UK surname
An English surname derived from the Old English words "folc" and "here", meaning "people's army".
In the 1881 census there were 49 people recorded with the Folker surname, ranking it #26,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 42, ranked #35,336, down from #26,735 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Snettisham, Willesden and Kempston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Folker is 100 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 14.3%.
1881 census count
49
Ranked #26,735
Modern count
42
2016, ranked #35,336
Peak year
1861
100 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Folker surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Folker 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 | 46 | #24,985 |
| 1861 | historical | 100 | #21,103 |
| 1881 | historical | 49 | #26,735 |
| 1891 | historical | 62 | #28,991 |
| 1901 | historical | 35 | #30,194 |
| 1911 | historical | 63 | #26,537 |
| 1997 | modern | 55 | #32,114 |
| 1998 | modern | 52 | #32,732 |
| 1999 | modern | 51 | #32,940 |
| 2000 | modern | 49 | #33,187 |
| 2001 | modern | 47 | #33,219 |
| 2002 | modern | 49 | #33,377 |
| 2003 | modern | 50 | #33,362 |
| 2004 | modern | 55 | #33,154 |
| 2005 | modern | 53 | #33,528 |
| 2006 | modern | 50 | #34,077 |
| 2007 | modern | 50 | #34,347 |
| 2008 | modern | 48 | #34,629 |
| 2009 | modern | 47 | #34,856 |
| 2010 | modern | 49 | #34,886 |
| 2011 | modern | 46 | #35,047 |
| 2012 | modern | 44 | #35,164 |
| 2013 | modern | 41 | #35,384 |
| 2014 | modern | 42 | #35,350 |
| 2015 | modern | 39 | #35,472 |
| 2016 | modern | 42 | #35,336 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Snettisham, Willesden, Kempston, King's Lynn St Margaret and Bottisham. 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 | Snettisham | Norfolk |
| 2 | Willesden | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 3 | Kempston | Bedfordshire |
| 4 | King's Lynn St Margaret | Norfolk |
| 5 | Bottisham | Cambridgeshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Folker 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 Folker, 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 Folker surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Folker 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, Folker 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 Folker is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Folker, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Folker is of Germanic origin, derived from the Old High German word "folc" meaning "people" or "folk." This name first appeared in the regions of modern-day Germany and the Netherlands during the Middle Ages.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Folker can be found in the Nibelungenlied, a medieval German epic poem dating back to around the 13th century. In this work, Folker is depicted as a minstrel and a valiant warrior who accompanied the Burgundian kings on their fateful journey to the court of Attila the Hun.
The Folker surname is believed to have originated as a descriptive name, possibly referring to someone who was considered a leader or spokesperson for a particular community or group of people. It may have also been given to individuals who lived in areas populated by a specific ethnic or cultural group.
In the 14th century, records show the name Folker appearing in various forms, such as Folcker, Folchere, and Folckert, in regions like Saxony and Westphalia. These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects and spelling conventions of the time.
Notable individuals bearing the Folker surname include Johann Folker (1518-1588), a German mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of trigonometry. Another prominent figure was Hans Folker (1637-1704), a Dutch painter known for his landscapes and portraits.
In the 19th century, Carl Folker (1818-1896), a German-American artist and lithographer, gained recognition for his works depicting scenes from the American Civil War. His contemporary, Wilhelm Folker (1839-1912), was a German philosopher and educator who wrote extensively on ethics and moral philosophy.
One of the most recent historical figures with the Folker surname was Otto Folker (1887-1963), a German military officer who served in both World War I and World War II, eventually rising to the rank of General in the Wehrmacht.
While the Folker name has origins in Germany and the Low Countries, it has since spread to other parts of Europe and beyond, carried by individuals and families who migrated or established new roots in different regions over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Folker 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. Norfolk leads with 15 Folkers recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.41x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Norfolk | 15 | 20.41x |
| Monmouthshire | 10 | 28.94x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 1.48x |
| Surrey | 5 | 2.15x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.84x |
| Staffordshire | 4 | 2.48x |
| Sussex | 3 | 3.72x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 1.89x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Snettisham in Norfolk leads with 10 Folkers recorded in 1881 and an index of 5000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Snettisham | 10 | 5000.00x |
| Trevethin | 10 | 306.75x |
| North Frodingham | 7 | 6363.64x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 4 | 23.38x |
| Hove | 3 | 84.75x |
| South Lynn | 3 | 361.45x |
| Stoke | 3 | 272.73x |
| Epsom | 2 | 176.99x |
| Ingoldisthorpe | 2 | 4000.00x |
| Islington London | 2 | 4.32x |
| Bottesford | 1 | 454.55x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 5.69x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 2.60x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Folker 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 Folker 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 Folker households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 12 |
| Annuitant | 2 |
| Auctioneer Etc | 2 |
| Bricklayer | 2 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Agent Staffordshire China Works | 1 |
| Bill Poster | 1 |
| Drapers Appren | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Farm Labourer (Ag) | 1 |
| Governess (Sch) | 1 |
| House Carpenter | 1 |
| Independent | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Shearer At (Iron) Forge | 1 |
| Surgeon | 1 |
| Sweet Shopkeeper (Confectioner) | 1 |
| Tipping At Tin Works | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 49 people were recorded with the Folker surname. That placed it at #26,735 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 42 in 2016. That gives Folker a modern rank of #35,336.
An English surname derived from the Old English words "folc" and "here", meaning "people's army".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Folker 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.