NameCensus.

UK surname

Icke

A surname derived from a German nickname for a dwarf or small person.

In the 1881 census there were 189 people recorded with the Icke surname, ranking it #13,322 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 357, ranked #12,953, up from #13,322 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Dawley, Magna and Tipton otherwise Tibington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wychavon, Thanet and Breckland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Icke is 374 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 88.9%.

1881 census count

189

Ranked #13,322

Modern count

357

2016, ranked #12,953

Peak year

2013

374 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Icke had 189 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,322 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 357 in 2016, ranked #12,953.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 293 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Icke surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Icke surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Icke 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 143 #13,343
1861 historical 61 #26,170
1881 historical 189 #13,322
1891 historical 188 #15,609
1901 historical 290 #11,925
1911 historical 293 #11,650
1997 modern 331 #12,668
1998 modern 351 #12,511
1999 modern 359 #12,397
2000 modern 364 #12,223
2001 modern 349 #12,392
2002 modern 367 #12,198
2003 modern 351 #12,389
2004 modern 335 #12,870
2005 modern 324 #13,108
2006 modern 330 #13,021
2007 modern 341 #12,840
2008 modern 330 #13,257
2009 modern 336 #13,345
2010 modern 343 #13,416
2011 modern 347 #13,167
2012 modern 353 #12,877
2013 modern 374 #12,521
2014 modern 367 #12,801
2015 modern 361 #12,857
2016 modern 357 #12,953

Geography

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Where Ickes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Dawley, Magna, Tipton otherwise Tibington, Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wychavon, Thanet, Breckland and Herefordshire. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Dawley, Magna Shropshire
3 Tipton otherwise Tibington Staffordshire
4 Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors Shropshire
5 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wychavon 009 Wychavon
2 Thanet 002 Thanet
3 Breckland 010 Breckland
4 Wychavon 013 Wychavon
5 Herefordshire 005 Herefordshire, County of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Icke

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Icke

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Icke surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Icke household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Icke 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

Icke is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Icke falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Icke is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Icke

The surname ICKE is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "ica" meaning "to increase" or "to add to." This name first emerged in the 12th century in the county of Suffolk, located in the eastern region of England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name ICKE can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk, dated 1198, which mentions a certain Robert Icke. The Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273 also list a John Icke, suggesting the name's presence in the neighboring county.

During the 13th century, the ICKE surname was particularly prevalent in the town of Ickworth, Suffolk. This place name, originally spelled "Ickwurth," is believed to have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

In the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk from 1327, several individuals bearing the ICKE surname are listed, including William Icke and Richard Icke, indicating the name's continued presence in the region.

The ICKE surname has been associated with a few notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was John Icke, a 16th-century English Protestant reformer who was born in 1507 and died in 1557. He is known for his involvement in the English Reformation and his opposition to the Catholic Church's teachings.

Another significant bearer of the ICKE surname was Sir Francis Icke, a 17th-century English politician and landowner. Born in 1627, he served as a member of parliament for the county of Suffolk and played a prominent role in local affairs.

It is worth noting that the ICKE surname has also been recorded with various spelling variations over the centuries, such as Ick, Icke, Ike, and Ikes. These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects, transcription errors, or personal preferences.

In the late 18th century, a notable figure named Thomas Icke (1748-1828) gained recognition as a successful businessman and landowner in the county of Suffolk. He played a significant role in the local economy and was involved in various philanthropic endeavors.

More recently, David Icke, born in 1952, gained international attention as a former professional footballer turned conspiracy theorist and author. While his theories have been widely criticized and labeled as pseudoscientific, his prominence has made the ICKE surname more widely recognized in modern times.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Icke families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Icke 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. Staffordshire leads with 70 Ickes recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.62x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 70 11.62x
Shropshire 60 38.91x
Lancashire 10 0.47x
Worcestershire 9 3.86x
Nottinghamshire 8 3.33x
Leicestershire 7 3.54x
Durham 5 0.94x
Cheshire 4 1.02x
Middlesex 4 0.22x
Surrey 2 0.23x
Derbyshire 1 0.36x
Lanarkshire 1 0.17x
Warwickshire 1 0.22x
Yorkshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dawley in Shropshire leads with 22 Ickes recorded in 1881 and an index of 392.16x.

Place Total Index
Dawley 22 392.16x
West Bromwich 15 43.49x
Ercall Magna 12 1090.91x
Wolverhampton 12 25.90x
Tipton 11 59.62x
Yardley 9 151.01x
Nottingham St Mary 8 12.86x
Tettenhall 8 217.39x
Leicester St Margaret 7 14.50x
Tyrley 7 1489.36x
Wombridge 7 368.42x
Kingswinford 6 27.42x
Tunstall 5 189.39x
Weston Under Lizard 5 2941.18x
Barrow In Furness 4 13.88x
Childs Ercall 4 1481.48x
Shrewsbury St Mary 4 65.79x
Edgmond 3 176.47x
St Marylebone London 3 3.15x
Woore 3 731.71x
Brewood 2 114.94x
Camberwell 2 1.75x
Pendleton In Salford 2 7.93x
Pulford 2 1250.00x
Willenhall 2 17.71x
Barony 1 0.68x
Blymhill 1 322.58x
Bradford 1 2.34x
Chester St Oswald 1 14.03x
Church Stretton 1 97.09x
Edgbaston 1 7.16x
Great Crosby 1 17.33x
Harborne 1 5.18x
Lilleshall 1 42.37x
Litchurch 1 8.89x
Moss Side 1 8.97x
North Meols 1 4.82x
Oldham 1 1.46x
Paddington London 1 1.52x
Sandbach 1 29.76x
Sheriff Hales 1 161.29x
Wellington 1 11.53x
Wrockwardine 1 29.50x

FAQ

Icke surname: questions and answers

How common was the Icke surname in 1881?

In 1881, 189 people were recorded with the Icke surname. That placed it at #13,322 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Icke surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 357 in 2016. That gives Icke a modern rank of #12,953.

What does the Icke surname mean?

A surname derived from a German nickname for a dwarf or small person.

What does the Icke map show?

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