NameCensus.

UK surname

Fulker

An occupational surname referring to someone who worked with cloth or was a fuller.

In the 1881 census there were 312 people recorded with the Fulker surname, ranking it #9,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 490, ranked #10,129, down from #9,451 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Dartford and Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early),. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Berkshire, Ashford and Waverley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fulker is 556 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 57.1%.

1881 census count

312

Ranked #9,451

Modern count

490

2016, ranked #10,129

Peak year

1911

556 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fulker had 312 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,451 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 490 in 2016, ranked #10,129.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 556 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Fulker surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fulker surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fulker 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 168 #11,873
1861 historical 210 #11,551
1881 historical 312 #9,451
1891 historical 390 #9,058
1901 historical 439 #8,863
1911 historical 556 #7,221
1997 modern 515 #9,110
1998 modern 552 #8,909
1999 modern 547 #9,024
2000 modern 521 #9,325
2001 modern 516 #9,234
2002 modern 552 #8,961
2003 modern 541 #8,955
2004 modern 542 #8,956
2005 modern 508 #9,340
2006 modern 497 #9,518
2007 modern 504 #9,508
2008 modern 517 #9,405
2009 modern 518 #9,588
2010 modern 513 #9,853
2011 modern 487 #10,155
2012 modern 496 #9,921
2013 modern 507 #9,917
2014 modern 500 #10,077
2015 modern 491 #10,134
2016 modern 490 #10,129

Geography

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Where Fulkers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Dartford, Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early), and Sunbury. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Berkshire, Ashford, Waverley, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Bexley. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Dartford Kent
4 Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early), Berkshire
5 Sunbury Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Berkshire 007 West Berkshire
2 Ashford 014 Ashford
3 Waverley 005 Waverley
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 021 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 Bexley 014 Bexley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fulker

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fulker

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Fulker surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Fulker household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Fulker is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fulker is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fulker falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fulker 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Fulker

The surname Fulker is believed to have originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "fulc," meaning "people" or "folk," and was likely used as a descriptive name for someone who was part of a particular community or group.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fulker can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, a collection of financial records from the late 12th century. These rolls mention a man named Willelmus Fulker, suggesting that the name was already in use by this time.

During the 13th century, the name Fulker appeared in various historical documents, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, which listed a Robert Fulker among the landowners of the region.

In the 14th century, the surname Fulker was found in the Poll Tax records of Yorkshire, indicating its presence in different parts of England. One notable individual from this period was John Fulker, a merchant who lived in London and was mentioned in the city's records from the late 1300s.

As time passed, variations in the spelling of the surname emerged, such as Fulker, Fulkar, and Fulcare. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of scribes who recorded the name.

In the 16th century, the Fulker surname gained further prominence with the birth of Sir John Fulker (1516-1578), a prominent landowner and Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire. His descendants continued to play influential roles in the county's affairs for several generations.

Another notable figure bearing the Fulker surname was William Fulker (1538-1589), an English Puritan and Biblical scholar. He was known for his work on the Geneva Bible and his religious writings.

As the centuries progressed, the Fulker surname spread across various parts of England, with families establishing themselves in counties like Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Yorkshire, and London.

It is worth noting that while the surname Fulker has its roots in England, it has also been found in other parts of the world, likely due to migration and cultural exchange. However, the historical records and references mentioned above primarily pertain to its English origins and early development.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fulker families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fulker 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. Berkshire leads with 103 Fulkers recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.67x.

County Total Index
Berkshire 103 45.67x
Surrey 79 5.40x
Middlesex 58 1.93x
Hampshire 26 4.22x
Kent 15 1.46x
Sussex 11 2.17x
Oxfordshire 5 2.70x
Wiltshire 5 1.88x
Buckinghamshire 3 1.65x
Essex 1 0.17x
Gloucestershire 1 0.17x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Reading St Mary in Berkshire leads with 33 Fulkers recorded in 1881 and an index of 182.72x.

Place Total Index
Reading St Mary 33 182.72x
Croydon 30 36.92x
St Pancras London 16 6.62x
Reading St Giles 14 63.29x
Chertsey 13 137.42x
Crayford 12 267.86x
Hampstead Norris 11 774.65x
Westminster St John 11 30.06x
Battersea 10 9.05x
Brighton 9 8.81x
Portsea 9 7.46x
Sunbury 8 221.61x
Earley 7 186.17x
Hanworth 6 571.43x
Kensington London 6 3.59x
Odiham 6 222.22x
Shinfield 6 451.13x
Sonning 6 240.96x
Drayton 5 1086.96x
Eversley 5 704.23x
Salisbury St Thomas 5 236.97x
Weybridge 5 159.24x
Wokingham 5 97.09x
Easthampstead 4 330.58x
Godalming 4 43.38x
Lambeth 4 1.53x
Pirbright 4 540.54x
Reading St Lawrence 4 82.99x
Walton On Thames 4 59.52x
Winkfield 4 106.95x
Iver 3 128.21x
New Windsor 3 39.58x
Abingdon St Helen 2 30.35x
Arundel 2 70.42x
Beckenham 2 14.93x
Clewer 2 21.65x
Ewell 2 64.72x
Hampton Wick London 2 90.91x
Islington London 2 0.69x
Ryde 2 15.12x
Spitalfields London 2 8.85x
Warfield 2 97.56x
Basingstoke 1 14.12x
Bermondsey 1 1.12x
Bromley 1 6.40x
Camberwell 1 0.52x
Cheltenham 1 2.20x
East Ham 1 9.08x
Farnham 1 8.79x
Fulham London 1 2.30x
Hound 1 23.92x
Paddington London 1 0.91x
Radford 1 4.86x
Shepperton 1 75.19x
Southampton St Mary 1 2.58x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.89x
Stratfield Turgis 1 500.00x
Teddington London 1 14.68x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Sarah 13
Ellen 11
Alice 7
Ann 6
Annie 6
Charlotte 6
Eliza 6
Elizabeth 6
Emily 6
Fanny 3
Hannah 3
Kate 3
Lucy 3
Margaret 3
Matilda 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Emma 2
Jane 2
Louisa 2
Teresa 2
Christina 1
Elvia 1
Em. 1
Emmily 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Fredrica 1
Gordiana 1
Helen 1
Jeannette 1
Leah 1
Lillias 1
Lizzie 1
Lottie 1
Louise 1
Lydia 1
Margrette 1
Maria 1
Marion 1
Maryann 1
Minnie 1
Pricilla 1
Rose 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Fulker surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fulker surname in 1881?

In 1881, 312 people were recorded with the Fulker surname. That placed it at #9,451 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fulker surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 490 in 2016. That gives Fulker a modern rank of #10,129.

What does the Fulker surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who worked with cloth or was a fuller.

What does the Fulker map show?

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