UK surname
An occupational surname derived from the Old English "forc," referring to someone who made or used forks or pitchforks.
In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Fork surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8, ranked #37,829, down from #33,498 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ecclesfield, Petherton, South and Ealing, Chiswick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fork is 176 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 166.7%.
1881 census count
3
Ranked #33,498
Modern count
8
2016, ranked #37,829
Peak year
1861
176 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Fork surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Fork surname density by area, 1891 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 | 30 | #27,891 |
| 1861 | historical | 176 | #13,335 |
| 1881 | historical | 3 | #33,498 |
| 1891 | historical | 107 | #22,967 |
| 1901 | historical | 28 | #30,951 |
| 1911 | historical | 31 | #29,952 |
| 1997 | modern | 1 | #38,839 |
| 1998 | modern | 2 | #38,550 |
| 1999 | modern | 1 | #38,820 |
| 2000 | modern | 1 | #38,790 |
| 2001 | modern | 2 | #38,335 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 3 | #38,334 |
| 2007 | modern | 4 | #38,169 |
| 2008 | modern | 4 | #38,216 |
| 2009 | modern | 2 | #38,725 |
| 2010 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2011 | modern | 3 | #38,546 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 6 | #38,049 |
| 2014 | modern | 5 | #38,228 |
| 2015 | modern | 8 | #37,797 |
| 2016 | modern | 8 | #37,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ecclesfield, Petherton, South, Ealing, Chiswick, Finedon or Thingdon and Gislingham. 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 | Ecclesfield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 2 | Petherton, South | Somerset |
| 3 | Ealing, Chiswick | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 4 | Finedon or Thingdon | Northamptonshire |
| 5 | Gislingham | Suffolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Fork 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 Fork, 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 Fork surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Fork 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, Fork 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 Fork is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Fork, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname FORK has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "forc," which referred to a forked or branched implement, often used in agricultural contexts.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1273, where a person named Robert Fork is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by that time.
In the 14th century, the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire listed a John Forke, indicating the name's presence in that area as well. The surname's varied spellings, such as Forke, Fforke, and Ffork, were common during this period due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.
The name FORK may have also been influenced by various place names in England that incorporated the word "fork," such as Fork Abbey in Shropshire or Fork Hill in Derbyshire. These locations could have contributed to the surname's adoption or reinforcement among local populations.
Notable historical figures bearing the FORK surname include:
1. Thomas Fork (c. 1490 - 1558), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Ely from 1554 until his death. 2. William Fork (c. 1530 - 1592), an English merchant and explorer who participated in expeditions to the West Indies and South America. 3. Elizabeth Fork (c. 1560 - 1622), an English landowner and philanthropist known for her support of education and charitable causes in Oxfordshire. 4. John Fork (c. 1610 - 1678), an English soldier who fought in the English Civil War and later became a prominent figure in the politics of the Commonwealth period. 5. Mary Fork (c. 1650 - 1720), an English writer and poet whose works focused on themes of nature and spirituality.
While the surname FORK may have originated as a descriptive name related to agricultural implements or occupations, it eventually became established as a hereditary surname passed down through generations across various regions of England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fork 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. Lincolnshire leads with 1 Forks recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.41x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 21.41x |
| Surrey | 1 | 7.03x |
| Wigtownshire | 1 | 256.41x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Belton in Lincolnshire leads with 1 Forks recorded in 1881 and an index of 5000.00x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Fork 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 Fork households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Cook Domestic | 1 |
| Ladys Maid Domestic St | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Fork surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 8 in 2016. That gives Fork a modern rank of #37,829.
An occupational surname derived from the Old English "forc," referring to someone who made or used forks or pitchforks.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fork 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.