NameCensus.

UK surname

Duke

An English noble title adopted as a surname, originally referring to the ruler of a duchy or dukedom.

In the 1881 census there were 3,407 people recorded with the Duke surname, ranking it #1,340 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,903, ranked #1,379, down from #1,340 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Medway, Cornwall and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Duke is 5,027 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.9%.

1881 census count

3,407

Ranked #1,340

Modern count

4,903

2016, ranked #1,379

Peak year

1998

5,027 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Duke had 3,407 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,340 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,903 in 2016, ranked #1,379.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,406 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Duke surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Duke surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Duke 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 2,309 #1,283
1861 historical 2,403 #1,220
1881 historical 3,407 #1,340
1891 historical 3,826 #1,254
1901 historical 4,199 #1,340
1911 historical 4,406 #1,169
1997 modern 4,831 #1,358
1998 modern 5,027 #1,359
1999 modern 5,016 #1,370
2000 modern 4,913 #1,387
2001 modern 4,800 #1,389
2002 modern 4,864 #1,399
2003 modern 4,733 #1,397
2004 modern 4,713 #1,402
2005 modern 4,686 #1,391
2006 modern 4,660 #1,403
2007 modern 4,693 #1,403
2008 modern 4,727 #1,402
2009 modern 4,865 #1,400
2010 modern 4,954 #1,407
2011 modern 4,867 #1,410
2012 modern 4,831 #1,389
2013 modern 4,905 #1,398
2014 modern 4,972 #1,384
2015 modern 4,952 #1,371
2016 modern 4,903 #1,379

Geography

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Where Dukes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Portsmouth, Portsea, Sheffield and Rotherham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Medway, Cornwall, Doncaster and Rotherham. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Rotherham Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Medway 028 Medway
2 Cornwall 002 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 005 Cornwall
4 Doncaster 003 Doncaster
5 Rotherham 023 Rotherham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Duke

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Duke

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Duke is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Duke is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Duke falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Duke

The surname Duke has its origins in England and dates back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "duc" and the Latin word "dux", both of which mean a leader or commander. The title of "duke" was first used in England during the Norman conquest in the 11th century.

The surname Duke is believed to have originally been an occupational name given to those who held the prestigious position of a duke or served under a duke in some capacity. It may have also been given as a nickname to someone who had a commanding presence or exhibited leadership qualities.

Some of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Duke can be found in the Domesday Book, a survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Duc" and "Duk", reflecting its French origins.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Duke was Sir Ralph de Duk, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1176. Another early record is of Robert le Duc, who was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1219.

The surname Duke is also associated with several places in England, such as Duke's Wood in Hertfordshire and Duke's Bridge in Gloucestershire. These place names may have contributed to the surname or been named after individuals bearing the name.

Notable individuals with the surname Duke throughout history include:

1. Richard Duke of Gloucester (1452-1485), better known as King Richard III of England. 2. Henry Duke of Suffolk (c. 1516-1551), an English courtier and nobleman. 3. Sir Edward Duke (c. 1619-1677), an English merchant and Member of Parliament. 4. Richard Duke (1658-1711), an English writer and critic, known for his work on classical literature. 5. Ellington Duke (1879-1960), an American baseball player who played for the St. Louis Browns and the Boston Red Sox.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Duke families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Duke 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 487 Dukes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.45x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 487 1.45x
Sussex 464 8.11x
Surrey 371 2.24x
Middlesex 355 1.05x
Lancashire 267 0.66x
Hampshire 173 2.49x
Kent 169 1.46x
Angus 149 4.74x
Durham 116 1.15x
Nottinghamshire 103 2.25x
Somerset 99 1.81x
Devon 69 0.98x
Isle of Man 66 10.47x
Warwickshire 57 0.67x
Essex 55 0.82x
Dorset 53 2.38x
Lanarkshire 51 0.46x
Hertfordshire 33 1.41x
Cornwall 24 0.62x
Lincolnshire 24 0.44x
Northumberland 23 0.46x
Wiltshire 21 0.70x
Midlothian 20 0.44x
Cheshire 17 0.23x
Northamptonshire 17 0.53x
Staffordshire 15 0.13x
Berkshire 14 0.55x
Cambridgeshire 14 0.65x
Cumberland 13 0.44x
Worcestershire 11 0.25x
Fife 10 0.50x
Kincardineshire 9 2.18x
Dunbartonshire 8 0.88x
Oxfordshire 8 0.38x
Stirlingshire 8 0.64x
Derbyshire 7 0.13x
Buckinghamshire 6 0.29x
Caernarfonshire 6 0.44x
Flintshire 6 0.66x
Kirkcudbrightshire 6 1.22x
Norfolk 6 0.12x
Ayrshire 5 0.20x
Suffolk 5 0.12x
Westmorland 5 0.67x
Channel Islands 4 0.40x
Gloucestershire 4 0.06x
Leicestershire 4 0.11x
Royal Navy 4 0.99x
Glamorgan 3 0.05x
Montgomeryshire 3 0.39x
Shropshire 3 0.10x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.06x
Argyllshire 2 0.21x
Merionethshire 2 0.32x
Renfrewshire 2 0.08x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kimberworth in Yorkshire leads with 73 Dukes recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.11x.

Place Total Index
Kimberworth 73 39.11x
Portsea 60 4.40x
Camberwell 53 2.44x
Nottingham St Mary 52 4.40x
Newington 48 3.83x
Lambeth 44 1.49x
Flamborough 42 257.83x
Islington London 42 1.28x
Brighton 41 3.55x
Shoreditch London 39 2.65x
Battle 38 98.42x
Hackney London 35 1.84x
Sheffield 35 3.27x
North Curry 33 177.51x
Govan 32 1.18x
Toxteth Park 32 2.35x
Birmingham 27 0.95x
Kirriemuir 26 33.51x
Bermondsey 25 2.47x
Bethnal Green London 25 1.70x
Dalton In Furness 24 15.44x
Everton 24 1.87x
Leominster 24 130.15x
St Pancras London 24 0.88x
West Derby 23 1.95x
Eastbourne 22 8.36x
Amberley 21 247.35x
Broadwater 21 16.00x
Clerkenwell London 21 2.62x
Doncaster 21 8.55x
Godalming 21 20.17x
Malew 21 38.15x
Brechin 20 16.19x
Nether Hallam 20 4.40x
Arbory 19 138.38x
Ashton Under Lyne 19 2.16x
Hastings St Mary In The 19 15.56x
Liff Benvie 19 3.98x
Mains 19 71.11x
Newark Upon Trent 19 11.56x
Banstead 18 40.17x
Bishopwearmouth 18 2.08x
Dundee 18 1.53x
North Petherwyn 18 180.36x
Horsham 17 15.29x
Houghton Le Spring 17 24.36x
Hoyland Nether 17 20.61x
Liverpool 17 0.70x
Arundel 16 49.94x
Hastings St Mary 16 11.24x
Hornsey 16 3.73x
Littlehampton 16 35.03x
St Marylebone London 16 0.88x
Battersea 15 1.20x
Enfield 15 6.74x
Kensington London 15 0.80x
Snenton 15 8.35x
Southwark St George Martyr 15 2.20x
West Ham 15 1.01x
Barony 14 0.50x
Creech St Michael 14 102.71x
Lewisham 14 2.27x
Paddington London 14 1.12x
St Stephen 14 102.71x
Aston 13 0.55x
Bexhill 13 45.58x
Kilham 13 92.13x
Mexborough 13 19.48x
Poplar London 13 2.03x
St Vigeans 13 7.66x
Brightside Bierlow 12 1.82x
Ecclesfield 12 4.87x
Erith 12 10.52x
Hamworthy 12 154.64x
Heeley 12 11.74x
Onchan 12 6.61x
Sompting 12 151.52x
Barrow In Furness 11 2.01x
Lancaster 11 4.59x
Sedlescombe 11 146.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 206
Elizabeth 133
Sarah 118
Jane 64
Annie 55
Ellen 55
Eliza 54
Emma 53
Ann 51
Emily 44
Margaret 44
Alice 38
Hannah 30
Martha 28
Charlotte 26
Lucy 20
Catherine 19
Louisa 19
Caroline 18
Edith 18
Anne 17
Fanny 17
Ada 16
Florence 16
Frances 16
Harriet 15
Maria 15
Susan 14
Agnes 13
Kate 12
Amelia 11
Harriett 11
Clara 10
Isabella 9
Matilda 9
Julia 8
Amy 7
Anna 7
Eleanor 7
Esther 7
Jessie 7
Sophia 7
Susannah 7
Bertha 6
Gertrude 6
Helen 6
Ruth 6
Ethel 5
Mabel 5
Lilly 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 187
John 165
George 164
Thomas 111
James 84
Charles 80
Henry 78
Alfred 45
Arthur 40
Robert 36
Edward 32
Frederick 31
Richard 30
Samuel 28
Walter 27
Albert 26
Joseph 26
Frank 18
Herbert 18
Harry 16
Francis 14
Edwin 13
Benjamin 11
Ernest 11
David 9
Thos. 8
Wm. 8
Alexander 7
Geo. 7
Edmund 6
Fred 6
Fredk. 6
Stephen 6
Tom 6
Daniel 5
Edgar 5
Louis 5
Luke 5
Jesse 4
Peter 4
Sidney 4
Willm. 4
Allen 3
Job 3
Johnson 3
Lewis 3
Mark 3
Martin 3
Philip 3
Wallace 3

FAQ

Duke surname: questions and answers

How common was the Duke surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,407 people were recorded with the Duke surname. That placed it at #1,340 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Duke surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,903 in 2016. That gives Duke a modern rank of #1,379.

What does the Duke surname mean?

An English noble title adopted as a surname, originally referring to the ruler of a duchy or dukedom.

What does the Duke map show?

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