.89x
Inch 6 103.99x
Litherland 6 54.25x
Mile End Old Town London 6 6.32x
Spittlegate 6 60.85x
Winster 6 468.75x
Bermondsey 5 3.77x
Church Gresley 5 45.05x
Kings Norton 5 9.58x
Pilsley 5 217.39x
Walton On Hill 5 17.45x
Chesterfield 4 15.29x
Hagnaby 4 2666.67x
Ham 4 1333.33x
Hogsthorpe 4 363.64x
Liverpool 4 1.25x
Shoreditch London 4 2.07x
St Clement Danes London 4 43.34x
Stranraer 4 73.94x
Wolvey 4 336.13x
Baumber 3 566.04x
Clifton 3 6.79x
Hemingby 3 491.80x
Hunslet 3 4.36x
Ilkestonderbypart 3 147.06x
Leicester St Margaret 3 2.49x
Leicester St Mary 3 7.51x
Ottringham 3 344.83x
Plumstead 3 5.92x
Poplar London 3 3.57x
Tetford 3 333.33x
Bilsthorpe 2 666.67x
Bromley 2 8.63x
Camberwell 2 0.70x
Derby St Alkmund 2 9.56x
Doncaster 2 6.20x
Hassop 2 1428.57x
Islington London 2 0.46x
Killamarsh 2 46.08x
Kingston On Thames 2 3.83x
Leswalt 2 49.38x
Lewisham 2 2.47x
Newark Upon Trent 2 9.26x
Newington 2 16.45x
Newtown 2 30.63x
Pinxton 2 56.34x
Sculcoates 2 2.86x
Somersby 2 2857.14x
West Greenock 2 3.23x
Willoughby 2 212.77x
York St Mary 2 10.93x
Barrow In Furness 1 1.39x
Hove 1 3.03x
Nether Hallam 1 1.67x
Stockton On Tees 1 1.56x
Wandsworth 1 2.33x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 28
George 27
John 21
Thomas 20
James 9
Charles 8
Henry 8
Samuel 8
Richard 6
Robert 5
Frederick 4
Harry 4
Joseph 4
Abraham 3
Arthur 3
David 3
Edward 3
Frank 3
Alfred 2
Arnold 2
Edgar 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Geo. 2
Sampson 2
Abram 1
Andrew 1
Benjamin 1
Billy 1
Carl 1
Cyril 1
Cyrus 1
Edley 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Geo.G. 1
Gilbert 1
Harold 1
Jonathan 1
Louis 1
Mager 1
Magor 1
Martin 1
Michael 1
Micheal 1
Nathaniel 1
Patrick 1
Richd.B. 1
Stevenson 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Bark surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bark surname in 1881?

In 1881, 461 people were recorded with the Bark surname. That placed it at #7,193 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bark surname today?

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

What does the Bark surname mean?

An English surname transferred from an Old English nickname, referring to a harsh-tempered or loud person.

What does the Bark map show?

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