NameCensus.

UK surname

Flook

A topographic surname indicating someone who lived near a water channel or stream.

In the 1881 census there were 653 people recorded with the Flook surname, ranking it #5,479 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 677, ranked #7,926, down from #5,479 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Philip and Jacob. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Gloucestershire, Caerphilly and Bristol.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Flook is 888 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.7%.

1881 census count

653

Ranked #5,479

Modern count

677

2016, ranked #7,926

Peak year

1911

888 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Flook had 653 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,479 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 677 in 2016, ranked #7,926.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 888 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Multicultural Inner Suburbs.

Flook surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Flook surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Flook 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 446 #5,521
1861 historical 318 #7,999
1881 historical 653 #5,479
1891 historical 613 #6,279
1901 historical 853 #5,345
1911 historical 888 #5,012
1997 modern 725 #7,045
1998 modern 752 #7,086
1999 modern 754 #7,125
2000 modern 731 #7,251
2001 modern 700 #7,367
2002 modern 711 #7,419
2003 modern 702 #7,377
2004 modern 705 #7,350
2005 modern 692 #7,413
2006 modern 694 #7,408
2007 modern 687 #7,535
2008 modern 682 #7,633
2009 modern 702 #7,626
2010 modern 701 #7,770
2011 modern 716 #7,565
2012 modern 688 #7,699
2013 modern 687 #7,855
2014 modern 698 #7,790
2015 modern 689 #7,817
2016 modern 677 #7,926

Geography

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Where Flooks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Philip and Jacob, Winterbourne, Westerleigh, Pucklechurch, Frampton Cotterel and Stapleton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Gloucestershire, Caerphilly, Bristol and Cheltenham. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
4 Winterbourne, Westerleigh, Pucklechurch, Frampton Cotterel Gloucestershire
5 Stapleton Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Gloucestershire 011 South Gloucestershire
2 Caerphilly 018 Caerphilly
3 Bristol 028 Bristol, City of
4 Cheltenham 008 Cheltenham
5 Bristol 038 Bristol, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Flook

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Flook

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

Baseline UK

Group

Multicultural Inner Suburbs

Nationally, the Flook surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Multicultural Inner Suburbs, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Flook 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 many younger and middle-aged adults with children. All ethnic minorities, apart from those identifying as Pakistani or Bangladeshi, appear to be present in above average proportions. Affiliation to Christian religions is uncommon. Long-term disability rates are low, mirrored in limited provision of unpaid care. Privately rented terrace houses and flats are the norm. Managerial, professional and technical occupations are prevalent, and work is rarely part time. Many individuals have degree level qualifications. These areas form the inner suburbs of many of the UK’s towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Flook 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

Flook 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

Flook falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Flook

The surname "Flook" is believed to have originated in the late 16th century in England. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "floc," meaning a flock or group. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who worked as a shepherd or dealt with livestock.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Flook" appears in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England, in 1598. The entry mentions a John Flook who was baptized in that year. This suggests that the surname was already well-established in the region by that time.

In the 17th century, the "Flook" surname can be found in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Suffolk, Norfolk, and Essex. This indicates that the name likely originated in the eastern part of the country and then spread to neighboring areas over time.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and property in England compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname "Flook." However, it does mention several place names that may be related, such as Flockburgh and Flockingate, which could have influenced the development of the surname.

One notable individual with the surname "Flook" was John Flook (1670-1733), a prominent merchant and landowner in the town of Bury St. Edmunds. He was a member of the local gentry and served as a justice of the peace for several years.

Another notable figure was William Flook (1805-1877), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a celebrated explorer and cartographer. He was responsible for mapping many previously uncharted regions of the South Pacific.

In the 19th century, the "Flook" surname can be found in various parts of the United States, particularly in the northeastern states. This suggests that some members of the Flook family emigrated from England during this period.

One notable American with the surname "Flook" was Emily Flook (1842-1924), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded one of the first schools for girls in the state of Ohio and was a prominent figure in the suffrage movement.

Another significant individual was Robert Flook (1888-1965), a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in New York City, including the iconic Flatiron Building. His innovative designs and use of steel and glass construction techniques were highly influential in the field of modern architecture.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals with the surname "Flook" throughout history. While the name may have humble origins related to shepherding or livestock, it has been carried by a diverse range of individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Flook families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Flook 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. Gloucestershire leads with 443 Flooks recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.46x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 443 35.46x
Middlesex 52 0.82x
Somerset 39 3.80x
Monmouthshire 25 5.43x
Surrey 23 0.74x
Brecknockshire 10 7.85x
Kent 10 0.46x
Sussex 10 0.93x
Glamorgan 9 0.81x
Ayrshire 6 1.26x
Durham 5 0.26x
Hampshire 4 0.31x
Derbyshire 3 0.30x
Lancashire 3 0.04x
Warwickshire 3 0.19x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.99x
Devon 1 0.08x
Herefordshire 1 0.38x
Midlothian 1 0.12x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.12x
Oxfordshire 1 0.25x
Worcestershire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St George in Gloucestershire leads with 152 Flooks recorded in 1881 and an index of 263.07x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St George 152 263.07x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 88 74.82x
Stapleton 46 194.09x
Winterbourne 31 449.28x
Mangotsfield 27 216.87x
Wapley Codrington 21 3500.00x
Westerleigh 14 500.00x
Rotherhithe 13 16.52x
Frampton Cotterell 11 251.14x
Hackney London 11 3.08x
Paulton 11 234.54x
Greenwich 10 9.86x
Lower Ystradgynlais 10 127.23x
Shoreditch London 10 3.62x
Bermondsey 9 4.75x
Horfield 9 71.60x
Bethnal Green London 8 2.89x
Bitton Oldland 8 62.65x
Llanvair Kilgedin 8 1212.12x
Roath 8 15.88x
Subdeanary 8 276.82x
Trevethin 8 18.40x
Bedminster 7 7.27x
Bristol St Paul In 7 21.03x
Clerkenwell London 7 4.66x
Hampstead London 7 7.06x
Lyncombe Widcombe 7 26.07x
Ardrossan 6 36.36x
St Woollos 6 11.68x
Twerton 6 56.76x
Almondsbury 5 104.82x
Brandon Byshottles 5 21.06x
Bristol St James St Paul 5 12.00x
Portishead 5 65.62x
Bristol St Michael 4 37.35x
Portsea 4 1.56x
Bury 3 3.47x
Clifton 3 4.75x
Iron Acton 3 119.05x
Mile End Old Town London 3 2.21x
Sutton Coldfield 3 17.76x
Westbury On Trym 3 7.09x
Youlgreave 3 104.17x
Brighton 2 0.92x
Bristol St Peter 2 44.74x
Llanvihangel Nigh Usk 2 833.33x
Narberth North 2 55.56x
Siston 2 89.69x
Spitalfields London 2 4.17x
St George In East London 2 3.34x
Bitton 1 9.20x
Bristol St Stephen 1 30.86x
Cardiff St Mary 1 1.64x
Cheddar 1 19.38x
Edinburgh Greenside 1 8.87x
Islington London 1 0.16x
Lambley 1 57.14x
Nailsea 1 24.69x
Oxford St Thomas 1 5.45x
Penge 1 2.46x
Ripple 1 63.69x
Ross 1 9.62x
Shire Newton 1 60.24x
Slapton 1 74.07x
St Swithin London Stone 1 625.00x
Walcot 1 1.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 37
William 27
John 21
Thomas 20
Joseph 18
Charles 17
Henry 15
Alfred 13
Walter 13
Samuel 12
Albert 11
Daniel 9
James 8
Arthur 5
Ernest 5
Herbert 5
Robert 5
Edward 4
Frank 4
Isaac 4
Moses 4
Benjamin 3
Edwin 3
Frederick 3
Sidney 3
Stephen 3
Aaron 2
Ellen 2
Jacob 2
Job 2
Percy 2
Philip 2
Richd. 2
Saml. 2
Alred 1
Aron 1
Charlton 1
Chas.Wm. 1
Fredericks 1
Fredk. 1
Gilbert 1
Hannah 1
Herbeit 1
Infant 1
Matthew 1
Oliver 1
Pheneas 1
Reuben 1
Richard 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Flook surname: questions and answers

How common was the Flook surname in 1881?

In 1881, 653 people were recorded with the Flook surname. That placed it at #5,479 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Flook surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 677 in 2016. That gives Flook a modern rank of #7,926.

What does the Flook surname mean?

A topographic surname indicating someone who lived near a water channel or stream.

What does the Flook map show?

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