NameCensus.

UK surname

Belk

An English topographic surname derived from the Old English word "bēlg," referring to a bag or purse.

In the 1881 census there were 297 people recorded with the Belk surname, ranking it #9,792 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 420, ranked #11,414, down from #9,792 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hooton Roberts, Toxteth Park and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees, Rotherham and Sheffield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Belk is 464 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.4%.

1881 census count

297

Ranked #9,792

Modern count

420

2016, ranked #11,414

Peak year

1911

464 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Belk had 297 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,792 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 420 in 2016, ranked #11,414.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 464 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Belk surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Belk surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Belk 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 222 #9,597
1861 historical 196 #12,223
1881 historical 297 #9,792
1891 historical 305 #10,976
1901 historical 403 #9,442
1911 historical 464 #8,307
1997 modern 451 #10,049
1998 modern 434 #10,694
1999 modern 429 #10,874
2000 modern 435 #10,720
2001 modern 422 #10,773
2002 modern 425 #10,941
2003 modern 438 #10,507
2004 modern 416 #10,963
2005 modern 411 #10,956
2006 modern 409 #11,032
2007 modern 416 #11,020
2008 modern 422 #10,992
2009 modern 417 #11,346
2010 modern 422 #11,493
2011 modern 417 #11,462
2012 modern 414 #11,431
2013 modern 421 #11,462
2014 modern 424 #11,463
2015 modern 417 #11,532
2016 modern 420 #11,414

Geography

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Where Belks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hooton Roberts, Toxteth Park, Sheffield, Rotherham and Epworth, Belton, Haxey (Owston, Lincolnshire), Owston (West Butterwick and Kelfield; Owston, Lincol. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kirklees, Rotherham, Sheffield and Leeds. 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 Hooton Roberts Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Rotherham Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Epworth, Belton, Haxey (Owston, Lincolnshire), Owston (West Butterwick and Kelfield; Owston, Lincol Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirklees 028 Kirklees
2 Rotherham 028 Rotherham
3 Sheffield 047 Sheffield
4 Leeds 071 Leeds
5 Sheffield 060 Sheffield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Belk

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Belk

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Belk surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Belk household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Belk is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Belk 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

Belk 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 Belk 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
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Belk

The surname Belk is believed to have originated in Germany or the Low Countries, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Middle Low German word "belk," which means "beam" or "plank," suggesting that the name may have been an occupational surname for a carpenter or woodworker.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Hans Belk, a German carpenter who lived in the town of Aachen in the late 16th century. Records from the time show that he was a respected member of the local guild of carpenters and woodworkers.

In the 17th century, the Belk surname began to appear in various records across the German-speaking regions of Europe. For example, a Johann Belk was listed as a resident of the town of Lübeck in 1632, while a family by the name of Belk was recorded as landowners in the village of Diepenau in the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg in the late 1600s.

As the centuries passed, the Belk surname spread to other parts of Europe and beyond. In the 18th century, a man named Jacob Belk was born in the German town of Murrhardt in 1724. He later emigrated to the British colonies in America, settling in Pennsylvania in the 1750s.

Another notable bearer of the Belk surname was the German philosopher and writer Johann August Eberhard Belk, who lived from 1769 to 1853. He was a prominent figure in the field of aesthetics and wrote several influential works on the subject.

During the 19th century, the Belk surname began to appear more frequently in various parts of the United States, particularly in the southern states. One of the most famous individuals with this name was William Henry Belk, a successful businessman who founded the Belk department store chain in the late 19th century. He was born in 1862 in Monroe, North Carolina, and the first Belk store opened in Monroe in 1888.

Throughout its history, the Belk surname has been associated with various occupations and professions, from carpenters and woodworkers to philosophers, writers, and business magnates. While its origins can be traced back to the German-speaking regions of Europe, the name has since spread to many parts of the world, carried by generations of individuals who have contributed to the rich tapestry of human endeavor.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Belk families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Belk 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. Yorkshire leads with 196 Belks recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.85x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 196 6.85x
Lancashire 45 1.31x
Lincolnshire 12 2.60x
Nottinghamshire 10 2.57x
Durham 9 1.05x
Worcestershire 8 2.12x
Shropshire 5 2.00x
Middlesex 3 0.10x
Derbyshire 2 0.44x
Westmorland 2 3.15x
Cheshire 1 0.16x
Kent 1 0.10x
Monmouthshire 1 0.48x
Wiltshire 1 0.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sheffield in Yorkshire leads with 40 Belks recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.91x.

Place Total Index
Sheffield 40 43.91x
Ecclesall Bierlow 37 63.58x
Toxteth Park 20 17.24x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 17 63.79x
Nether Hallam 16 41.33x
Dewsbury 13 44.31x
Brightside Bierlow 10 17.82x
Haxey 10 510.20x
Wales 10 442.48x
West Derby 10 9.98x
Whiston 9 652.17x
Armthorpe 8 2051.28x
Kings Norton 8 23.66x
Wardleworth 8 40.86x
Hartlepool 7 57.33x
Hooton Roberts 7 3043.48x
Middlesbrough 6 16.10x
Liverpool 5 2.40x
Madeley 5 54.64x
Tankersley 5 234.74x
Todwick 4 2222.22x
West Retford 4 493.83x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 3 87.98x
Conisbrough 2 74.63x
Gainsborough 2 18.38x
Kendal 2 17.21x
Ruddington 2 76.63x
Salford 2 1.98x
Stranton 2 6.92x
Wombwell 2 23.98x
Alfreton 1 7.28x
Aysgarth 1 270.27x
Beighton 1 48.78x
Canterbury St George 1 84.75x
Harlington 1 65.79x
Islington London 1 0.36x
Kimberworth 1 6.30x
Mattersey 1 294.12x
Misterton 1 83.33x
Nottingham St Mary 1 0.99x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 1 9.78x
Pontefract 1 16.23x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 1 13.64x
Preshute 1 63.69x
Richmond 1 22.37x
Risca 1 25.45x
Rotherham 1 6.20x
Sandal Magna 1 23.64x
St Pancras London 1 0.43x
Worksop 1 8.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Thomas 14
William 14
Charles 13
George 11
Joseph 9
John 6
Arthur 5
Henry 4
Samuel 4
Alfred 3
Edwin 3
Herbert 3
James 3
Luke 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Dennis 2
Ernest 2
Harry 2
Jno. 2
Mark 2
Matthew 2
Oswald 2
Tom 2
Vincent 2
Angelo 1
Biron 1
Charley 1
Chas. 1
Chas.E. 1
Edward 1
Edwd. 1
Elijah 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Isaac 1
Lewis 1
Mathew 1
Morris 1
Peter 1
Reuben 1
Robert 1
Sam 1
Saml. 1
Sephen 1
Wilford 1
Wilfred 1

FAQ

Belk surname: questions and answers

How common was the Belk surname in 1881?

In 1881, 297 people were recorded with the Belk surname. That placed it at #9,792 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Belk surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 420 in 2016. That gives Belk a modern rank of #11,414.

What does the Belk surname mean?

An English topographic surname derived from the Old English word "bēlg," referring to a bag or purse.

What does the Belk map show?

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