UK surname
An occupational surname for someone who worked with forks or pitchforks.
In the 1881 census there were 36 people recorded with the Forker surname, ranking it #28,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 89, ranked #32,297, down from #28,559 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Clacton, Great, KInghorn and Duffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Forker is 117 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 147.2%.
1881 census count
36
Ranked #28,559
Modern count
89
2016, ranked #32,297
Peak year
1861
117 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Forker surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Forker 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 | 24 | #29,038 |
| 1861 | historical | 117 | #18,635 |
| 1881 | historical | 36 | #28,559 |
| 1891 | historical | 43 | #30,933 |
| 1901 | historical | 25 | #31,259 |
| 1911 | historical | 1 | #34,332 |
| 1997 | modern | 77 | #29,874 |
| 1998 | modern | 78 | #30,192 |
| 1999 | modern | 78 | #30,327 |
| 2000 | modern | 83 | #29,809 |
| 2001 | modern | 83 | #29,617 |
| 2002 | modern | 84 | #29,982 |
| 2003 | modern | 79 | #30,549 |
| 2004 | modern | 73 | #31,403 |
| 2005 | modern | 73 | #31,616 |
| 2006 | modern | 77 | #31,510 |
| 2007 | modern | 77 | #31,856 |
| 2008 | modern | 86 | #31,114 |
| 2009 | modern | 86 | #31,612 |
| 2010 | modern | 84 | #32,289 |
| 2011 | modern | 84 | #32,237 |
| 2012 | modern | 90 | #31,790 |
| 2013 | modern | 90 | #32,146 |
| 2014 | modern | 93 | #32,025 |
| 2015 | modern | 88 | #32,421 |
| 2016 | modern | 89 | #32,297 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Clacton, Great, KInghorn, Duffield, Edinburgh and Farnborough. 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 | Clacton, Great | Essex |
| 2 | KInghorn | Fife |
| 3 | Duffield | Derbyshire |
| 4 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 5 | Farnborough | Surrey |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Forker 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 Forker, 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 Forker surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Forker 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, Forker 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 Forker is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Forker, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Forker has its origins in the German language, and is believed to have emerged in the 14th century. It is derived from the German word "Forker," which means "a person who operates a fork or pitchfork." This suggests that the name was initially associated with individuals who worked in agriculture or farming communities.
The earliest recorded instances of the Forker surname can be found in various German regions, particularly in areas such as Bavaria and Saxony. Some of the earliest documented references to this name date back to the late 15th century, where it appears in various local records and parish registers.
One notable historical reference to the Forker name can be found in the "Deutsches Familienbuch," a comprehensive compendium of German family names published in the late 19th century. This work provides valuable insights into the geographical distribution and variations of the Forker surname within Germany during that period.
In terms of notable individuals bearing the Forker name, one of the earliest recorded examples is Hans Forker, a farmer from the village of Burglengenfeld in Bavaria, who lived in the late 16th century. Another prominent figure was Johann Forker, a prominent merchant and landowner in Saxony, who lived between 1620 and 1692.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Forker name spread beyond Germany, with some families emigrating to other parts of Europe and eventually to the Americas. One notable bearer of this surname was Wilhelm Forker, a German immigrant who settled in Pennsylvania in the mid-18th century and became a respected farmer and community leader.
In the 19th century, the Forker name gained further recognition with the birth of Friedrich Forker (1819-1890), a German philosopher and author who wrote extensively on ethics and moral philosophy. Another notable figure was Karl Forker (1856-1922), a German engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of early automotive technologies.
Throughout history, the Forker name has maintained a strong connection to its German roots, reflecting the agricultural and rural origins from which it emerged. While the surname has since spread to various parts of the world, its early roots can be traced back to the farming communities of medieval Germany.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Forker 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. Fife leads with 17 Forkers recorded in 1881 and an index of 84.16x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Fife | 17 | 84.16x |
| Suffolk | 11 | 26.47x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 1.47x |
| Peeblesshire | 1 | 62.50x |
| Roxburghshire | 1 | 16.18x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dysart in Fife leads with 13 Forkers recorded in 1881 and an index of 955.88x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Dysart | 13 | 955.88x |
| Chelsworth | 8 | 26666.67x |
| St Pancras London | 5 | 18.20x |
| Little Waldingfield | 3 | 6000.00x |
| Kinghorn | 2 | 465.12x |
| Aberdour | 1 | 500.00x |
| Innerleithen | 1 | 232.56x |
| Inverkeithing | 1 | 333.33x |
| Melrose | 1 | 188.68x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Forker 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 Forker 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 Forker households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 6 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| Cowman (Ag Lab) | 1 |
| Groom & Gardener | 1 |
| Osler Unempd | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 36 people were recorded with the Forker surname. That placed it at #28,559 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 89 in 2016. That gives Forker a modern rank of #32,297.
An occupational surname for someone who worked with forks or pitchforks.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Forker 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.