UK surname
An occupational surname for a person who performed inspections or served as a watchman.
In the 1881 census there were 64 people recorded with the Check surname, ranking it #24,561 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 25, ranked #36,324, down from #24,561 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Check is 240 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 60.9%.
1881 census count
64
Ranked #24,561
Modern count
25
2016, ranked #36,324
Peak year
1911
240 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Check surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Check surname density by area, 1911 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 | 113 | #15,815 |
| 1861 | historical | 194 | #12,310 |
| 1881 | historical | 64 | #24,561 |
| 1891 | historical | 219 | #13,974 |
| 1901 | historical | 175 | #16,469 |
| 1911 | historical | 240 | #13,281 |
| 1997 | modern | 15 | #36,409 |
| 1998 | modern | 17 | #36,240 |
| 1999 | modern | 19 | #36,041 |
| 2000 | modern | 16 | #36,316 |
| 2001 | modern | 15 | #36,265 |
| 2002 | modern | 15 | #36,381 |
| 2003 | modern | 20 | #35,915 |
| 2004 | modern | 22 | #35,878 |
| 2005 | modern | 23 | #35,924 |
| 2006 | modern | 26 | #35,822 |
| 2007 | modern | 27 | #35,876 |
| 2008 | modern | 26 | #36,012 |
| 2009 | modern | 24 | #36,261 |
| 2010 | modern | 25 | #36,273 |
| 2011 | modern | 24 | #36,306 |
| 2012 | modern | 24 | #36,288 |
| 2013 | modern | 23 | #36,414 |
| 2014 | modern | 24 | #36,358 |
| 2015 | modern | 25 | #36,297 |
| 2016 | modern | 25 | #36,324 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, St John Hackney and Tottenham. 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 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | St John Hackney | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Tottenham | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Check 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 Check, 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 Check surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Check 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, Check 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 Check is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Check, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Check originated in the region of modern-day Czechia, formerly known as Bohemia, around the 11th century. It is derived from the Old Czech word "Čech," which referred to the Czech people or someone from the Czech lands. The name likely emerged as a way to distinguish individuals from the Czech territories during a time of increased migration and travel.
One of the earliest known references to the surname Check can be found in the Chronica Boëmorum, a 12th-century chronicle written by Cosmas of Prague. This text mentions individuals with the name Čech, indicating its usage as a surname or byname during that era.
In the 13th century, the surname Check appeared in various records, including the Codex Diplomaticus et Epistolaris Regni Bohemiae, a collection of historical documents from the Kingdom of Bohemia. One notable example is Jan Čech, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in Prague during the reign of King Ottokar II (1253-1278).
As the Czech people migrated and settled in other regions, the surname Check underwent spelling variations to adapt to local languages and dialects. In Germany, for instance, it was often spelled as Tschech or Tscheche, while in Poland, it appeared as Czek or Czek.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Check outside of Bohemia can be found in the 14th-century Prussian State Records, which mention a knight named Petrus Czekus (Peter Check) serving under the Teutonic Order in the region of modern-day Poland.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Check, including:
1. Jan Čech (1360-1426), a Czech philosopher and rector of the University of Prague during the Hussite Reformation. 2. Ludvík Čech (1516-1584), a Bohemian nobleman and military commander who fought in the Schmalkaldic War. 3. Václav Čech (1741-1810), a Czech mathematician and astronomer known for his contributions to the study of comets. 4. Jaroslav Čech (1846-1915), a Czech architect and designer responsible for several notable buildings in Prague. 5. Eduard Čech (1893-1960), a renowned Czech mathematician and a pioneer in the field of topology.
These examples illustrate the long-standing presence and significance of the surname Check, which has its roots in the rich cultural heritage of the Czech lands and has been carried by individuals across various professions and historical periods.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Check 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 33 Checks recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.29x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 33 | 5.29x |
| Surrey | 10 | 3.29x |
| Essex | 9 | 7.30x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 0.65x |
| Durham | 3 | 1.62x |
| Somerset | 2 | 1.99x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.92x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.82x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 2.32x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 12 Checks recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.83x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Islington London | 12 | 19.83x |
| Bethnal Green London | 8 | 29.50x |
| Colchester St Giles | 7 | 573.77x |
| Camberwell | 6 | 15.05x |
| Shoreditch London | 6 | 22.17x |
| Sheffield | 4 | 20.30x |
| Ashcott | 2 | 1333.33x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 2 | 12.55x |
| Hammersmith London | 2 | 13.00x |
| Richmond | 2 | 46.95x |
| All Hallows Barking | 1 | 625.00x |
| Bishop Auckland | 1 | 40.16x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 1 | 8.67x |
| East Barnet | 1 | 117.65x |
| Fulham London | 1 | 11.05x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 2.86x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 10.29x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.84x |
| Matching | 1 | 769.23x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 1 | 7.52x |
| Penge | 1 | 25.06x |
| Swansea Town | 1 | 11.22x |
| West Ham | 1 | 3.68x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Check 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 Check 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 Check households.
FAQ
In 1881, 64 people were recorded with the Check surname. That placed it at #24,561 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 25 in 2016. That gives Check a modern rank of #36,324.
An occupational surname for a person who performed inspections or served as a watchman.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Check 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.