UK surname
An occupational surname likely referring to someone who worked with peat or turf.
In the 1881 census there were 23 people recorded with the Harke surname, ranking it #30,339 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6, ranked #38,110, down from #30,339 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Peak Forest and Burton-on-Trent. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Harke is 179 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 73.9%.
1881 census count
23
Ranked #30,339
Modern count
6
2016, ranked #38,110
Peak year
1861
179 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Harke surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Harke 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 | 29 | #28,082 |
| 1861 | historical | 179 | #13,127 |
| 1881 | historical | 23 | #30,339 |
| 1891 | historical | 62 | #28,991 |
| 1901 | historical | 24 | #31,365 |
| 1911 | historical | 33 | #29,703 |
| 1997 | modern | 9 | #37,214 |
| 1998 | modern | 10 | #37,048 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 4 | #38,004 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 5 | #37,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 5 | #37,750 |
| 2004 | modern | 5 | #37,830 |
| 2005 | modern | 5 | #37,885 |
| 2006 | modern | 5 | #37,956 |
| 2007 | modern | 6 | #37,837 |
| 2008 | modern | 4 | #38,216 |
| 2009 | modern | 4 | #38,287 |
| 2010 | modern | 5 | #38,186 |
| 2011 | modern | 5 | #38,168 |
| 2012 | modern | 4 | #38,335 |
| 2013 | modern | 6 | #38,049 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 6 | #38,076 |
| 2016 | modern | 6 | #38,110 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Peak Forest, Burton-on-Trent, Barrow-on-Soar (Barrow-on-Soar, Mountsorrel, Woodhouse, Woodhouse Eaves, Maplewell), Beaumanor, Roth and Lambeth. 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 | Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Peak Forest | Derbyshire |
| 3 | Burton-on-Trent | Staffordshire |
| 4 | Barrow-on-Soar (Barrow-on-Soar, Mountsorrel, Woodhouse, Woodhouse Eaves, Maplewell), Beaumanor, Roth | Leicestershire |
| 5 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Harke 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 Harke, 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 Harke surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Harke 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, Harke 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 Harke is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Harke, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Harke is believed to have originated in Germany, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old German word "hark," meaning "herdsman" or "shepherd." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name were likely involved in pastoral or agricultural occupations.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Harke can be found in the records of the town of Hildesheim, in Lower Saxony, Germany. In a document dated 1572, a man named Johann Harke is mentioned as a landowner in the region. This indicates that the name was already established in this area by the late 16th century.
The Harke surname can also be traced back to the village of Harkensee, located in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It is believed that the name may have originated from this specific place, as it was common for surnames to be derived from the names of towns or villages during the Middle Ages.
In the 17th century, the name Harke appears in the records of the city of Hamburg, where a merchant named Hans Harke is mentioned in a trade register from 1638. This suggests that the name had spread to other parts of northern Germany by this time.
One notable individual bearing the surname Harke was Johann Harke (1705-1783), a German composer and organist who was born in the town of Stade, near Hamburg. He is known for his compositions for the organ and church music.
Another prominent figure was Friedrich Harke (1828-1901), a German politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Prussian House of Representatives in the late 19th century.
In the 20th century, Karl Harke (1898-1976) was a German architect who was involved in the reconstruction efforts in Berlin after World War II. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings in the city.
The surname Harke can also be found in other parts of Europe, though its origins are still rooted in Germany. For instance, there are records of individuals with this name in the Netherlands and Denmark, likely due to migration and cultural exchange between these regions and Germany over the centuries.
Overall, the surname Harke has a rich history that can be traced back to the pastoral and agricultural traditions of northern Germany, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. Despite its relatively uncommon occurrence, the name has endured through the centuries and has been borne by notable figures in various fields, from music and politics to architecture.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Harke 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. Surrey leads with 8 Harkes recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.32x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 7 Harkes recorded in 1881 and an index of 55.78x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Leeds | 7 | 55.78x |
| Mickleham | 7 | 11666.67x |
| Canterbury Christchurch | 2 | 10000.00x |
| Islington London | 2 | 9.20x |
| Barrow In Furness | 1 | 27.62x |
| Feltham | 1 | 454.55x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 5.11x |
| Portsea | 1 | 11.10x |
| St Clement Danes London | 1 | 217.39x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Harke 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 Harke 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 Harke households.
FAQ
In 1881, 23 people were recorded with the Harke surname. That placed it at #30,339 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 6 in 2016. That gives Harke a modern rank of #38,110.
An occupational surname likely referring to someone who worked with peat or turf.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Harke 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.