NameCensus.

UK surname

Hooke

A surname derived from the Anglo-Norman word "hok," referring to a hook or angle.

In the 1881 census there were 385 people recorded with the Hooke surname, ranking it #8,179 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 362, ranked #12,810, down from #8,179 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sidmouth, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Devon, South Bucks and Tewkesbury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hooke is 533 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 6.0%.

1881 census count

385

Ranked #8,179

Modern count

362

2016, ranked #12,810

Peak year

1911

533 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hooke had 385 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,179 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 362 in 2016, ranked #12,810.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 533 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hooke surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hooke surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hooke 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 340 #6,905
1861 historical 455 #5,698
1881 historical 385 #8,179
1891 historical 458 #7,974
1901 historical 525 #7,771
1911 historical 533 #7,477
1997 modern 368 #11,719
1998 modern 382 #11,779
1999 modern 382 #11,843
2000 modern 386 #11,718
2001 modern 369 #11,928
2002 modern 363 #12,296
2003 modern 360 #12,152
2004 modern 353 #12,377
2005 modern 347 #12,436
2006 modern 352 #12,396
2007 modern 358 #12,383
2008 modern 370 #12,182
2009 modern 377 #12,269
2010 modern 395 #12,105
2011 modern 384 #12,218
2012 modern 363 #12,592
2013 modern 379 #12,399
2014 modern 375 #12,578
2015 modern 360 #12,880
2016 modern 362 #12,810

Geography

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Where Hookes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sidmouth, London parishes, St Pancras, Thurcaston and Peterborough St John the Baptist. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Devon, South Bucks, Tewkesbury, Waverley and Fylde. 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 Sidmouth Devon
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Thurcaston Leicestershire
5 Peterborough St John the Baptist Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Devon 006 Mid Devon
2 South Bucks 002 South Bucks
3 Tewkesbury 002 Tewkesbury
4 Waverley 013 Waverley
5 Fylde 008 Fylde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hooke

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hooke

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hooke, 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 Hooke surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hooke 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, Hooke 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

Hooke is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hooke 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 Hooke 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 Hooke, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hooke

The surname Hooke is of English origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word 'hoc', meaning a hook or an angle of land. This name was likely given to someone who lived near a piece of land with a distinctive hooked shape or near a bend in a river or road.

The earliest recorded instances of the name appear in various medieval records, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where a William de la Hoke is mentioned. The Domesday Book of 1086 also lists several places with the suffix 'hoc', such as Hocdun in Berkshire and Hocchenehall in Norfolk.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various spellings, including Hoke, Hooke, and Houck. One notable bearer was Robert Hooke (1635-1703), an English scientist and architect who is renowned for his work on microscopes, celestial bodies, and the theory of elasticity.

Another prominent figure with this surname was Nathaniel Hooke (1690-1763), an English historian and writer who authored works such as "The Roman History" and "An Account of the Conduct of the Dowager Duchess of Marlborough".

In the 18th century, Captain James Hooke (1746-1827) was a British naval officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and later became a renowned maritime author.

The surname also has a connection to place names, as evidenced by the village of Hook in Hampshire, England, which is derived from the Old English word 'hoc'.

Other notable bearers of the Hooke surname include Reverend William Hooke (1601-1678), an English clergyman and astronomer, and Theodore Hooke (1786-1849), a British military officer and politician.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hooke families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hooke 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 94 Hookes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.49x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 94 2.49x
Surrey 65 3.53x
Devon 28 3.56x
Kent 17 1.32x
Norfolk 17 2.93x
Warwickshire 17 1.79x
Leicestershire 16 3.82x
Hampshire 14 1.81x
Worcestershire 13 2.64x
Northamptonshire 12 3.38x
Essex 11 1.48x
Lancashire 11 0.25x
Dorset 10 4.04x
Nottinghamshire 9 1.77x
Yorkshire 7 0.19x
Cheshire 6 0.72x
Lincolnshire 6 0.99x
Derbyshire 5 0.85x
Gloucestershire 5 0.68x
Somerset 5 0.82x
Pembrokeshire 4 3.33x
Staffordshire 3 0.24x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.84x
Channel Islands 2 1.79x
Durham 2 0.18x
Flintshire 2 1.97x
Suffolk 2 0.44x
Lanarkshire 1 0.08x
Midlothian 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 23 Hookes recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.57x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 23 7.57x
Sidmouth 16 355.56x
Islington London 15 4.10x
Kensington London 13 6.19x
Hackney London 12 5.67x
Stoke 12 138.25x
Aston 10 3.81x
Norton By Kempsey 10 925.93x
Peterborough 10 38.90x
Anstey 9 545.45x
Guildford Holy Trinity 9 256.41x
Lambeth 8 2.43x
Battersea 7 5.04x
Deptford St Paul 7 7.05x
Lewisham 7 10.19x
Otterton 7 555.56x
Ryde 7 42.12x
Camberwell 6 2.49x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 8.43x
Bethnal Green London 5 3.05x
Birmingham 5 1.58x
Great Neston 5 181.82x
Guildford St Mary 5 221.24x
Heigham 5 16.05x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 5 28.69x
Radford 5 19.34x
St George Bloomsbury 5 23.08x
Swanage 5 163.40x
Westbury On Trym 5 19.94x
Broughton In Salford 4 9.77x
Kingston On Thames 4 9.05x
Leyton 4 31.15x
Pembroke St Mary 4 25.89x
Southwark St John 4 34.63x
St Maryle Wigford 4 85.29x
West Ham 4 2.43x
Wirksworth 4 74.49x
Wonersh 4 174.67x
Aldershot 3 11.57x
Alverstoke 3 10.71x
Aylestone 3 90.91x
Handsworth 3 9.55x
Harrow 3 51.99x
Holy Trinity Minories 3 1250.00x
Pershore Holy Cross 3 94.94x
Puttenham 3 526.32x
St George Hanover Square 3 4.51x
Wapping London 3 104.17x
York St Denis In 3 182.93x
Beckingham 2 344.83x
Binham 2 322.58x
Blakeney 2 192.31x
Crewkerne 2 31.01x
Croydon 2 1.96x
Grantham 2 25.41x
Hampstead London 2 3.40x
Hutton Henry 2 84.75x
Leamington 2 31.70x
Lustleigh 2 425.53x
Market Bosworth 2 132.45x
Mold 2 21.74x
Mosterton 2 476.19x
Nottingham St Nicholas 2 28.86x
Paddington London 2 1.44x
Snarestone 2 487.80x
Southcoates 2 9.63x
Walcot 2 6.18x
Weedon Beck 2 78.74x
Whittlesey St Mary St 2 23.95x
Ardwick 1 2.48x
Bishopsteignton 1 67.11x
Cley Next Sea 1 107.53x
Dorchester St Peter 1 55.56x
Edmonton 1 3.29x
Leyton Low 1 6.60x
Minster In Sheppey 1 4.69x
Shalfleet 1 67.11x
Shoreditch London 1 0.61x
St George Martyr London 1 13.07x
Tranmere 1 3.26x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Elizabeth 18
Eliza 9
Emma 9
Annie 6
Ellen 6
Jane 6
Sarah 6
Caroline 5
Alice 4
Ann 4
Edith 3
Emily 3
Florence 3
Frances 3
Harriett 3
Jessie 3
Lucy 3
Ada 2
Anne 2
Avis 2
Eleanor 2
Fanny 2
Grace 2
Hannah 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Maria 2
Minnie 2
Rosina 2
Sophia 2
Clara 1
Clare 1
Constance 1
Elizth. 1
Emilie 1
Ethel 1
Ettie 1
Eva 1
Evelyn 1
F.Louisa 1
Jeannie 1
Jenet 1
Julia 1
Lidwell 1
Lilian 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 19
George 15
Henry 14
Thomas 12
Charles 10
John 10
Edward 9
Robert 9
Francis 7
Frederick 7
Joseph 7
Walter 7
Alfred 6
Edwin 5
Frank 5
Harry 5
James 5
Albert 4
Ernest 4
Theodore 4
Arthur 3
David 3
Samuel 3
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
Matthew 2
Richard 2
Abraham 1
Alan 1
Bertie 1
Bridges 1
Cecil 1
Charley 1
Clifford 1
Doroning 1
Fred 1
Guy 1
H.Martyn 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Joshua 1
Lionel 1
Male 1
Nathaniel 1
Robt. 1
Saml.Hen. 1
Sidney 1
Stanley 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Hooke surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hooke surname in 1881?

In 1881, 385 people were recorded with the Hooke surname. That placed it at #8,179 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hooke surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 362 in 2016. That gives Hooke a modern rank of #12,810.

What does the Hooke surname mean?

A surname derived from the Anglo-Norman word "hok," referring to a hook or angle.

What does the Hooke map show?

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