NameCensus.

UK surname

Berks

A surname originating from Berkshire or the archaic term for a woodsman.

In the 1881 census there were 214 people recorded with the Berks surname, ranking it #12,284 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 213, ranked #18,785, down from #12,284 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Wolstanton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Staffordshire Moorlands, Cornwall and St. Helens.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Berks is 595 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.5%.

1881 census count

214

Ranked #12,284

Modern count

213

2016, ranked #18,785

Peak year

1861

595 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Berks had 214 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,284 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 213 in 2016, ranked #18,785.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 595 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Berks surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Berks surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Berks 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 121 #15,049
1861 historical 595 #4,454
1881 historical 214 #12,284
1891 historical 408 #8,733
1901 historical 237 #13,574
1911 historical 364 #9,985
1997 modern 175 #19,161
1998 modern 219 #17,115
1999 modern 226 #16,884
2000 modern 219 #17,195
2001 modern 219 #16,967
2002 modern 224 #17,042
2003 modern 213 #17,395
2004 modern 215 #17,384
2005 modern 206 #17,786
2006 modern 210 #17,718
2007 modern 211 #17,856
2008 modern 210 #18,052
2009 modern 214 #18,220
2010 modern 203 #19,264
2011 modern 203 #19,098
2012 modern 224 #17,786
2013 modern 222 #18,198
2014 modern 223 #18,279
2015 modern 216 #18,600
2016 modern 213 #18,785

Geography

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Where Berks' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Wolstanton, London parishes and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Staffordshire Moorlands, Cornwall, St. Helens, Shropshire and Newcastle-under-Lyme. 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 Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors Shropshire
2 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Staffordshire Moorlands 009 Staffordshire Moorlands
2 Cornwall 062 Cornwall
3 St. Helens 017 St. Helens
4 Shropshire 001 Shropshire
5 Newcastle-under-Lyme 001 Newcastle-under-Lyme

Forenames

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First names often paired with Berks

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Berks

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Berks, 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 Berks surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Berks 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Berks is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Berks 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

Berks falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Berks is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Berks

The surname "BERKS" originated in England, with its earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "beorc," meaning "birch tree," suggesting that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a birch grove or worked with birch wood.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Berkshire from 1190, where a person named Robert de Berks is mentioned. This suggests that the name may have originated in the county of Berkshire, which itself derives from the same Old English root.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as "de Berkes" and "atte Berkes," indicating its connection to a specific place. The use of the prefix "de" and "atte" was common during this time, denoting "of" or "at" a particular location.

The Hundred Rolls of 1273 contain references to individuals with the surname "Berks," including Walter de Berkes from Oxfordshire and William atte Berkes from Essex. These records provide insights into the geographical spread of the name during the medieval period.

One notable historical figure with the surname "BERKS" was Sir John Berks (c.1570-1638), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Warwickshire in the early 17th century. He played a role in the establishment of the Virginia Company and the colonization of North America.

Another individual worth mentioning is Richard Berks (c.1615-1670), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "A Treatise on the Soul of Man" and "A Discourse on the Nature of Grace."

In the 18th century, the surname "BERKS" appeared in various records, such as the marriage registers of St. George's Chapel in London, where a marriage between John Berks and Mary Smith was recorded in 1743.

The 19th century saw several notable individuals with the surname "BERKS," including William Berks (1801-1879), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, and James Berks (1845-1920), a renowned horticulturist and writer on gardening topics.

It is also worth mentioning that variations of the surname, such as "Berk" and "Berke," have been recorded throughout history, indicating the fluidity of spelling and pronunciation over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Berks families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Berks 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. Staffordshire leads with 95 Berks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.36x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 95 13.36x
Middlesex 35 1.66x
Warwickshire 11 2.07x
Derbyshire 10 3.03x
Gloucestershire 10 2.42x
Yorkshire 9 0.43x
Surrey 8 0.78x
Lancashire 7 0.28x
Cheshire 6 1.29x
Kent 6 0.83x
Worcestershire 6 2.18x
Berkshire 2 1.26x
Durham 2 0.32x
Hampshire 2 0.46x
Essex 1 0.24x
Hertfordshire 1 0.69x
Lincolnshire 1 0.30x
Monmouthshire 1 0.66x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.35x
Royal Navy 1 3.98x
Shropshire 1 0.55x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Audley in Staffordshire leads with 20 Berks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 284.09x.

Place Total Index
Audley 20 284.09x
Stoke Upon Trent 17 22.54x
Walsall Foreign 10 27.22x
Birmingham 9 5.08x
West Bromwich 8 19.65x
Whittington 8 551.72x
Islington London 7 3.43x
Kingswinford 7 27.11x
St Pancras London 7 4.13x
Kings Norton 6 24.32x
St Luke London 6 17.76x
Clifton 5 23.93x
Dronfield 5 118.20x
Hornsey 5 18.77x
Hoyland Nether 5 97.66x
Lewisham 5 13.04x
Wolverhampton 5 9.14x
Camberwell 4 2.97x
Clerkenwell London 4 8.04x
Keele 4 526.32x
Madeley 4 225.99x
Walton On Hill 4 29.54x
Belper 3 46.95x
Lydney 3 140.85x
Macclesfield 3 14.51x
Wolstanton 3 13.89x
Wolstanton Chesterton 3 82.64x
Coventry St Michael 2 11.72x
Haswell 2 44.54x
Holy Trinity 2 3.98x
Newcastle Under Lyme 2 15.90x
Over Alderley 2 689.66x
St George In East London 2 10.09x
Aberystruth 1 7.45x
Alverstoke 1 6.40x
Battersea 1 1.29x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 2.52x
Cranleigh 1 66.67x
Derby St Werburgh 1 5.25x
Didsbury 1 30.12x
Dilhorne 1 84.75x
Faldingworth 1 500.00x
Glossop Dale 1 6.47x
Greenwich 1 2.98x
Hampstead London 1 3.05x
Harrow 1 31.06x
Hatfield 1 34.01x
Kensington London 1 0.85x
Lambeth 1 0.54x
Lichfield St Mary 1 48.78x
Lower Bebington 1 36.23x
Maisemore 1 285.71x
Middlesbrough 1 3.68x
Newington 1 1.28x
Nottingham St Peter 1 31.55x
Penkridge 1 54.64x
Portsmouth 1 10.06x
Reading St Giles 1 6.44x
Royal Navy 1 4.66x
Saffron Walden 1 22.78x
Scampston 1 588.24x
St George Bloomsbury 1 8.27x
Walsall Borough 1 18.12x
Westbury On Trym 1 7.14x
Withington 1 12.42x
Wokingham 1 27.70x
Woore 1 208.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Elizabeth 11
Sarah 10
Ann 8
Ellen 8
Eliza 7
Hannah 5
Emma 4
Harriet 4
Maria 4
Sophia 4
Florence 3
Amy 2
Anne 2
Annie 2
Emily 2
Louisa 2
Rosina 2
Ada 1
Adaline 1
Alice 1
Anna 1
Caroline 1
Carrie 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Eva 1
Frances 1
H.J. 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Merrian 1
Minie 1
Naomi 1
Priscilla 1
Rose 1
Rosena 1
Ruby 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 15
Thomas 12
George 11
William 8
Henry 6
Samuel 4
Wm. 4
Alfred 3
Charles 3
Harry 3
Albert 2
James 2
Jno. 2
Robert 2
Chas. 1
Dan 1
Edgar 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Enoch 1
Francis 1
Isaac 1
Jabez 1
Jno.Thomas 1
Jonothan 1
Joseph 1
Josiah 1
Mary 1
Maurice 1
Richard 1
Sidney 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Berks surname: questions and answers

How common was the Berks surname in 1881?

In 1881, 214 people were recorded with the Berks surname. That placed it at #12,284 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Berks surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 213 in 2016. That gives Berks a modern rank of #18,785.

What does the Berks surname mean?

A surname originating from Berkshire or the archaic term for a woodsman.

What does the Berks map show?

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