UK surname
A surname referring to someone involved with books or bookmaking.
In the 1881 census there were 57 people recorded with the Booke surname, ranking it #25,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #25,575 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Burton Latimer, St Pancras and Watford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Booke is 229 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 98.2%.
1881 census count
57
Ranked #25,575
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1861
229 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Booke surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Booke surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 75 | #20,268 |
| 1861 | historical | 229 | #10,660 |
| 1881 | historical | 57 | #25,575 |
| 1891 | historical | 208 | #14,496 |
| 1901 | historical | 48 | #28,808 |
| 1911 | historical | 92 | #23,580 |
| 1997 | modern | 14 | #36,528 |
| 1998 | modern | 15 | #36,457 |
| 1999 | modern | 5 | #37,872 |
| 2000 | modern | 3 | #38,248 |
| 2008 | modern | 3 | #38,396 |
| 2009 | modern | 4 | #38,287 |
| 2010 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2011 | modern | 3 | #38,546 |
| 2012 | modern | 2 | #38,754 |
| 2013 | modern | 2 | #38,761 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Burton Latimer, St Pancras, Watford, Ashdon and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burton Latimer | Northamptonshire |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Watford | Hertfordshire |
| 4 | Ashdon | Essex |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Booke surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Booke, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Booke surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Booke household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Booke is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Booke is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Booke, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Booke has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "boc," which means "book" or "document." It is believed that the name was originally given to scribes, scholars, or individuals who were involved in the production or study of books.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Booke can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1221, where a person named William Boke is mentioned. This record suggests that the name had already been in use by the early 13th century.
The surname Booke is also mentioned in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which were records of landowners in various counties of England. This document lists individuals with the surname Boke, indicating that the name had gained a certain level of prominence by that time.
In the 14th century, the surname Booke appears in the Chronicles of Froissart, a historical work written by the French chronicler Jean Froissart. This suggests that individuals bearing this surname had achieved a degree of recognition and significance during that period.
One notable individual with the surname Booke was John Booke, who lived in the late 15th century and was a prominent merchant and influential figure in the city of Bristol. Another person of note was Sir Henry Booke, a courtier and diplomat who served under Elizabeth I in the 16th century.
The Booke surname can also be traced to various place names in England, such as Bookham in Surrey and Bookhurst in Berkshire. These place names likely derived from the same Old English word "boc," suggesting a connection between the surname and locations associated with books or learning.
Other individuals with the surname Booke who left their mark in history include William Booke (1534-1591), an English theologian and author; Thomas Booke (1614-1672), a clergyman and writer; and Robert Booke (1675-1738), an English painter and engraver.
It is worth noting that the spelling of the surname has varied over time, with variations such as Boke, Bok, and Book appearing in historical records. However, the consistent connection to the concept of books and learning remains a defining characteristic of the Booke surname.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Booke surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 16 Bookes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.93x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 16 | 2.93x |
| Staffordshire | 15 | 8.14x |
| Yorkshire | 9 | 1.66x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 0.93x |
| Surrey | 4 | 1.50x |
| Nottinghamshire | 2 | 2.72x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 1.62x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 1.17x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 15.36x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.09x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aldridge in Staffordshire leads with 9 Bookes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2571.43x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Aldridge | 9 | 2571.43x |
| Bethnal Green London | 8 | 33.73x |
| Rowley Regis | 6 | 116.73x |
| Thornhill | 6 | 379.75x |
| Ardwick | 5 | 85.62x |
| St Pancras London | 5 | 11.38x |
| Ham | 4 | 3333.33x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 6.86x |
| Torworth | 2 | 5000.00x |
| Bodmin | 1 | 98.04x |
| Dalton In Furness | 1 | 40.00x |
| Keymer | 1 | 153.85x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 17.99x |
| Scarcliff | 1 | 833.33x |
| Sheffield | 1 | 5.80x |
| Twickenham | 1 | 42.74x |
| Wentworth | 1 | 303.03x |
| Whitley Upper | 1 | 1250.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Booke surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Booke surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Booke households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 12 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Brass Finisher | 1 |
| Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Chair Maker | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Dep Controller Of H.M. Armory Retired (Offr) | 1 |
| Farm Servant (Indoor) | 1 |
| Forge Labourer | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Housemaid Dom | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Pattern Card Maker | 1 |
| Servant (Domestic) | 1 |
| Stoker | 1 |
| Student Of Law | 1 |
| Woollen Cloth Finisher | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 57 people were recorded with the Booke surname. That placed it at #25,575 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Booke a modern rank of #39,061.
A surname referring to someone involved with books or bookmaking.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Booke bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.