NameCensus.

UK surname

Fok

A Dutch surname derived from the word "fokken" meaning to breed or cultivate animals.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Morningside and Craighouse, Newport and Camden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fok is 120 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

112

2016, ranked #28,844

Peak year

2013

120 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016, ranked #28,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Fok surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fok surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fok 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 2 #33,133
1997 modern 65 #31,141
1998 modern 71 #30,869
1999 modern 78 #30,327
2000 modern 81 #30,036
2001 modern 81 #29,828
2002 modern 80 #30,387
2003 modern 83 #30,088
2004 modern 87 #29,897
2005 modern 91 #29,406
2006 modern 84 #30,665
2007 modern 93 #29,777
2008 modern 97 #29,527
2009 modern 105 #28,815
2010 modern 115 #27,874
2011 modern 112 #28,117
2012 modern 116 #27,550
2013 modern 120 #27,406
2014 modern 113 #28,779
2015 modern 112 #28,809
2016 modern 112 #28,844

Geography

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Where Foks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Morningside and Craighouse, Newport, Camden, Birmingham and Barnet. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Morningside and Craighouse City of Edinburgh
2 Newport 004 Newport
3 Camden 018 Camden
4 Birmingham 079 Birmingham
5 Barnet 018 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fok

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fok

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Fok surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Fok 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Fok is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fok is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fok 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 Fok 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
Asian - Chinese

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

Meaning and origin of Fok

The surname Fok has its origins in the Netherlands, where it first appeared in the late 15th century. It is derived from the Dutch word "vok," which means "fox." The name likely originated as a nickname for someone with reddish hair or a cunning personality, reminiscent of the sly fox.

In the early days, the name was often spelled as "Vock" or "Vok" before evolving to its current form. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Dutch city of Leiden, where a man named Pieter Vok was mentioned in a municipal record from 1487.

The name Fok gained prominence in the 17th century, during the Dutch Golden Age. One notable figure from this era was the painter Jan Fok (1610-1661), who specialized in portraiture and was a member of the Leiden Guild of St. Luke.

As the Dutch Empire expanded, the name spread to other parts of the world. In the 18th century, a merchant named Pieter Fok (1722-1789) established trade routes between the Netherlands and the Cape Colony in South Africa, where some of his descendants settled and carried on the family name.

Another historically significant individual with the surname Fok was the Dutch naval officer and explorer Willem Fok (1787-1848). He participated in several expeditions to the East Indies and is credited with mapping various islands in the Indonesian archipelago.

In the 19th century, the Fok surname also found its way to the United States. One prominent American bearing the name was the politician and lawyer Henry Fok (1843-1912), who served as a judge in the state of New York and played a role in the development of the city's public transportation system.

Throughout its history, the surname Fok has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, merchants, explorers, and public servants. While its origins can be traced back to the Netherlands, the name has since spread across the globe, a testament to the far-reaching influence of Dutch culture and exploration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Fok surname: questions and answers

How common is the Fok surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016. That gives Fok a modern rank of #28,844.

What does the Fok surname mean?

A Dutch surname derived from the word "fokken" meaning to breed or cultivate animals.

What does the Fok map show?

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