NameCensus.

UK surname

Decker

An occupational surname referring to a person who built or thatched roofs or worked as a roofer.

In the 1881 census there were 173 people recorded with the Decker surname, ranking it #14,112 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 316, ranked #14,227, down from #14,112 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sutton and Stoneferry, London parishes and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tonbridge and Malling, Cheshire East and Haringey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Decker is 316 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 82.7%.

1881 census count

173

Ranked #14,112

Modern count

316

2016, ranked #14,227

Peak year

2016

316 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Decker had 173 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,112 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 316 in 2016, ranked #14,227.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 182 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Decker surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Decker surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Decker 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 65 #21,747
1861 historical 125 #17,678
1881 historical 173 #14,112
1891 historical 124 #20,818
1901 historical 159 #17,442
1911 historical 182 #15,859
1997 modern 230 #16,109
1998 modern 229 #16,657
1999 modern 249 #15,844
2000 modern 248 #15,827
2001 modern 237 #16,048
2002 modern 246 #15,988
2003 modern 229 #16,601
2004 modern 245 #15,894
2005 modern 242 #15,987
2006 modern 229 #16,748
2007 modern 242 #16,296
2008 modern 255 #15,859
2009 modern 264 #15,798
2010 modern 272 #15,811
2011 modern 262 #16,098
2012 modern 280 #15,248
2013 modern 294 #14,961
2014 modern 301 #14,809
2015 modern 297 #14,863
2016 modern 316 #14,227

Geography

Back to top

Where Deckers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sutton and Stoneferry, London parishes, Toxteth Park, St Pancras and St Dunstan Stepney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tonbridge and Malling, Cheshire East, Haringey, Knowsley and Wirral. 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 Sutton and Stoneferry Yorkshire, East Riding
2 London parishes London 3
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tonbridge and Malling 013 Tonbridge and Malling
2 Cheshire East 026 Cheshire East
3 Haringey 015 Haringey
4 Knowsley 018 Knowsley
5 Wirral 020 Wirral

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Decker

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Decker

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Decker surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Decker 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Decker is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Decker is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Decker falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Decker is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Decker

The surname Decker originates from Germany and the Netherlands, and has been in use since at least the 13th century. It is derived from the Middle High German word "dekker," meaning "roofer" or "thatcher." The name likely referred to someone who worked as a roofer or thatcher by trade.

In medieval times, surnames often derived from occupations, and the name Decker would have identified a person who worked in the construction or repair of roofs. As families began to adopt hereditary surnames, the name Decker became established in regions where German and Dutch were spoken.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Decker can be found in the Stadtbücher (town books) of Cologne, Germany, from the year 1292, where a certain "Henrich Dekker" is mentioned. The name also appears in various other historical records from the 14th and 15th centuries in towns and cities across Germany and the Low Countries.

In the Netherlands, the name Decker is sometimes spelled as "Dekker," and there are several notable individuals with this spelling throughout history. One of the earliest is the 16th-century humanist and scholar Dirck Volkertszoon Coornhert (1522-1590), who was also known as "Theodoor Decker."

Another famous bearer of the name was the Dutch Golden Age painter Cornelis Decker (1610-1678), known for his genre scenes and portraits. In the literary world, the Dutch writer Eduard Douwes Dekker (1820-1887), who wrote under the pen name "Multatuli," is considered one of the most important figures in Dutch literature.

In Germany, one of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Decker was Hans Decker (c. 1500-1570), a Lutheran theologian and reformer from Saxony. Later, there was the German astronomer Johann Decker (1625-1686), who made significant contributions to the study of comets and the calculation of planetary orbits.

The surname Decker has also been present in other parts of Europe, including England, where it likely arrived with Dutch or German immigrants. One notable English bearer of the name was Sir Matthew Decker (1679-1749), a merchant and writer who published several influential works on trade and economics.

Throughout its history, the surname Decker has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, from skilled tradesmen and artisans to scholars, writers, and scientists. While its origins can be traced back to a humble occupation, the name has become widely dispersed and has acquired a rich tapestry of meanings and associations over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Decker families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Decker 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. Middlesex leads with 45 Deckers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.68x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 45 2.68x
Lancashire 43 2.16x
Surrey 20 2.45x
Yorkshire 11 0.66x
Warwickshire 10 2.36x
Worcestershire 10 4.56x
Cheshire 9 2.43x
Devon 4 1.15x
Lanarkshire 4 0.74x
Midlothian 3 1.33x
Essex 2 0.60x
Hampshire 2 0.58x
Shropshire 2 1.38x
Staffordshire 2 0.35x
Cornwall 1 0.53x
Dorset 1 0.91x
Kent 1 0.17x
Leicestershire 1 0.54x
Sussex 1 0.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Toxteth Park in Lancashire leads with 17 Deckers recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.22x.

Place Total Index
Toxteth Park 17 25.22x
St Pancras London 12 8.89x
Hackney London 10 10.63x
Kings Norton 10 50.89x
Sutton Stoneferry 10 210.08x
Aston 9 7.72x
Hyde 9 82.34x
Lingfield 9 566.04x
Kensington London 8 8.58x
St George In East London 8 50.70x
Warrington 6 25.42x
West Derby 5 8.59x
Bootle Cum Linacre 4 25.30x
Lambeth 4 2.73x
Moss Side 4 38.17x
Spitalfields London 4 31.70x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 3.32x
Glasgow 3 3.11x
Islington London 3 1.84x
Manchester 3 3.35x
Rotherhithe 3 14.47x
Carnforth 2 183.49x
Harpurhey 2 72.46x
Shrewsbury St Chad 2 39.29x
Aldershot 1 8.68x
Barony 1 0.73x
Chesilborne 1 500.00x
Croydon 1 2.20x
Deptford St Paul 1 2.27x
Dorking 1 18.21x
Fryerning 1 250.00x
Gidleigh 1 1428.57x
Havant 1 57.47x
Holy Trinity 1 2.50x
Holy Trinity 1 136.99x
Honiton 1 51.81x
Kingsteignton 1 103.09x
Leicester St Margaret 1 2.20x
Lewes St Ann 1 104.17x
Newington 1 1.61x
Romford 1 19.08x
Rugeley 1 24.63x
Southwark Christchurch 1 12.72x
Stratford On Avon 1 42.55x
Tregoney St James 1 285.71x
Wolverhampton 1 2.30x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 11
Mary 7
Alice 6
Emma 6
Annie 5
Ann 3
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Ellen 3
Jane 3
Louisa 3
Elizabeth 2
Emily 2
Florence 2
Marie 2
Rose 2
Sophie 2
Ada 1
Adelaide 1
Adele 1
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Carrie 1
Celiana 1
Charlotte 1
Eliza 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Isabel 1
Julia 1
Katherine 1
Margaret 1
Marjoram 1
Mechalla 1
Milly 1
Minnie 1
Rhoda 1
Ruth 1
Sophia 1
Susannah 1
Wilhelmina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 6
Thomas 6
Charles 5
Joseph 5
William 5
Samuel 4
Frederick 3
George 3
Henry 3
John 3
Edward 2
Jacob 2
Peter 2
Ralph 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Barnett 1
Dudley 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Felix 1
Fred 1
Godfrey 1
Gustave 1
Hermann 1
Louis 1
Ludford 1
Philip 1
Raphael 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Sam 1
Seymour 1
Wllm. 1
Wolf 1

FAQ

Decker surname: questions and answers

How common was the Decker surname in 1881?

In 1881, 173 people were recorded with the Decker surname. That placed it at #14,112 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Decker surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 316 in 2016. That gives Decker a modern rank of #14,227.

What does the Decker surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person who built or thatched roofs or worked as a roofer.

What does the Decker map show?

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