UK surname
A surname derived from living in a dark or gloomy area.
In the 1881 census there were 35 people recorded with the Darks surname, ranking it #28,715 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 24, ranked #36,392, down from #28,715 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ribbesford (Bewdley), Abberley, Rock, Dudley and Thorveton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Darks is 138 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 31.4%.
1881 census count
35
Ranked #28,715
Modern count
24
2016, ranked #36,392
Peak year
1861
138 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Darks surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Darks 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 | 24 | #29,038 |
| 1861 | historical | 138 | #16,365 |
| 1881 | historical | 35 | #28,715 |
| 1891 | historical | 110 | #22,557 |
| 1901 | historical | 48 | #28,808 |
| 1911 | historical | 23 | #30,923 |
| 1997 | modern | 18 | #36,053 |
| 1998 | modern | 23 | #35,603 |
| 1999 | modern | 24 | #35,514 |
| 2000 | modern | 23 | #35,588 |
| 2001 | modern | 24 | #35,357 |
| 2002 | modern | 22 | #35,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 18 | #36,115 |
| 2004 | modern | 19 | #36,147 |
| 2005 | modern | 22 | #35,993 |
| 2006 | modern | 23 | #36,054 |
| 2007 | modern | 24 | #36,072 |
| 2008 | modern | 22 | #36,281 |
| 2009 | modern | 23 | #36,313 |
| 2010 | modern | 25 | #36,273 |
| 2011 | modern | 29 | #36,004 |
| 2012 | modern | 28 | #36,048 |
| 2013 | modern | 24 | #36,344 |
| 2014 | modern | 25 | #36,314 |
| 2015 | modern | 25 | #36,297 |
| 2016 | modern | 24 | #36,392 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ribbesford (Bewdley), Abberley, Rock, Dudley, Thorveton, Darley and St George the Martyr. 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 | Ribbesford (Bewdley), Abberley, Rock | Worcestershire |
| 2 | Dudley | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Thorveton | Devon |
| 4 | Darley | Derbyshire |
| 5 | St George the Martyr | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Darks 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 Darks, 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 Darks surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Darks 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, Darks 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 Darks is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Darks, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Darks is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place name such as Darke or Darks. These place names were likely derived from the Old English word 'deorc', meaning 'dark' or 'gloomy'.
Some of the earliest known references to the surname Darks can be found in various historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries. For instance, the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1279 mention a Walter de Derke, while the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296 include a John Derk.
The Darks surname is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name was already established in certain parts of the country by the late 11th century.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Darks surname was John Darks, who was born in Gloucestershire, England, in the late 15th century. He served as a yeoman during the reign of Henry VII and is mentioned in several court records from that period.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Darks surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Somerset, Dorset, and Devon in southwestern England. Notable bearers of the name from this region include Thomas Darks (1580-1651), a merchant and landowner from Bridgwater, Somerset, and William Darks (1620-1695), a clergyman and author from Lyme Regis, Dorset.
Another notable individual with the Darks surname was Sir Henry Darks (1728-1801), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. He was born in Kent and rose to the rank of Vice Admiral in the Royal Navy.
In the 19th century, the Darks surname gained recognition through the work of Thomas Darks (1811-1888), a prominent architect from Bristol. He designed several notable buildings in the city, including the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.
While the Darks surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and immigration. However, the origins of the name can be traced back to the medieval period in England, where it was likely derived from a place name that referred to a dark or gloomy location.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Darks 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. Worcestershire leads with 31 Darks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 69.57x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Worcestershire | 31 | 69.57x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 2.59x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.49x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.25x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.60x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ribbesford in Worcestershire leads with 30 Darks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8108.11x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Ribbesford | 30 | 8108.11x |
| Bodmin | 1 | 156.25x |
| Caterham | 1 | 136.99x |
| Gloucester | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Hale | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Kidderminster Borough | 1 | 38.31x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Darks 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 Darks 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 Darks households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 8 |
| Tanner | 2 |
| Carpet Weavs Labourer | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Dyer | 1 |
| Dyers Labourer | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| House Maid Domestic Servt | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Linen Winder (C) | 1 |
| Private R.M.L.I. | 1 |
| Railway Lab | 1 |
| Sellar Man | 1 |
| Waterman | 1 |
| Worsted Spinner (Rovener) | 1 |
| Wrapper Of Twine | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 35 people were recorded with the Darks surname. That placed it at #28,715 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 24 in 2016. That gives Darks a modern rank of #36,392.
A surname derived from living in a dark or gloomy area.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Darks 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.