NameCensus.

UK surname

Elkes

A surname derived from the ancient Greek word "elke" meaning wound or scar.

In the 1881 census there were 111 people recorded with the Elkes surname, ranking it #18,597 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 135, ranked #25,505, down from #18,597 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Lilleshall and Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Dacorum and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Elkes is 152 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.6%.

1881 census count

111

Ranked #18,597

Modern count

135

2016, ranked #25,505

Peak year

1911

152 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Elkes had 111 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,597 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 135 in 2016, ranked #25,505.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 152 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Elkes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Elkes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Elkes 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 121 #15,049
1861 historical 73 #24,492
1881 historical 111 #18,597
1891 historical 131 #20,073
1901 historical 138 #18,955
1911 historical 152 #17,712
1997 modern 128 #23,238
1998 modern 137 #22,922
1999 modern 135 #23,279
2000 modern 134 #23,358
2001 modern 128 #23,665
2002 modern 128 #24,150
2003 modern 127 #24,019
2004 modern 123 #24,679
2005 modern 120 #25,066
2006 modern 122 #25,010
2007 modern 123 #25,208
2008 modern 126 #25,131
2009 modern 129 #25,314
2010 modern 131 #25,656
2011 modern 131 #25,430
2012 modern 133 #25,187
2013 modern 140 #24,779
2014 modern 139 #25,093
2015 modern 133 #25,729
2016 modern 135 #25,505

Geography

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Where Elkes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Lilleshall, Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace, Edgmond (Edgmond), Chetwynd, Cheswardine, Hinstock and Wem. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Dacorum, Cheshire East, Stoke-on-Trent and East Staffordshire. 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 Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors Shropshire
2 Lilleshall Shropshire
3 Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace Shropshire
4 Edgmond (Edgmond), Chetwynd, Cheswardine, Hinstock Shropshire
5 Wem Shropshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 029 Shropshire
2 Dacorum 006 Dacorum
3 Cheshire East 048 Cheshire East
4 Stoke-on-Trent 031 Stoke-on-Trent
5 East Staffordshire 002 East Staffordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Elkes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Elkes

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

Elkes is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Elkes falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Elkes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Elkes

The surname ELKES is believed to have originated in England, where it first appeared in the early medieval period. It is thought to derive from the Old English word "elc," meaning "elk" or "stag." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a place where elks were found or someone who was associated with hunting or working with these animals.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Elches." This entry suggests that the name was already well-established in England by the late 11th century. Over time, the spelling evolved to its current form of "ELKES."

During the Middle Ages, the ELKES name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, where several place names, such as Elkesley and Elksley, are believed to have derived from the surname. These place names may have been originally coined to describe settlements or areas where families bearing the ELKES name resided.

One notable figure bearing the ELKES surname was Sir Richard Elkes (c. 1490-1564), a prominent English landowner and member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. He served as the High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire in 1542 and played a significant role in the administration of the county.

Another individual of historical importance was Thomas Elkes (c. 1570-1632), an English clergyman who served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Nottingham. He was known for his scholarly works and contributions to the religious life of the community.

In the 18th century, John Elkes (1714-1782) was a notable English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Mansion House in London. His work played a significant role in shaping the architectural landscape of the city during that era.

Elizabeth Elkes (1789-1867) was a prominent English author and poet who gained recognition for her romantic novels and verse. Her work often celebrated the beauty of the English countryside and explored themes of love and nature.

Finally, Sir Arthur Elkes (1847-1921) was a distinguished British military officer who served in various campaigns during the Victorian era. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant General and was awarded several honors for his service, including the Order of the Bath.

These examples illustrate the long and diverse history of the ELKES surname, which has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, clergymen, architects, authors, and military officers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Elkes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Elkes 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. Shropshire leads with 81 Elkes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 86.59x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 81 86.59x
Lancashire 18 1.40x
Staffordshire 7 1.92x
Flintshire 2 6.87x
Essex 1 0.47x
Fife 1 1.56x
Yorkshire 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. Newport in Shropshire leads with 15 Elkes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1327.43x.

Place Total Index
Newport 15 1327.43x
Shrewsbury St Mary 15 406.50x
Wem 14 1007.19x
Lilleshall 6 419.58x
Bradford 5 83.19x
Clungunford 5 2272.73x
Shifnal 5 196.85x
Ercall Magna 4 597.01x
Haughmond Demesne 4 8000.00x
Barrow In Furness 3 17.17x
Barton Upon Irwell 3 31.02x
Minsterley 3 857.14x
Upton Magna 3 1764.71x
Lichfield St Chad 2 243.90x
Liverpool 2 2.56x
Mold 2 75.76x
Oldham 2 4.82x
Tipton 2 17.87x
Astley 1 1111.11x
Berrington 1 270.27x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 4.90x
Colchester St Botolph 1 54.95x
Ellesmere 1 62.11x
Forton 1 500.00x
Grassington 1 434.78x
Middle 1 384.62x
Royton 1 25.45x
Rugeley 1 38.17x
Scoonie 1 71.94x
Shrewsbury St Chad 1 30.49x
Shrewsbury St Julian 1 43.29x
Toxteth Park 1 2.30x
Trentham 1 32.15x
Wellington 1 19.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Sarah 7
Elizabeth 5
Ann 4
Alice 3
Annie 3
Ellen 3
Emma 3
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Jane 2
Lizzie 2
Louisa 2
Minnie 2
Ada 1
Anne 1
Caroline 1
Elizth. 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Harriet 1
Lucy 1
Martha 1
Pattie 1
Rebecca 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 9
John 6
Thomas 6
Charles 5
Samuel 4
Henry 3
James 3
Edward 2
Edwd. 2
Edwin 2
George 2
Arnold 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Joseph 1
Richard 1
Stephen 1

FAQ

Elkes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Elkes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 111 people were recorded with the Elkes surname. That placed it at #18,597 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Elkes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 135 in 2016. That gives Elkes a modern rank of #25,505.

What does the Elkes surname mean?

A surname derived from the ancient Greek word "elke" meaning wound or scar.

What does the Elkes map show?

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