NameCensus.

UK surname

Duck

An English occupational surname referring to a person who kept or raised ducks.

In the 1881 census there were 1,610 people recorded with the Duck surname, ranking it #2,654 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,107, ranked #5,309, down from #2,654 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Somerset, Ryedale and Scarborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Duck is 2,030 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 31.2%.

1881 census count

1,610

Ranked #2,654

Modern count

1,107

2016, ranked #5,309

Peak year

1911

2,030 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Duck had 1,610 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,654 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,107 in 2016, ranked #5,309.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,030 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Duck surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Duck surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Duck 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 1,226 #2,326
1861 historical 1,347 #2,122
1881 historical 1,610 #2,654
1891 historical 1,833 #2,504
1901 historical 1,969 #2,691
1911 historical 2,030 #2,456
1997 modern 1,346 #4,273
1998 modern 1,330 #4,457
1999 modern 1,329 #4,503
2000 modern 1,334 #4,465
2001 modern 1,275 #4,563
2002 modern 1,279 #4,641
2003 modern 1,241 #4,669
2004 modern 1,224 #4,728
2005 modern 1,165 #4,884
2006 modern 1,156 #4,916
2007 modern 1,158 #4,961
2008 modern 1,157 #4,982
2009 modern 1,151 #5,134
2010 modern 1,171 #5,146
2011 modern 1,140 #5,215
2012 modern 1,112 #5,249
2013 modern 1,121 #5,290
2014 modern 1,122 #5,312
2015 modern 1,110 #5,315
2016 modern 1,107 #5,309

Geography

Back to top

Where Ducks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Somerset, Ryedale, Scarborough, North Lincolnshire and Redcar and Cleveland. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Somerset 010 South Somerset
2 Ryedale 002 Ryedale
3 Scarborough 004 Scarborough
4 North Lincolnshire 003 North Lincolnshire
5 Redcar and Cleveland 013 Redcar and Cleveland

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Duck

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Duck

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Duck, 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 Duck surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Duck 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, Duck 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

Duck is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Duck falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Duck 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 Duck, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Duck

The surname Duck is of English origin and dates back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "duce," which means "duck." This suggests that the name originated as a nickname for someone who may have had a waddling gait or other characteristics associated with a duck.

The earliest recorded instance of the Duck surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Huntingdonshire from 1197, which mention a John Duc. Over time, the name evolved into various spellings such as Doke, Dukke, and eventually Duck.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the Duck surname was William Duck, a prominent merchant from London who lived during the reign of King Edward III (1327-1377). Records show that William Duck was involved in the export trade and had business dealings with merchants in the Low Countries.

In the 15th century, the Duck surname appeared in the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence between members of the Paston family, who were prominent landowners in Norfolk. The letters mention a John Duck, who was a servant in the Paston household.

During the Tudor period, the Duck surname gained further prominence with Sir John Duck (c. 1475-1535), a Member of Parliament and Lord Mayor of London in 1532. Sir John Duck was a wealthy merchant and a prominent figure in the City of London.

Another notable individual with the Duck surname was Arthur Duck (1580-1649), an English jurist and author. He served as the Chancellor of the Diocese of London and wrote several works on English law and ecclesiastical history.

In the 17th century, the Duck surname was associated with the English Civil War. William Duck (c. 1610-1683) was a Puritan minister who supported the Parliamentary cause and served as a chaplain in the New Model Army under Oliver Cromwell.

Throughout history, the Duck surname has been present in various parts of England, particularly in counties such as Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Middlesex. The name has also been found in Scotland and Ireland, likely due to migration patterns within the British Isles.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Duck families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Duck 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. Yorkshire leads with 374 Ducks recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.41x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 374 2.41x
Middlesex 314 2.00x
Wiltshire 153 11.03x
Surrey 147 1.92x
Somerset 125 4.95x
Kent 65 1.21x
Durham 55 1.18x
Lancashire 48 0.26x
Hampshire 47 1.46x
Gloucestershire 39 1.27x
Warwickshire 30 0.76x
Sussex 23 0.87x
Monmouthshire 21 1.85x
Essex 19 0.61x
Worcestershire 18 0.88x
Cheshire 17 0.49x
Oxfordshire 16 1.65x
Berkshire 15 1.27x
Glamorgan 13 0.48x
Devon 9 0.28x
Norfolk 9 0.37x
Ayrshire 8 0.68x
Bedfordshire 7 0.86x
Leicestershire 5 0.29x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.24x
Staffordshire 5 0.09x
Lincolnshire 4 0.16x
Northumberland 4 0.17x
Derbyshire 3 0.12x
Hertfordshire 2 0.19x
Lanarkshire 2 0.04x
Royal Navy 2 1.07x
Cumberland 1 0.07x
Dorset 1 0.10x
Midlothian 1 0.05x
Suffolk 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 42 Ducks recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.16x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 42 6.16x
Shoreditch London 41 6.03x
Kingsbury Episcopi 39 476.77x
St Pancras London 32 2.53x
Portsea 28 4.44x
Lythe 25 403.88x
Camberwell 24 2.40x
Danby 23 366.24x
Hackney London 23 2.62x
Islington London 22 1.45x
Scarborough 22 15.58x
Eskdaleside 20 261.78x
Newington 20 3.45x
Ramsbury 18 143.31x
Battersea 16 2.77x
Bishop Burton 16 650.41x
Ruswarp 16 92.54x
Calne 15 52.52x
Marlborough St Peter St 15 210.08x
Marlborough St Mary Virgin 14 143.15x
Oxford St Giles 14 30.30x
St Marylebone London 14 1.67x
Walcot 14 10.41x
Edmonton 13 10.29x
Hammersmith London 13 3.36x
Mile End Old Town London 13 3.89x
Southwark St Saviour 13 16.13x
Swindon 13 12.08x
Aston 12 1.10x
Birmingham 12 0.91x
Farndale East Side 12 603.02x
Liverpool 12 1.06x
Lyncombe Widcombe 12 18.15x
Westoe 12 4.54x
Cheetham 11 7.92x
Deptford St Paul 11 2.66x
Fylingdales 11 141.94x
Lambeth 11 0.80x
Southwark St John 11 22.93x
Whitby 11 21.00x
Brighton 10 1.87x
Keston 10 251.26x
Leeds 10 1.14x
Llandaff 10 11.01x
Sneaton 10 800.00x
Abergavenny 9 21.19x
Downhead 9 937.50x
Framwellgate 9 32.55x
Hipperholme Cum 9 13.18x
Kensington London 9 1.03x
Market Lavington 9 119.84x
Paddington London 9 1.56x
Southampton All Sts 9 16.32x
St Giles In Fields London 9 11.70x
Barnes 8 24.75x
Cherhill 8 516.13x
Clapham 8 4.08x
Erith 8 15.17x
Falsgrave 8 34.92x
Friern Barnet 8 23.15x
Great Yarmouth 8 4.00x
Lodsworth 8 218.58x
Malmesbury St Paul 8 67.06x
Middlesbrough 8 3.95x
Newburgh 8 1012.66x
Newbury 8 21.21x
Rosedale East Side 8 379.15x
Ryhope 8 24.69x
West Ham 8 1.17x
Cobham 7 55.82x
Corsham 7 34.59x
Eltham 7 22.32x
Heddington 7 364.58x
Largs 7 25.31x
Manchester 7 0.84x
Northfleet 7 14.85x
Rowde 7 109.38x
St George Bloomsbury 7 7.78x
Stockton On Tees 7 3.11x
Tormoham 7 5.07x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 98
John 80
George 73
Henry 42
James 38
Thomas 38
Charles 36
Frederick 27
Arthur 23
Albert 19
Robert 19
Francis 18
Alfred 16
Joseph 15
Walter 13
Harry 12
Ernest 9
Samuel 9
Wm. 9
Edward 8
Edwin 7
Herbert 7
Daniel 6
Richard 6
Tom 6
Benjamin 5
Mathew 5
Matthew 5
Frank 4
Isaac 4
David 3
Fred 3
Frederic 3
Hubert 3
Reginald 3
Sidney 3
Stephen 3
Abraham 2
Bertie 2
Elijah 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Jno. 2
Josiah 2
Percy 2
Reuben 2
Thos. 2
Timothy 2
Wm.Geo. 2
Zepheniah 1

FAQ

Duck surname: questions and answers

How common was the Duck surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,610 people were recorded with the Duck surname. That placed it at #2,654 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Duck surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,107 in 2016. That gives Duck a modern rank of #5,309.

What does the Duck surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person who kept or raised ducks.

What does the Duck map show?

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