NameCensus.

UK surname

Kelk

An English surname derived from the Old Norse word for a small stream or creek.

In the 1881 census there were 275 people recorded with the Kelk surname, ranking it #10,330 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 552, ranked #9,254, up from #10,330 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Blyth, Sheffield and Keighley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Rotherham and Bassetlaw.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kelk is 554 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 100.7%.

1881 census count

275

Ranked #10,330

Modern count

552

2016, ranked #9,254

Peak year

2014

554 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kelk had 275 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,330 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 552 in 2016, ranked #9,254.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 450 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Kelk surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kelk surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Kelk 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 242 #9,001
1861 historical 187 #12,690
1881 historical 275 #10,330
1891 historical 316 #10,639
1901 historical 397 #9,521
1911 historical 450 #8,507
1997 modern 520 #9,043
1998 modern 514 #9,383
1999 modern 531 #9,219
2000 modern 529 #9,233
2001 modern 516 #9,234
2002 modern 534 #9,190
2003 modern 503 #9,446
2004 modern 499 #9,539
2005 modern 505 #9,379
2006 modern 519 #9,223
2007 modern 532 #9,122
2008 modern 533 #9,182
2009 modern 553 #9,140
2010 modern 544 #9,430
2011 modern 543 #9,373
2012 modern 524 #9,541
2013 modern 542 #9,446
2014 modern 554 #9,331
2015 modern 549 #9,324
2016 modern 552 #9,254

Geography

Back to top

Where Kelks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Blyth, Sheffield, Keighley, Killamarsh and Worksop. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, Rotherham, Bassetlaw, Boston and Amber Valley. 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 Blyth Nottinghamshire
2 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Keighley Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Killamarsh Derbyshire
5 Worksop Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 007 Barnsley
2 Rotherham 030 Rotherham
3 Bassetlaw 016 Bassetlaw
4 Boston 007 Boston
5 Amber Valley 011 Amber Valley

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Kelk

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Kelk

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Kelk surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Kelk household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Kelk is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Kelk is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kelk falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kelk 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 Kelk, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kelk

The surname KELK has its origins in the northern English counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "cealc" or "calc," meaning "chalk" or "lime," suggesting a connection to places with chalky or limestone soil.

Records from the 13th and 14th centuries show variations of the name, such as Kelke, Kelk, and Kielke, appearing in Yorkshire and Lancashire. One of the earliest known references is found in the Yorkshire Feet of Fines from 1273, which mentions a John de Kelk.

The surname KELK is also associated with several place names in the region, including Kelk, a small village in the East Riding of Yorkshire, and Kelk Beck, a stream near the village. These place names likely influenced the development and spelling of the surname.

In the 16th century, the KELK surname appears in various historical records, such as the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1524, which list individuals like Thomas Kelk and Robert Kelk from Yorkshire.

One notable bearer of the KELK surname was John Kelk (c. 1570-1638), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Stow in Lincolnshire during the early 17th century.

Another prominent figure was Richard Kelk (1702-1772), a British mariner and explorer who served as a captain in the Royal Navy and participated in several expeditions to the West Indies and the Americas.

In the 19th century, the KELK surname gained recognition with the birth of Henry Kelk (1839-1905), a respected English architect known for designing several churches and public buildings in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

Another notable bearer was Alfred Kelk (1864-1942), a British painter and illustrator who was particularly known for his landscape paintings and illustrations for books and magazines.

Lastly, John Kelk (1906-1989), a British writer and journalist, gained recognition for his novels and short stories, many of which were set in his native Yorkshire and explored themes of rural life and social issues.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Kelk families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kelk 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. Yorkshire leads with 87 Kelks recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.26x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 87 3.26x
Nottinghamshire 58 15.98x
Lincolnshire 47 10.92x
Derbyshire 28 6.64x
Lancashire 14 0.44x
Middlesex 11 0.41x
Surrey 9 0.69x
Somerset 7 1.62x
Devon 6 1.07x
Kent 4 0.44x
Norfolk 2 0.48x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.61x
Cheshire 1 0.17x
Hertfordshire 1 0.54x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Worksop in Nottinghamshire leads with 29 Kelks recorded in 1881 and an index of 269.52x.

Place Total Index
Worksop 29 269.52x
Killamarsh 14 534.35x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 11 44.27x
Ecclesall Bierlow 11 20.27x
Brightside Bierlow 10 19.11x
Great Grimsby 10 36.60x
Todwick 10 6250.00x
Thorpe St Peter 9 1698.11x
Blyth 8 1403.51x
Rawmarsh 8 84.84x
Ashover 7 333.33x
Lound 7 2121.21x
North Meols 7 22.39x
Partney 7 1707.32x
Wellington 7 119.05x
Sheffield 6 7.06x
St George Hanover Square 6 12.65x
West Derby 6 6.42x
Keighley 5 17.58x
Litchurch 5 29.48x
Stoke Damerel 5 12.75x
Newington 4 4.02x
Arnold 3 56.60x
Bramley In Bramley 3 29.38x
Burgh In Marsh 3 285.71x
Camberwell 3 1.74x
Canterbury St George 3 272.73x
Friskney 3 218.98x
Holy Trinity 3 4.68x
Nether Hallam 3 8.31x
Rotherham 3 19.95x
Roundhay 3 400.00x
Strubby 3 1111.11x
Wainfleet All Sts 3 240.00x
Woodborough 3 365.85x
Hascombe 2 500.00x
Hook 2 34.07x
Kensington London 2 1.34x
Melbourne 2 69.44x
North South Anston 2 170.94x
Pickering 2 59.52x
Spilsby 2 145.99x
West Newton 2 666.67x
Alford 1 37.45x
Barnsley 1 3.63x
Bishop Stortford 1 16.13x
Bishop Thornton 1 227.27x
Bothamsall 1 416.67x
Canterbury St Peter 1 96.15x
Carlton In Lindrick 1 104.17x
Claughton With Grange 1 36.90x
Croft 1 142.86x
Fiskerton 1 243.90x
Flamborough 1 77.52x
Frampton 1 121.95x
Headingley Cum Burley 1 5.82x
Hucknall Torkard 1 10.87x
Islington London 1 0.38x
Mareham On Hill 1 714.29x
Nottingham St Nicholas 1 20.24x
Ordsall 1 35.97x
Pinner 1 42.37x
Ranskill 1 285.71x
Scarborough 1 4.13x
Skirbeck Quarter 1 126.58x
Swaby 1 263.16x
Upton 1 217.39x
Upton Cum Chalvey 1 15.41x
West Teignmouth 1 23.31x
Westleigh 1 13.79x
Westminster St James 1 3.61x
Winthorpe 1 416.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 19
Mary 15
Sarah 15
Elizabeth 9
Emma 9
Eliza 6
Jane 5
Ada 4
Alice 4
Harriet 4
Martha 4
Maria 3
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Esther 2
Fanny 2
Grace 2
Harriett 2
A. 1
Alatheia 1
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Beatrice 1
C.F. 1
Charlote 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Florence 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lilian 1
Lilly 1
Lucy 1
Matilda 1
Maude 1
Minnie 1
R.A. 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Rosemond 1
Selina 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Kelk surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kelk surname in 1881?

In 1881, 275 people were recorded with the Kelk surname. That placed it at #10,330 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kelk surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 552 in 2016. That gives Kelk a modern rank of #9,254.

What does the Kelk surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old Norse word for a small stream or creek.

What does the Kelk map show?

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