NameCensus.

UK surname

Franke

A German occupational surname denoting a person from the Franconia region or a person of Frankish ethnicity.

In the 1881 census there were 37 people recorded with the Franke surname, ranking it #28,418 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 189, ranked #20,334, up from #28,418 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Breckland, South Bucks and Medway.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Franke is 196 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 410.8%.

1881 census count

37

Ranked #28,418

Modern count

189

2016, ranked #20,334

Peak year

2015

196 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Franke had 37 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,418 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 189 in 2016, ranked #20,334.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 87 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Franke surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Franke surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Franke 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 43 #25,518
1861 historical 56 #26,864
1881 historical 37 #28,418
1891 historical 87 #25,802
1901 historical 61 #27,379
1911 historical 72 #25,642
1997 modern 157 #20,513
1998 modern 182 #19,162
1999 modern 187 #18,999
2000 modern 183 #19,239
2001 modern 175 #19,484
2002 modern 176 #19,829
2003 modern 156 #21,115
2004 modern 162 #20,756
2005 modern 163 #20,627
2006 modern 173 #19,995
2007 modern 186 #19,337
2008 modern 194 #19,011
2009 modern 187 #19,868
2010 modern 191 #20,015
2011 modern 182 #20,495
2012 modern 188 #20,018
2013 modern 187 #20,436
2014 modern 194 #20,097
2015 modern 196 #19,840
2016 modern 189 #20,334

Geography

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Where Frankes 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 Breckland, South Bucks, Medway, Teignbridge and Isle of Anglesey. 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 Breckland 009 Breckland
2 South Bucks 005 South Bucks
3 Medway 028 Medway
4 Teignbridge 009 Teignbridge
5 Isle of Anglesey 001 Isle of Anglesey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Franke

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Franke

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Franke surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Franke 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Franke is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Franke 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

Franke falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Franke 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
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Franke

The surname "FRANKE" originated in Germany during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "franko," which means "free" or "free man." This suggests that the name was initially given to individuals who were not serfs or slaves but held a free status in society.

The name is found in various spellings, including "Franke," "Franck," and "Francke," reflecting regional variations and changes in spelling conventions over time. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century, with references in historical documents such as tax records and property deeds.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname "FRANKE" was Sebastian Franck, a German Renaissance writer and philosopher who lived from 1499 to 1542. His works explored themes of religious tolerance, humanism, and social critique. Another prominent individual was August Hermann Franke, a German Protestant theologian and educator who founded the Franckesche Stiftungen, a renowned educational institution in Halle, Germany, in the late 17th century.

The surname "FRANKE" is also associated with several place names in Germany, such as Frankenberg, Frankenau, and Frankenthal, suggesting that some bearers of the name may have originated from or resided in these locations. Additionally, the name has been linked to the Franconian region of Germany, which may have contributed to its widespread usage.

Throughout history, other notable individuals with the surname "FRANKE" include:

1. Gottfried August Bürger (1747-1794), a German poet known for his ballads and lyric poetry. 2. Albert James Franke (1867-1942), an American architect who designed numerous buildings in the Chicago area. 3. Kuno Franke (1867-1944), a German Orientalist and scholar of Sanskrit literature. 4. Marianne Franke (1917-1990), a German writer and poet who explored themes of resistance and survival during World War II. 5. Walter Franke (1924-2011), a German-American physicist and pioneer in the field of solid-state physics.

While the surname "FRANKE" has its roots in medieval Germany, it has since spread across various regions and countries, reflecting the migration patterns and cultural exchanges that have shaped human societies over centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Franke families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Franke surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 13 Frankes recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.60x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 13 3.60x
Essex 7 9.83x
Lancashire 6 1.40x
Yorkshire 3 0.84x
Kent 2 1.62x
Surrey 2 1.14x
Sussex 2 3.29x
Bedfordshire 1 5.35x
Norfolk 1 1.80x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shoreditch London in Middlesex leads with 10 Frankes recorded in 1881 and an index of 63.94x.

Place Total Index
Shoreditch London 10 63.94x
Colchester St Leonard 6 2608.70x
Accrington 4 102.83x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 29.41x
Downe 2 2857.14x
Ardleigh 1 500.00x
Bedford St Paul 1 78.13x
Bermondsey 1 9.31x
Beverley St Martin 1 166.67x
Brighton 1 8.15x
Brightside Bierlow 1 14.27x
Costessey 1 833.33x
Hackney London 1 4.94x
Hartfield 1 526.32x
Kensington London 1 4.99x
Lambeth 1 3.18x
Pollington 1 2000.00x
Westminster St Margaret 1 57.47x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Franke surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Annie 2
Jane 2
Mary 2
Adelaide 1
Amy 1
Clara 1
Dorothia 1
Elise 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Frederica 1
Johanna 1
Lilian 1
Mena 1
Priscilla 1
Rose 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Franke surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Charles 2
Frederick 2
Abraham 1
Franry 1
Franz 1
Fred 1
Heinrich 1
Herman 1
James 1
Paul 1
Walter 1
William 1

Top occupations

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 Franke households.

FAQ

Franke surname: questions and answers

How common was the Franke surname in 1881?

In 1881, 37 people were recorded with the Franke surname. That placed it at #28,418 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Franke surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 189 in 2016. That gives Franke a modern rank of #20,334.

What does the Franke surname mean?

A German occupational surname denoting a person from the Franconia region or a person of Frankish ethnicity.

What does the Franke map show?

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