UK surname
An English habitation surname derived from the place "Forks" meaning "fork in a river or road".
In the 1881 census there were 30 people recorded with the Forks surname, ranking it #29,363 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16, ranked #36,998, down from #29,363 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Dudley and Tamworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Forks is 156 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 46.7%.
1881 census count
30
Ranked #29,363
Modern count
16
2016, ranked #36,998
Peak year
1861
156 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Forks surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Forks 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 | 38 | #26,502 |
| 1861 | historical | 156 | #14,813 |
| 1881 | historical | 30 | #29,363 |
| 1891 | historical | 41 | #31,095 |
| 1901 | historical | 43 | #29,380 |
| 1911 | historical | 26 | #30,547 |
| 1997 | modern | 11 | #36,912 |
| 1998 | modern | 11 | #36,908 |
| 1999 | modern | 11 | #36,917 |
| 2000 | modern | 10 | #37,001 |
| 2001 | modern | 9 | #36,980 |
| 2002 | modern | 8 | #37,206 |
| 2003 | modern | 9 | #37,101 |
| 2004 | modern | 10 | #37,096 |
| 2005 | modern | 10 | #37,180 |
| 2006 | modern | 10 | #37,224 |
| 2007 | modern | 10 | #37,335 |
| 2008 | modern | 10 | #37,371 |
| 2009 | modern | 11 | #37,336 |
| 2010 | modern | 10 | #37,517 |
| 2011 | modern | 9 | #37,598 |
| 2012 | modern | 10 | #37,509 |
| 2013 | modern | 11 | #37,435 |
| 2014 | modern | 12 | #37,355 |
| 2015 | modern | 14 | #37,157 |
| 2016 | modern | 16 | #36,998 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Dudley, Tamworth, Darlaston and Finedon or Thingdon. 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 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Dudley | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Tamworth | Staffordshire |
| 4 | Darlaston | Staffordshire |
| 5 | Finedon or Thingdon | Northamptonshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Forks 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 Forks, 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 Forks surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Forks 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, Forks 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 Forks is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Forks, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Forks has its origins in England, dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have originated from a place name, possibly referring to a location near a fork in a river or a road. The earliest recorded spelling of the surname was Forkis, which appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1196.
In medieval times, surnames were often derived from geographical features or occupations. The name Forks may have been initially given to someone who lived near a fork or junction, or perhaps to someone who worked with forks, such as a blacksmith or a farmer.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Forks can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where a William de la Forkes is mentioned. This spelling suggests a Norman-French influence, as many surnames were anglicized after the Norman Conquest of 1066.
In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various forms, including Forkes, Forks, and Forkys. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 list a John Forkes, while the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379 mention a Richard Forkys.
One notable bearer of the surname was Sir John Forks, a knight who fought in the Wars of the Roses during the 15th century. He was born in Northamptonshire around 1430 and served under King Edward IV.
Another historical figure was Thomas Forks, a merchant and alderman in the city of York during the late 16th century. He was born in 1548 and played a significant role in the city's trade and governance.
In the 17th century, the surname Forks appeared in various parish records across England. For example, the baptismal records of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, mention the birth of Elizabeth Forks in 1624.
During the English Civil War, a Captain William Forks fought for the Parliamentarian forces under Oliver Cromwell. He was born in Cambridgeshire in 1608 and is recorded as having participated in several battles between 1642 and 1651.
Another notable bearer of the surname was Edward Forks, a scholar and clergyman who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He was born in Lincolnshire in 1670 and served as the rector of St. Peter's Church in Nottingham from 1705 until his death in 1739.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Forks 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. Staffordshire leads with 12 Forks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.16x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 12 | 12.16x |
| Worcestershire | 10 | 26.18x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 5.66x |
| Essex | 1 | 1.73x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 8.34x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.00x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.34x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 2.54x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.70x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.35x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dudley in Worcestershire leads with 9 Forks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 193.97x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Dudley | 9 | 193.97x |
| Bilston | 6 | 314.14x |
| Darlaston | 3 | 220.59x |
| Essington | 3 | 2307.69x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 5.35x |
| Gillingham | 1 | 48.54x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 21.98x |
| Harlow | 1 | 400.00x |
| Newport Pagnell | 1 | 270.27x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 1 | 9.81x |
| Ross | 1 | 208.33x |
| Stourbridge | 1 | 102.04x |
| Thornhill | 1 | 117.65x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Forks 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 Forks 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 Forks households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 6 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Beer Sellar & Grocer | 1 |
| Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Colliery Manager (Out Of Employ) | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Farm Laborer | 1 |
| Forge Man (I) | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| Journeyman Butcher | 1 |
| Lacemaker | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Nurse S M S | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 30 people were recorded with the Forks surname. That placed it at #29,363 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 16 in 2016. That gives Forks a modern rank of #36,998.
An English habitation surname derived from the place "Forks" meaning "fork in a river or road".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Forks 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.