NameCensus.

UK surname

Elks

A surname derived from the Middle English word "elk," meaning a stag or elk.

In the 1881 census there were 315 people recorded with the Elks surname, ranking it #9,393 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 449, ranked #10,816, down from #9,393 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Peter, St Alkmund and Alton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Staffordshire Moorlands, East Staffordshire and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Elks is 515 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.5%.

1881 census count

315

Ranked #9,393

Modern count

449

2016, ranked #10,816

Peak year

2002

515 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Elks had 315 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,393 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 449 in 2016, ranked #10,816.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 511 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Elks surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Elks surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Elks 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 163 #12,156
1861 historical 176 #13,335
1881 historical 315 #9,393
1891 historical 374 #9,343
1901 historical 438 #8,881
1911 historical 511 #7,706
1997 modern 420 #10,608
1998 modern 496 #9,658
1999 modern 500 #9,661
2000 modern 501 #9,619
2001 modern 501 #9,448
2002 modern 515 #9,443
2003 modern 482 #9,755
2004 modern 473 #9,905
2005 modern 465 #9,958
2006 modern 465 #9,988
2007 modern 456 #10,221
2008 modern 459 #10,265
2009 modern 482 #10,131
2010 modern 480 #10,353
2011 modern 486 #10,168
2012 modern 465 #10,422
2013 modern 473 #10,436
2014 modern 466 #10,608
2015 modern 456 #10,715
2016 modern 449 #10,816

Geography

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Where Elks' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Peter, St Alkmund, Alton, Burton-on-Trent and Wolstanton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Staffordshire Moorlands, East Staffordshire, Doncaster and Newcastle-under-Lyme. 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 St Peter Derbyshire
2 St Alkmund Derbyshire
3 Alton Staffordshire
4 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
5 Wolstanton Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Staffordshire Moorlands 013 Staffordshire Moorlands
2 East Staffordshire 009 East Staffordshire
3 Staffordshire Moorlands 012 Staffordshire Moorlands
4 Doncaster 035 Doncaster
5 Newcastle-under-Lyme 007 Newcastle-under-Lyme

Forenames

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First names often paired with Elks

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Elks

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Elks surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Elks household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Elks is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Elks is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Elks falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Elks

The surname Elks is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "Elloc," meaning "elk" or "stag." This name was likely given as a nickname to someone who possessed characteristics associated with the elk, such as strength, speed, or grace.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Elks can be traced back to the 13th century in Yorkshire, England. Notable bearers of this name include Richard Elks, a landowner in the village of Shipton, Yorkshire, mentioned in records from 1297.

In the 14th century, a variant spelling, "Elcok," appeared in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. This document was a tax record that listed individuals by name, providing valuable insight into the distribution and variations of surnames during that time.

As time passed, the surname Elks spread throughout England, with branches emerging in various regions. One notable individual was John Elks, a merchant from Bristol, who lived in the late 15th century and was recorded in the city's trade records.

During the 16th century, the surname Elks appeared in the parish records of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. This area was the birthplace of the renowned playwright William Shakespeare, though no direct connection between him and the Elks family has been established.

In the 17th century, the Elks surname gained prominence in Lancashire, with several members of the family serving as local officials and landowners. One notable figure was Thomas Elks, who was appointed as a Justice of the Peace in 1643.

The 18th century saw the Elks surname spread further across England, with records indicating families living in counties such as Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Lincolnshire. Notable bearers from this period include William Elks, a respected clockmaker from London, who was active in the 1760s and known for his intricate timepieces.

As the Industrial Revolution took hold in the 19th century, many Elks families migrated to urban centers in search of employment opportunities. One prominent figure was Sir James Elks, an industrialist and philanthropist from Manchester, who contributed significantly to the development of the city's textile industry.

Throughout history, the Elks surname has been associated with various notable individuals, including authors, artists, and academics. One example is Mary Elks, a celebrated poet from the late 19th century, whose works explored themes of nature and the human experience.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Elks families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Elks 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. Staffordshire leads with 174 Elks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.83x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 174 16.83x
Derbyshire 49 10.22x
Shropshire 46 17.38x
Lancashire 20 0.55x
Lincolnshire 8 1.63x
Northamptonshire 7 2.43x
Middlesex 5 0.16x
Warwickshire 2 0.26x
Yorkshire 2 0.07x
Worcestershire 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Burton Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 32 Elks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 132.29x.

Place Total Index
Burton Upon Trent 32 132.29x
Derby St Alkmund 18 125.26x
Newcastle Under Lyme 15 82.01x
Derby St Peter 14 91.68x
Wrockwardine 14 240.55x
Shifnal 12 167.13x
Farley 11 2200.00x
Litchurch 11 56.99x
Burton Extra 10 168.63x
Stoke Upon Trent 9 8.21x
Cheadle 8 160.97x
Moston 8 219.18x
Pendlebury 8 104.30x
Rocester 8 625.00x
Stamford All Sts 8 291.97x
Uttoxeter 8 151.23x
Bilston 7 34.93x
Kettering 7 60.09x
Kingsley 7 362.69x
Kingswinford 7 18.65x
Alton 6 540.54x
Cotton 6 869.57x
Lilleshall 6 148.51x
Walsall Foreign 6 11.24x
Wolstanton Knutton 6 95.09x
Alveley 5 476.19x
Burslem 5 16.88x
Checkley 5 186.57x
Wellington 5 33.62x
Derby St Werburgh 4 14.45x
Horninglow 4 82.14x
Shrewsbury St Mary 4 38.31x
Cannock 3 16.63x
Cauldon 3 882.35x
St Marylebone London 3 1.83x
Toxteth Park 3 2.44x
Bromley London 2 2.97x
Rugeley 2 26.95x
Wootton 2 1052.63x
Birmingham 1 0.39x
Croxden 1 526.32x
Derby All Sts 1 25.00x
Enville 1 123.46x
Hulme 1 1.32x
Longford 1 227.27x
Martin Hussingtree 1 555.56x
Mayfield 1 77.52x
Sculcoates 1 2.08x
Soothill 1 9.12x
Trentham 1 11.38x
Wellesbourne Mountford 1 135.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 17
Mary 15
Elizabeth 13
Hannah 9
Ann 8
Annie 7
Emma 6
Eliza 5
Ellen 5
Fanny 5
Harriet 5
Agnes 4
Jane 4
Alice 3
Louisa 3
Margaret 3
Martha 3
Charlotte 2
Elizth. 2
Florence 2
Ruth 2
Anna 1
Catharine 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Comfort 1
Eda 1
Edith 1
Emeline 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Fanney 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lizzie 1
Louise 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Maria 1
Minnie 1
Monica 1
Nancy 1
Olive 1
Olivia 1
Olivier 1
Patience 1
Thurza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 21
William 20
Thomas 12
Charles 10
George 8
Joseph 8
Samuel 8
James 7
Arthur 5
David 5
Henry 5
Edwin 3
Francis 3
Paul 3
Richard 3
Wm. 3
Daniel 2
Edd. 2
Edward 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
Mark 2
Walter 2
Abraham 1
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Ben 1
Chas. 1
Emanuel 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Hy. 1
Jesse 1
Jonathan 1
Lewis 1
Michael 1
Stephen 1
Wm 1

FAQ

Elks surname: questions and answers

How common was the Elks surname in 1881?

In 1881, 315 people were recorded with the Elks surname. That placed it at #9,393 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Elks surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 449 in 2016. That gives Elks a modern rank of #10,816.

What does the Elks surname mean?

A surname derived from the Middle English word "elk," meaning a stag or elk.

What does the Elks map show?

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