NameCensus.

UK surname

Eke

A surname likely derived from a place name or placename element in England.

In the 1881 census there were 537 people recorded with the Eke surname, ranking it #6,413 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,049, ranked #5,555, up from #6,413 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hindolveston, Wood Dalling and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk, Breckland and Torridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Eke is 1,074 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 95.3%.

1881 census count

537

Ranked #6,413

Modern count

1,049

2016, ranked #5,555

Peak year

2014

1,074 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Eke had 537 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,413 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,049 in 2016, ranked #5,555.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 724 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Eke surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Eke surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Eke 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 242 #9,001
1881 historical 537 #6,413
1901 historical 724 #6,116
1997 modern 921 #5,870
1998 modern 938 #5,966
1999 modern 940 #5,999
2000 modern 949 #5,930
2001 modern 936 #5,883
2002 modern 942 #5,968
2003 modern 958 #5,799
2004 modern 954 #5,828
2005 modern 932 #5,866
2006 modern 959 #5,748
2007 modern 984 #5,681
2008 modern 986 #5,715
2009 modern 1,018 #5,681
2010 modern 1,057 #5,619
2011 modern 1,028 #5,693
2012 modern 1,019 #5,649
2013 modern 1,068 #5,518
2014 modern 1,074 #5,527
2015 modern 1,040 #5,623
2016 modern 1,049 #5,555

Geography

Back to top

Where Ekes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hindolveston, Wood Dalling, London parishes, Foulsham and East Dereham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk, Breckland, Torridge, Northumberland and King's Lynn and West Norfolk. 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 Hindolveston Norfolk
2 Wood Dalling Norfolk
3 London parishes London 3
4 Foulsham Norfolk
5 East Dereham Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 010 North Norfolk
2 Breckland 006 Breckland
3 Torridge 008 Torridge
4 Northumberland 008 Northumberland
5 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 010 King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Eke

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Eke

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Eke surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Eke household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Eke is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Eke 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

Eke 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 Eke 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 Eke, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Eke

The surname Eke has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period around the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "eke," meaning "also" or "in addition." This surname may have originally referred to someone who held an additional occupation or role beyond their primary vocation.

Early records show the name appearing in various spellings, such as Eke, Eake, Eeke, and Eyk. One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Yorkshire from 1273, which mentions a person named William Eke.

The Eke surname is also linked to certain place names in England, particularly in areas like Yorkshire and Lancashire. For instance, the village of Eake in North Yorkshire may have influenced the surname's spelling and distribution.

Notable individuals bearing the Eke surname include John Eke (c. 1500-1555), an English Protestant reformer and translator during the reign of Henry VIII. Another notable figure was Samuel Eke (1628-1690), a Puritan minister and author who served as the rector of Battersea in Surrey.

In the 17th century, the Eke surname appears in records related to the English Civil War. One example is Thomas Eke (1617-1679), a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause and a member of the English Council of State under Oliver Cromwell.

Venturing into the literary realm, John Eke (1740-1806) was an English poet and writer who published works such as "The Wonderful Museum" and contributed to various periodicals of his time.

Another prominent individual was Sir Samuel Eke (1794-1871), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy and played a role in the Battle of Navarino during the Greek War of Independence in 1827.

While these examples showcase the historical presence of the Eke surname, it is important to note that genealogical records and documentation may reveal additional noteworthy individuals or shed further light on the name's origins and evolution over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Eke families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Eke 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. Norfolk leads with 308 Ekes recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.24x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 308 38.24x
Middlesex 49 0.94x
Kent 44 2.46x
Surrey 26 1.02x
Yorkshire 22 0.42x
Lincolnshire 12 1.43x
Northumberland 12 1.54x
Cambridgeshire 9 2.71x
Durham 8 0.51x
Essex 8 0.77x
Northamptonshire 8 1.62x
Sussex 8 0.91x
Devon 7 0.64x
Lancashire 7 0.11x
Staffordshire 6 0.34x
Suffolk 2 0.31x
Hampshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Dereham in Norfolk leads with 40 Ekes recorded in 1881 and an index of 392.93x.

Place Total Index
East Dereham 40 392.93x
Wood Dalling 31 3563.22x
Hindolveston 27 2288.14x
Southburgh 20 3448.28x
Briston 16 1045.75x
Calthorpe 14 3783.78x
Itteringham 12 2068.97x
Chislehurst 11 114.82x
Islington London 11 2.17x
Foulsham 10 588.24x
Newington 10 5.17x
Paddington London 10 5.19x
Gedney 9 263.16x
Upwell 9 370.37x
Brighton 8 4.49x
Great Fransham 8 1355.93x
Loughton 8 156.56x
Menston 8 672.27x
Yaxham 8 909.09x
Bedlington 7 26.89x
Northfleet 7 44.44x
Peterborough 7 19.62x
Plymouth St Andrew 7 8.33x
Scarning 7 588.24x
St Marylebone London 7 2.50x
Bilston 6 17.51x
Hackford In Aylsham 6 413.79x
Heigham 6 13.88x
Little Barningham 6 1666.67x
Orpington 6 109.69x
Salford 6 3.28x
Sevenoaks 6 41.41x
Shropham 6 769.23x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 5.69x
Chelsea London 5 3.17x
Cromer 5 174.83x
Norwich St George Colegate 5 170.65x
Rotherham 5 17.09x
Sall 5 1428.57x
Thornage 5 847.46x
Bermondsey 4 2.56x
Ecclesfield 4 10.51x
Great Yarmouth 4 6.00x
Hackney London 4 1.36x
Lewisham 4 4.20x
Lyng 4 439.56x
Mattishall 4 248.45x
Mattishall Burgh 4 1538.46x
Sharrington 4 1025.64x
South Lynn 4 44.00x
Stranton 4 7.62x
Bexley 3 18.99x
Corpusty 3 441.18x
Heworth 3 9.77x
Holbeach 3 32.15x
Saxthorpe 3 508.47x
St George Hanover Square 3 3.25x
St Mary Cray 3 87.72x
Aylsham 2 41.75x
Binham 2 232.56x
Booton 2 555.56x
Bothal Demesne 2 53.62x
Bury St Edmunds St James 2 11.74x
Cranworth 2 465.12x
Drayton 2 273.97x
Guestwick 2 606.06x
Hampstead London 2 2.45x
Holy Trinity 2 1.60x
Horley 2 46.73x
Litcham 2 137.93x
Longbenton 2 6.06x
Normanby In 2 14.41x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 2 38.24x
Norwich St Paul 2 41.49x
Saham Toney 2 92.17x
Stanhoe 2 253.16x
Stody 2 869.57x
Strood 2 19.61x
Tatterford 2 1250.00x
Wymondham 2 24.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 32
John 23
James 22
George 18
Robert 18
Henry 14
Walter 13
Joseph 10
Charles 8
Alfred 7
Thomas 7
David 5
Arthur 4
Edward 4
Peter 4
Richard 4
Samuel 4
Albert 3
Benjamin 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Fred 3
Aquila 2
Benjn. 2
Daniel 2
Evret 2
Fred. 2
Frederick 2
Harrison 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Randall 2
Theobald 2
Wm. 2
Adolph 1
Anthony 1
Beatley 1
Christopher 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Hy.Geo. 1
Jabez 1
Jas. 1
Jno. 1
Leonard 1
Mark 1
Mathew 1
Wm.H.J. 1

FAQ

Eke surname: questions and answers

How common was the Eke surname in 1881?

In 1881, 537 people were recorded with the Eke surname. That placed it at #6,413 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Eke surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,049 in 2016. That gives Eke a modern rank of #5,555.

What does the Eke surname mean?

A surname likely derived from a place name or placename element in England.

What does the Eke map show?

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