UK surname
An occupational surname referring to a person who worked on or maintained a ship's deck.
In the 1881 census there were 51 people recorded with the Deck surname, ranking it #26,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 67, ranked #33,884, down from #26,428 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Holton, Blythford and Wyke Regis. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Deck is 114 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.4%.
1881 census count
51
Ranked #26,428
Modern count
67
2016, ranked #33,884
Peak year
1891
114 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Deck surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Deck 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 | 80 | #19,558 |
| 1861 | historical | 101 | #20,955 |
| 1881 | historical | 51 | #26,428 |
| 1891 | historical | 114 | #22,006 |
| 1901 | historical | 106 | #22,076 |
| 1911 | historical | 68 | #26,050 |
| 1997 | modern | 45 | #33,168 |
| 1998 | modern | 48 | #33,111 |
| 1999 | modern | 49 | #33,130 |
| 2000 | modern | 53 | #32,805 |
| 2001 | modern | 49 | #33,048 |
| 2002 | modern | 54 | #32,927 |
| 2003 | modern | 54 | #32,990 |
| 2004 | modern | 54 | #33,248 |
| 2005 | modern | 49 | #33,859 |
| 2006 | modern | 53 | #33,854 |
| 2007 | modern | 54 | #34,042 |
| 2008 | modern | 57 | #34,015 |
| 2009 | modern | 66 | #33,538 |
| 2010 | modern | 67 | #33,713 |
| 2011 | modern | 75 | #33,071 |
| 2012 | modern | 73 | #33,431 |
| 2013 | modern | 70 | #33,753 |
| 2014 | modern | 66 | #34,025 |
| 2015 | modern | 70 | #33,717 |
| 2016 | modern | 67 | #33,884 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Holton, Blythford, Wyke Regis, Hawkinge, Folkestone and Cambridge: St Edward. 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 3 |
| 2 | Holton, Blythford | Suffolk |
| 3 | Wyke Regis | Dorset |
| 4 | Hawkinge, Folkestone | Kent |
| 5 | Cambridge: St Edward | Cambridgeshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Deck 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 Deck, 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 Deck surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Deck 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, Deck 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 Deck is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Deck, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname DECK is of German origin, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated as a topographic name, referring to someone who lived near a deck or raised platform. Alternatively, it may have been an occupational name for someone who built or worked with decks or similar structures.
The name is derived from the Middle High German word "decke," meaning "covering" or "roof." This suggests that it may have initially referred to individuals living near a covered or roofed structure, such as a deck or porch.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name DECK can be found in the records of the city of Augsburg, Germany, dating back to the year 1293. The entry mentions a "Hans Decke," which is likely an early variation of the surname.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records across southern Germany, including the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, where a "Peter Deck" was documented in 1367.
As the name spread across Europe, it underwent variations in spelling, such as "Decke," "Deckher," and "Decker." These variations were often influenced by local dialects and regional pronunciations.
One notable historical figure bearing the surname DECK was Johann Deck (1545-1619), a German theologian and writer who authored several religious works during the Protestant Reformation.
Another individual of note was Johann Friedrich Deck (1684-1757), a German painter and engraver known for his works depicting religious subjects and landscapes.
In the 19th century, Carl Deck (1814-1890) was a prominent German-American architect who designed several notable buildings in St. Louis, Missouri, including the Anheuser-Busch Brewery complex.
William Deck (1807-1884) was an English businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of education and healthcare facilities in his hometown of Bury, Lancashire.
One of the more recent individuals with the surname DECK was Hans Deck (1892-1976), a German naval officer who served as a submarine commander during World War I and later held various military leadership positions during the interwar period and World War II.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Deck 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. Suffolk leads with 17 Decks recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.07x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Suffolk | 17 | 28.07x |
| Yorkshire | 8 | 1.62x |
| Cambridgeshire | 6 | 19.05x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 1.21x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 1.79x |
| Durham | 2 | 1.35x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 1.96x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.34x |
| Norfolk | 2 | 2.62x |
| Berwickshire | 1 | 16.61x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.91x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.97x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westleton in Suffolk leads with 11 Decks recorded in 1881 and an index of 7857.14x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Westleton | 11 | 7857.14x |
| St Edward Cambridge | 5 | 5000.00x |
| Blyford | 3 | 10000.00x |
| Hammersmith London | 3 | 24.49x |
| Hampsthwaite | 3 | 3750.00x |
| Holy Trinity | 3 | 25.32x |
| Wednesbury | 3 | 71.60x |
| Cheetham | 2 | 45.45x |
| Occold | 2 | 2222.22x |
| Westoe | 2 | 23.84x |
| All Saints Cambridge | 1 | 454.55x |
| Bideford | 1 | 90.09x |
| Bunkle Preston | 1 | 833.33x |
| Chester Holy Trinity | 1 | 196.08x |
| Filby | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Ipswich St Margaret | 1 | 48.78x |
| Linthorpe | 1 | 34.01x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 1 | 9.45x |
| Norwich St Stephen | 1 | 142.86x |
| Portsea | 1 | 5.01x |
| Portsmouth | 1 | 42.55x |
| St Anne Soho London | 1 | 35.21x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 3.77x |
| Welton Melton | 1 | 714.29x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Deck 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 Deck 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 Deck households.
FAQ
In 1881, 51 people were recorded with the Deck surname. That placed it at #26,428 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 67 in 2016. That gives Deck a modern rank of #33,884.
An occupational surname referring to a person who worked on or maintained a ship's deck.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Deck 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.