NameCensus.

UK surname

Feek

A surname likely derived from a nickname for someone with a hooked or crooked nose.

In the 1881 census there were 102 people recorded with the Feek surname, ranking it #19,518 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 200, ranked #19,591, down from #19,518 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hemblington, Beighton and St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Norwich, North East Derbyshire and Sheffield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Feek is 237 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 96.1%.

1881 census count

102

Ranked #19,518

Modern count

200

2016, ranked #19,591

Peak year

1999

237 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Feek had 102 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,518 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 200 in 2016, ranked #19,591.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 143 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Feek surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Feek surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Feek 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 52 #23,915
1861 historical 79 #23,702
1881 historical 102 #19,518
1891 historical 133 #19,870
1901 historical 122 #20,344
1911 historical 143 #18,401
1997 modern 220 #16,607
1998 modern 225 #16,846
1999 modern 237 #16,360
2000 modern 227 #16,792
2001 modern 217 #17,059
2002 modern 229 #16,771
2003 modern 212 #17,454
2004 modern 210 #17,644
2005 modern 205 #17,838
2006 modern 193 #18,675
2007 modern 196 #18,737
2008 modern 191 #19,195
2009 modern 194 #19,398
2010 modern 198 #19,577
2011 modern 197 #19,483
2012 modern 197 #19,408
2013 modern 205 #19,218
2014 modern 207 #19,259
2015 modern 206 #19,208
2016 modern 200 #19,591

Geography

Back to top

Where Feeks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hemblington, Beighton, St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju, Tharston and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Norwich, North East Derbyshire, Sheffield and Waveney. 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 Hemblington Norfolk
2 Beighton Yorkshire, West Riding
3 St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju Norfolk
4 Tharston Norfolk
5 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Norwich 007 Norwich
2 North East Derbyshire 010 North East Derbyshire
3 Norwich 001 Norwich
4 Sheffield 056 Sheffield
5 Waveney 010 Waveney

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Feek

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Feek

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Feek is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Feek is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Feek falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Feek

The surname FEEK originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "fic," which referred to a small fig-like growth or skin tag. This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone with a prominent mole or birthmark.

The earliest known record of the surname FEEK dates back to the 13th century in the county of Yorkshire. A family by the name of Feke is mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, an ancient census conducted during the reign of King Edward I.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as Feike, Feyk, and Feyke, reflecting regional dialects and variations in pronunciation. One notable example is found in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield from 1348, where a certain John Feyke is listed as a tenant farmer.

During the 15th century, the surname FEEK began to spread beyond Yorkshire to other parts of England. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1524 record a Thomas Feek living in the county of Somerset.

One of the earliest known bearers of the FEEK surname was Sir William Feek (1490-1558), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of London. He was a prominent figure in the city's guild system and served as the Master of the Worshipful Company of Vintners in 1542.

Another notable individual was John Feek (1570-1638), a Puritan minister and author from Oxfordshire. He is best known for his work "The Sinner's Guide to Repentance," published in 1632.

In the 17th century, the FEEK surname gained further recognition with the birth of Sir Roger Feek (1615-1690), a prominent lawyer and judge who served as the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland from 1679 to 1687.

During the same period, Elizabeth Feek (1630-1691) was a well-known Quaker preacher and writer from Lancashire. She authored several religious tracts and traveled extensively, spreading her faith throughout England and Ireland.

In the 18th century, the name FEEK was carried to the American colonies by early settlers. One such individual was Thomas Feek (1725-1802), a farmer and Revolutionary War veteran from Pennsylvania.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Feek families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Feek 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 75 Feeks recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.04x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 75 49.04x
Lincolnshire 6 3.77x
Surrey 6 1.24x
Worcestershire 6 4.62x
Suffolk 4 3.30x
Kent 3 0.88x
Dorset 1 1.53x
Sussex 1 0.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Yarmouth in Norfolk leads with 15 Feeks recorded in 1881 and an index of 118.39x.

Place Total Index
Great Yarmouth 15 118.39x
Little Plumstead 14 12727.27x
Tharston 12 9230.77x
Heigham 8 97.44x
Hemblington 8 10000.00x
Fulletby 6 6666.67x
Pershore St Andrew 6 833.33x
Topcroft 5 4166.67x
Norwich All Sts 4 3076.92x
Orpington 3 288.46x
Penge 3 47.24x
Beccles 2 102.56x
Lowestoft 2 34.97x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 9.99x
Wiggenhall St Mary Virgin 2 1818.18x
Coltishall 1 312.50x
Coulsdon 1 113.64x
Docking 1 208.33x
Dorchester Holy Trinity 1 188.68x
Hapton 1 1428.57x
Hastings St Mary In The 1 27.93x
North Walsham 1 90.91x
Norwich St Giles 1 204.08x
Norwich St Gregory 1 370.37x
Norwich St Mary In Marsh 1 588.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 7
Mary 6
Sarah 5
Emma 4
Harriet 4
Hannah 3
Martha 3
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Maria 2
Marian 2
Sussanah 2
Adelaide 1
Agness 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Emily 1
Florence 1
Georgiana 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Jane 1
Laura 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Minnie 1
Redelphor 1
Rosa 1
Rosannah 1
Thedora 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Feek surname: questions and answers

How common was the Feek surname in 1881?

In 1881, 102 people were recorded with the Feek surname. That placed it at #19,518 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Feek surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 200 in 2016. That gives Feek a modern rank of #19,591.

What does the Feek surname mean?

A surname likely derived from a nickname for someone with a hooked or crooked nose.

What does the Feek map show?

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