NameCensus.

UK surname

Darke

A locational surname originating from the English counties of Staffordshire or Derbyshire.

In the 1881 census there were 699 people recorded with the Darke surname, ranking it #5,193 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,138, ranked #5,177, up from #5,193 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sidbury, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Exeter St David (including Castle Yard). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Hams, Torbay and North Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Darke is 1,203 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 62.8%.

1881 census count

699

Ranked #5,193

Modern count

1,138

2016, ranked #5,177

Peak year

1999

1,203 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Darke had 699 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,193 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,138 in 2016, ranked #5,177.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,091 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Darke surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Darke surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Darke 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 577 #4,415
1861 historical 494 #5,287
1881 historical 699 #5,193
1891 historical 787 #5,107
1901 historical 927 #5,028
1911 historical 1,091 #4,253
1997 modern 1,165 #4,842
1998 modern 1,197 #4,889
1999 modern 1,203 #4,923
2000 modern 1,189 #4,945
2001 modern 1,150 #4,987
2002 modern 1,163 #5,046
2003 modern 1,134 #5,051
2004 modern 1,125 #5,086
2005 modern 1,118 #5,070
2006 modern 1,093 #5,166
2007 modern 1,099 #5,192
2008 modern 1,107 #5,192
2009 modern 1,125 #5,218
2010 modern 1,157 #5,209
2011 modern 1,160 #5,138
2012 modern 1,151 #5,084
2013 modern 1,161 #5,136
2014 modern 1,167 #5,140
2015 modern 1,143 #5,187
2016 modern 1,138 #5,177

Geography

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Where Darkes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sidbury, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick and Paddington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Hams, Torbay, North Somerset and Teignbridge. 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 Sidbury Devon
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
4 Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick Worcestershire
5 Paddington London (West Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Hams 011 South Hams
2 Torbay 001 Torbay
3 North Somerset 018 North Somerset
4 South Hams 012 South Hams
5 Teignbridge 015 Teignbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Darke

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Darke

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Darke surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Darke 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Darke is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Darke is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Darke 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 Darke is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Darke

The surname Darke is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "dearc," meaning "dark" or "swarthy," and was likely initially used as a nickname for someone with a dark complexion or hair color.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Derche" in the county of Lincolnshire. This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides a valuable record of landowners and tenants in England during the 11th century.

As the name spread across England, it evolved into various spellings, including Darke, Derke, and Derk. Some of these variations may have been influenced by the Old English word "derc," meaning "obscure" or "hidden," further adding to the name's connotations.

The presence of the name Darke can also be traced to place names, such as Darke County in Ohio, United States, which was named after General William Darke, a Revolutionary War officer born in Pennsylvania in 1736.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Darke throughout history include:

1. Sir Thomas Darke (c. 1495-1561), an English politician and landowner who served as Sheriff of Hertfordshire. 2. William Darke (1736-1801), an American military officer and frontiersman during the Revolutionary War, for whom Darke County, Ohio, was named. 3. Eliza Darke (1749-1815), an English diarist and author known for her vivid accounts of life in Georgian England. 4. Thomas Darke (1782-1857), an English mathematician and astronomer who contributed to the study of celestial mechanics. 5. Agatha Darke (1855-1932), a British suffragette and activist who campaigned for women's rights and social reforms in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

While the surname Darke may have originated as a nickname describing physical appearance, it has since evolved into a distinctive and enduring family name, leaving its mark on historical records, place names, and the lives of notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Darke families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Darke 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. Devon leads with 167 Darkes recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.75x.

County Total Index
Devon 167 11.75x
Middlesex 125 1.83x
Gloucestershire 85 6.35x
Worcestershire 81 9.08x
Somerset 38 3.46x
Surrey 33 0.99x
Lancashire 30 0.37x
Kent 15 0.64x
Wiltshire 15 2.48x
Essex 13 0.96x
Cornwall 11 1.42x
Staffordshire 10 0.43x
Flintshire 9 4.90x
Herefordshire 9 3.21x
Durham 8 0.39x
Yorkshire 8 0.12x
Dorset 7 1.56x
Glamorgan 7 0.59x
Oxfordshire 6 1.42x
Monmouthshire 5 1.01x
Warwickshire 5 0.29x
Berkshire 2 0.39x
Hertfordshire 2 0.42x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.92x
Hampshire 1 0.07x
Lanarkshire 1 0.05x
Norfolk 1 0.10x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.11x
Royal Navy 1 1.23x
Suffolk 1 0.12x
Sussex 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Worcester St Peter in Worcestershire leads with 34 Darkes recorded in 1881 and an index of 201.42x.

Place Total Index
Worcester St Peter 34 201.42x
Sidbury 25 822.37x
Islington London 16 2.42x
Kensington London 16 4.21x
St Pancras London 16 2.91x
Stonehouse 16 210.25x
Wolborough 15 83.47x
West Derby 14 5.91x
Chelsea London 13 6.32x
Plymouth St Andrew 13 11.87x
Twerton 12 105.91x
Gloucester St Aldate 11 666.67x
Hackney London 11 2.87x
Stafford St Mary 10 30.65x
Worcester St Clement 10 176.37x
Bethnal Green London 9 3.03x
Camberwell 9 2.06x
Honiton 9 114.36x
Barnstaple 8 35.86x
Bishopwearmouth 8 4.59x
Black Torrington 8 390.24x
Kingskerswell 8 338.98x
Ledbury 8 83.16x
Lyncombe Widcombe 8 27.80x
Snowshill 8 1333.33x
Swindon 8 17.08x
Twining 8 398.01x
Bedminster 7 6.78x
Bristol St George 7 11.30x
Mold 7 42.04x
St Marylebone London 7 1.92x
Westminster St James 7 9.97x
Bath St James 6 52.36x
Bredon 6 196.72x
Bristol St James St Paul 6 13.43x
Claines 6 24.52x
Dymock 6 188.09x
East Teignmouth 6 103.09x
Exeter St David 6 49.42x
Eye Dunsden 6 294.12x
Great Malvern 6 32.24x
Mile End Old Town London 6 4.13x
Overbury 6 384.62x
Rotherhithe 6 7.11x
Salisbury St Edmund 6 61.92x
Stockland 6 292.68x
Stoke Damerel 6 6.03x
Woolwich 6 6.97x
Worcester Blockhouse 6 122.45x
Ashton Under Lyne 5 2.82x
Bradford 5 3.05x
Briton Ferry 5 35.24x
Eastington 5 112.87x
Hampstead London 5 4.70x
Lambeth 5 0.84x
Mynyddyslwyn 5 25.68x
Ottery St Mary 5 53.65x
Paddington London 5 1.99x
Roborough 5 531.91x
West Ham 5 1.68x
Bideford 4 26.26x
Burrington 4 220.99x
Littleham 4 38.50x
Liverpool 4 0.81x
Newington 4 1.59x
Prittlewell 4 21.41x
South Hamlet 4 48.25x
St Mabyn 4 336.13x
St Sepulchre London 4 40.00x
Axminster 3 45.05x
Birmingham 3 0.52x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 2.38x
Gloucester Barton St 3 38.22x
Membury 3 198.68x
Ormskirk 3 19.35x
Pilton 3 63.97x
Plumstead 3 3.86x
Romford 3 14.08x
Sandhurst 3 277.78x
Worcester St Helen 3 105.26x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 42
Elizabeth 27
Sarah 23
Alice 15
Emily 13
Emma 12
Jane 12
Annie 10
Amelia 7
Ellen 7
Florence 7
Frances 7
Lucy 7
Maria 7
Caroline 6
Clara 6
Ann 5
Eliza 5
Harriett 5
Margaret 5
Matilda 5
Ada 4
Anne 4
Charlotte 4
Louisa 4
Susan 4
Agnes 3
Beatrice 3
Hannah 3
Harriet 3
Martha 3
Bertha 2
Bessie 2
Ethel 2
Eva 2
Helen 2
Isabella 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Rosa 2
Susannah 2
Eileen 1
Eliz 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.D. 1
Genevra 1
George 1
Gertrude 1
Valetta 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 51
George 30
John 25
Charles 18
Thomas 18
Henry 17
James 16
Edward 13
Alfred 11
Joseph 10
Richard 10
Ernest 9
Frank 8
Robert 8
Samuel 8
Frederick 6
Leonard 6
Albert 5
Benjamin 4
Walter 4
Wm. 4
Edwin 3
Francis 3
Herbert 3
Arthur 2
Chas. 2
Daniel 2
David 2
Fitz 2
Frances 2
Giles 2
Harvey 2
Thos. 2
Ashsey 1
Bertram 1
Charlie 1
Ellen 1
Enoch 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Hugh 1
Infant 1
Isaac 1
Josiah 1
Lewis 1
Lucy 1
Marshall 1
Oswald 1
Percy 1
Wm.George 1

FAQ

Darke surname: questions and answers

How common was the Darke surname in 1881?

In 1881, 699 people were recorded with the Darke surname. That placed it at #5,193 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Darke surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,138 in 2016. That gives Darke a modern rank of #5,177.

What does the Darke surname mean?

A locational surname originating from the English counties of Staffordshire or Derbyshire.

What does the Darke map show?

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