NameCensus.

UK surname

Hark

A surname derived from the Old English "heorac," meaning a heron or stork.

In the 1881 census there were 75 people recorded with the Hark surname, ranking it #22,893 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 121, ranked #27,399, down from #22,893 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, Hull Holy Trinity and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tameside, Shropshire and Oldham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hark is 361 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 61.3%.

1881 census count

75

Ranked #22,893

Modern count

121

2016, ranked #27,399

Peak year

1861

361 bearers

Map years

5

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hark had 75 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,893 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 121 in 2016, ranked #27,399.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 361 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Hark surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hark surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hark 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 97 #17,484
1861 historical 361 #7,076
1881 historical 75 #22,893
1891 historical 128 #20,393
1901 historical 92 #23,800
1911 historical 70 #25,853
1997 modern 112 #25,244
1998 modern 110 #26,129
1999 modern 112 #26,044
2000 modern 122 #24,698
2001 modern 113 #25,489
2002 modern 101 #27,766
2003 modern 106 #26,775
2004 modern 111 #26,293
2005 modern 106 #27,044
2006 modern 109 #26,872
2007 modern 115 #26,348
2008 modern 120 #25,922
2009 modern 124 #25,957
2010 modern 121 #27,005
2011 modern 114 #27,784
2012 modern 106 #29,187
2013 modern 117 #27,838
2014 modern 114 #28,608
2015 modern 115 #28,319
2016 modern 121 #27,399

Geography

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Where Harks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, Hull Holy Trinity, St Leonard Shoreditch, St Dunstan Stepney and Wigan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tameside, Shropshire, Oldham, Islington and Bolton. 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 St George in the East London (East Districts)
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
4 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
5 Wigan Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tameside 010 Tameside
2 Shropshire 029 Shropshire
3 Oldham 034 Oldham
4 Islington 012 Islington
5 Bolton 027 Bolton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hark

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hark

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hark, 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 Hark surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Hark 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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Hark is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hark is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hark falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hark is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Hark

The surname Hark is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "herc," meaning "hark" or "listen," suggesting a potential connection to an occupation or trade that involved calling out or announcing information.

The earliest recorded instances of the Hark surname can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable reference is found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which recorded individuals with the surname Herk residing in Oxfordshire and Berkshire.

During the 14th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as Hark, Harke, and Herke, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling practices of the time. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was John Herk, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327.

In the 15th century, the name continued to be documented in different regions of England. For instance, the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1428 recorded a Richard Hark residing in Yorkshire. Additionally, the Hearth Tax Rolls of the late 17th century listed several Hark families in various counties, including Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

Historically, the surname Hark has been associated with various notable individuals. One such figure was Robert Hark, a prominent merchant and burgess of Nottingham in the 16th century. Another was John Hark, a renowned Catholic priest and scholar who lived in the 17th century and was known for his writings on theology and philosophy.

Other notable individuals with the Hark surname include:

1. William Hark (1590-1657), an English clergyman and author of religious works. 2. Samuel Hark (1642-1711), a renowned English mathematician and astronomer. 3. Elizabeth Hark (1725-1803), a pioneering educator and founder of one of the earliest girls' schools in London. 4. Thomas Hark (1768-1842), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. 5. Mary Hark (1840-1918), a prominent social reformer and advocate for women's rights in the late 19th century.

While the Hark surname originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and family lineages. However, its roots can be traced back to the medieval period, reflecting the rich history and evolution of English surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hark families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hark 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 24 Harks recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.28x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 24 3.28x
Somerset 7 5.94x
Lincolnshire 6 5.13x
Yorkshire 5 0.69x
Kent 4 1.60x
Lanarkshire 4 1.69x
Surrey 4 1.12x
Cheshire 3 1.86x
Essex 3 2.08x
Lancashire 3 0.35x
Midlothian 3 3.06x
Hampshire 2 1.33x
Northamptonshire 2 2.91x
Cumberland 1 1.59x
Monmouthshire 1 1.89x
Sussex 1 0.81x
Warwickshire 1 0.54x
West Lothian 1 9.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Knowle St Giles in Somerset leads with 7 Harks recorded in 1881 and an index of 23333.33x.

Place Total Index
Knowle St Giles 7 23333.33x
Binbrooke 6 2068.97x
Clerkenwell London 6 34.74x
St George In East London 6 87.21x
Limehouse London 5 62.27x
Barony 3 5.01x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 7.61x
Leeds 3 7.33x
Oswaldtwistle 3 97.72x
Spitalfields London 3 54.55x
Worleston 3 3750.00x
Chatham 2 29.11x
Colchester Holy Trinity 2 625.00x
Raunds 2 285.71x
Tandridge 2 1333.33x
Basingstoke 1 58.14x
Birmingham 1 1.63x
Brighton 1 4.02x
Farningham 1 454.55x
Govan 1 1.71x
Huddersfield 1 9.47x
Islington London 1 1.41x
Kingston On Thames 1 11.68x
Lambeth 1 1.57x
Leyton 1 40.16x
Newport 1 39.68x
Newport 1 123.46x
Scarborough 1 15.17x
South Mimms 1 100.00x
St George Hanover Square 1 7.76x
St Pancras London 1 1.70x
Tonbridge 1 11.11x
Whitburn 1 62.89x
Workington 1 27.70x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Alice 2
Annie 2
Elizabeth 2
Emily 2
Sarah 2
Ann 1
Bessie 1
Betsey 1
Betsy 1
Charlotte 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Hephzibah 1
Kate 1
Katie 1
Lilly 1
Lydia 1
Magdolina 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
May 1
Rachel 1
Rosa 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Hark surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hark surname in 1881?

In 1881, 75 people were recorded with the Hark surname. That placed it at #22,893 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hark surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 121 in 2016. That gives Hark a modern rank of #27,399.

What does the Hark surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English "heorac," meaning a heron or stork.

What does the Hark map show?

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