UK surname
Derived from Middle English and Old Norse words meaning "to thrash or flail grain" or "to sprint or dart."
In the 1881 census there were 35 people recorded with the Dake surname, ranking it #28,715 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 59, ranked #34,401, down from #28,715 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dake is 129 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 68.6%.
1881 census count
35
Ranked #28,715
Modern count
59
2016, ranked #34,401
Peak year
1861
129 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Dake surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Dake surname density by area, 1901 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 | 68 | #21,302 |
| 1861 | historical | 129 | #17,271 |
| 1881 | historical | 35 | #28,715 |
| 1891 | historical | 123 | #20,939 |
| 1901 | historical | 123 | #20,248 |
| 1911 | historical | 58 | #27,001 |
| 1997 | modern | 32 | #34,472 |
| 1998 | modern | 35 | #34,344 |
| 1999 | modern | 33 | #34,610 |
| 2000 | modern | 33 | #34,607 |
| 2001 | modern | 34 | #34,356 |
| 2002 | modern | 41 | #34,032 |
| 2003 | modern | 38 | #34,361 |
| 2004 | modern | 44 | #34,053 |
| 2005 | modern | 42 | #34,395 |
| 2006 | modern | 44 | #34,568 |
| 2007 | modern | 49 | #34,422 |
| 2008 | modern | 50 | #34,521 |
| 2009 | modern | 52 | #34,544 |
| 2010 | modern | 54 | #34,582 |
| 2011 | modern | 50 | #34,816 |
| 2012 | modern | 53 | #34,657 |
| 2013 | modern | 56 | #34,581 |
| 2014 | modern | 61 | #34,343 |
| 2015 | modern | 60 | #34,361 |
| 2016 | modern | 59 | #34,401 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Manchester, Brighton and Liverpool. 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 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Brighton | Sussex |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Dake 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 Dake, 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 Dake surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Dake 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, Dake 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 Dake is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Dake, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Dake has its origins in England, where it first appeared in the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "dæcc," which means "duck." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who worked with ducks or who lived near a duck pond or other body of water frequented by ducks.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Dake surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire from 1273, where a Richard Dake is mentioned. The name also appears in various tax and court records from the 14th and 15th centuries, with spellings including Dake, Dak, and Dack.
The Dake surname is found primarily in the eastern and southern counties of England, with concentrations in areas such as Norfolk, Suffolk, and Kent. It is possible that the name may have originated in these regions, where the raising of ducks and other waterfowl was a common practice.
In the late 16th century, a notable figure named Robert Dake (1537-1594) was born in Brigstock, Northamptonshire. He was a prominent clergyman and served as the Bishop of Peterborough from 1589 until his death.
Another individual of historical significance was Sir John Dake (1563-1638), a merchant and member of the Virginia Company. He played a crucial role in the establishment of the English colony in Virginia and was involved in the early governance of the colony.
In the 17th century, a man named Edward Dake (1622-1696) was born in Suffolk, England. He later emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony and settled in Ipswich, where he became a prosperous landowner and served as a town selectman.
A notable figure from the 18th century was Samuel Dake (1748-1825), an English botanist and naturalist. He made significant contributions to the study of plant life and was a respected member of the Royal Society.
In the 19th century, William Dake (1823-1895) was a prominent businessman and philanthropist from Yorkshire, England. He made his fortune in the textile industry and used his wealth to support various charitable causes, including the establishment of schools and hospitals in his local community.
While the Dake surname has historical roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, due to migration and immigration patterns over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dake 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. Lancashire leads with 9 Dakes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.36x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 9 | 2.36x |
| Staffordshire | 8 | 7.37x |
| Sussex | 7 | 12.91x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.93x |
| Kent | 2 | 1.82x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.52x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 2.31x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 3.51x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.31x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Willenhall in Staffordshire leads with 8 Dakes recorded in 1881 and an index of 394.09x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Willenhall | 8 | 394.09x |
| Brighton | 7 | 63.99x |
| Liverpool | 4 | 17.26x |
| Manchester | 3 | 17.48x |
| Finchley | 1 | 81.30x |
| Herne | 1 | 204.08x |
| Holy Trinity | 1 | 13.04x |
| Little Bolton | 1 | 20.37x |
| Newark Upon Trent | 1 | 64.10x |
| Newton | 1 | 34.01x |
| Plumstead | 1 | 27.32x |
| Portsea | 1 | 7.74x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 17.64x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 3.86x |
| Swindon | 1 | 45.25x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Dake 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 Dake 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 Dake households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| Railway Porter | 2 |
| Tailoress | 2 |
| Agent | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Coachman | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Formerly Caretaker G Hall | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| General Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Key Smith | 1 |
| Labourer General | 1 |
| Medical Student | 1 |
| Nurse Girl (Dom) | 1 |
| Railway Labourer | 1 |
| Seamstress | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 35 people were recorded with the Dake surname. That placed it at #28,715 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 59 in 2016. That gives Dake a modern rank of #34,401.
Derived from Middle English and Old Norse words meaning "to thrash or flail grain" or "to sprint or dart."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dake 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.