UK surname
An English occupational surname for a shepherd or sheepshearer.
In the 1881 census there were 38 people recorded with the Flock surname, ranking it #28,285 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 37, ranked #35,582, down from #28,285 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Philip and Jacob and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Flock is 105 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.6%.
1881 census count
38
Ranked #28,285
Modern count
37
2016, ranked #35,582
Peak year
1861
105 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Flock surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Flock surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 72 | #20,720 |
| 1861 | historical | 105 | #20,298 |
| 1881 | historical | 38 | #28,285 |
| 1891 | historical | 73 | #27,677 |
| 1901 | historical | 43 | #29,380 |
| 1911 | historical | 63 | #26,537 |
| 1997 | modern | 45 | #33,168 |
| 1998 | modern | 46 | #33,286 |
| 1999 | modern | 40 | #33,967 |
| 2000 | modern | 41 | #33,889 |
| 2001 | modern | 36 | #34,171 |
| 2002 | modern | 41 | #34,032 |
| 2003 | modern | 39 | #34,296 |
| 2004 | modern | 40 | #34,387 |
| 2005 | modern | 39 | #34,652 |
| 2006 | modern | 44 | #34,568 |
| 2007 | modern | 45 | #34,699 |
| 2008 | modern | 46 | #34,759 |
| 2009 | modern | 40 | #35,274 |
| 2010 | modern | 40 | #35,403 |
| 2011 | modern | 39 | #35,444 |
| 2012 | modern | 39 | #35,415 |
| 2013 | modern | 41 | #35,384 |
| 2014 | modern | 40 | #35,454 |
| 2015 | modern | 39 | #35,472 |
| 2016 | modern | 37 | #35,582 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Philip and Jacob, St Pancras, Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead and Fulham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | St Philip and Jacob | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead | Surrey |
| 5 | Fulham | London (West Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Flock surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Flock, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Flock surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Flock household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Flock is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Flock is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Flock, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Flock is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the northern counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. It first appeared around the 13th century and is thought to be derived from the Old English word "flocc," meaning a flock or group of people or animals.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Flock can be found in the Wakefield Court Rolls of 1275, where a Robert Flok is listed as a landowner. The surname also appears in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, suggesting a long history in the region.
The name Flock may have initially been used as a descriptive surname, referring to someone who worked with or tended to flocks of sheep or other livestock. It could also have been used as a nickname for someone who was known to gather or lead groups of people.
In the 16th century, the surname Flock was found in various records across Yorkshire, including the Parish Registers of Guiseley, where a Thomas Flocke was recorded in 1564. The name also appeared in the records of the nearby town of Otley, where a John Flocke was listed in 1587.
One notable individual with the surname Flock was Sir John Flock (1602-1678), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Nottingham during the English Civil War. He was a staunch Royalist and supported King Charles I, for which he was later imprisoned by the Parliamentarians.
Another historically significant bearer of the name was James Flock (1751-1819), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. He was renowned for his bravery and leadership, earning several promotions and honors throughout his career.
In the literary world, the novelist and poet John Flock (1828-1904) gained recognition for his works depicting rural life in Yorkshire. His best-known novel, "The Dalesfolk," published in 1867, was praised for its authentic portrayal of the Yorkshire countryside and its inhabitants.
The surname Flock also has connections to the town of Flock, located in the East Riding of Yorkshire. While the town's name may have influenced the surname, the exact relationship between the two is unclear.
Other notable individuals with the surname Flock include William Flock (1857-1932), a British architect responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in Yorkshire, and Emily Flock (1889-1976), a pioneering female physician who established one of the first women's health clinics in London.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Flock surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 16 Flocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.47x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 16 | 5.47x |
| Renfrewshire | 6 | 26.48x |
| Suffolk | 4 | 11.23x |
| Kent | 3 | 3.01x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 6.61x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Eastwood in Renfrewshire leads with 6 Flocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 428.57x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Eastwood | 6 | 428.57x |
| St George Martyr London | 6 | 1016.95x |
| Hackney London | 4 | 24.41x |
| Ipswich St Margaret | 4 | 330.58x |
| Deptford St Paul | 1 | 12.99x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 13.89x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 6.15x |
| Luton | 1 | 38.17x |
| Maidstone | 1 | 33.67x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 1 | 16.08x |
| St George In East London | 1 | 36.36x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 6.41x |
| Stoke Newington London | 1 | 43.86x |
| Woolwich | 1 | 27.10x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Flock surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Flock surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Flock households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Cab Driver | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Globe Mounter | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Machinists Builder | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Omnibus Conductor | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Sewer (Straw Hat) | 1 |
| Shop Boy Tool Warehouse | 1 |
| Shopwoman Bakers | 1 |
| Staff Sergeant | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 38 people were recorded with the Flock surname. That placed it at #28,285 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 37 in 2016. That gives Flock a modern rank of #35,582.
An English occupational surname for a shepherd or sheepshearer.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Flock bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.