NameCensus.

UK surname

Kirke

Derived from an old English word meaning "church", referring to someone living near a church building.

In the 1881 census there were 214 people recorded with the Kirke surname, ranking it #12,284 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 308, ranked #14,479, down from #12,284 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ravendale, East, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include The Vale of Glamorgan, East Riding of Yorkshire and Isle of Wight.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kirke is 320 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.9%.

1881 census count

214

Ranked #12,284

Modern count

308

2016, ranked #14,479

Peak year

2013

320 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kirke had 214 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,284 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 308 in 2016, ranked #14,479.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 262 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Kirke surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kirke surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kirke 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 192 #10,756
1861 historical 165 #14,112
1881 historical 214 #12,284
1891 historical 214 #14,214
1901 historical 262 #12,740
1911 historical 195 #15,197
1997 modern 282 #14,072
1998 modern 300 #13,877
1999 modern 302 #13,895
2000 modern 306 #13,742
2001 modern 293 #13,933
2002 modern 306 #13,835
2003 modern 308 #13,587
2004 modern 293 #14,082
2005 modern 295 #13,972
2006 modern 293 #14,116
2007 modern 294 #14,241
2008 modern 293 #14,364
2009 modern 294 #14,628
2010 modern 304 #14,591
2011 modern 310 #14,292
2012 modern 307 #14,288
2013 modern 320 #14,104
2014 modern 316 #14,301
2015 modern 314 #14,275
2016 modern 308 #14,479

Geography

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Where Kirkes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ravendale, East, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Broughton, Glenholm and Kilbucho and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to The Vale of Glamorgan, East Riding of Yorkshire, Isle of Wight and West Lindsey. 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 Ravendale, East Lincolnshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Broughton, Glenholm and Kilbucho Peebles
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 The Vale of Glamorgan 012 Vale of Glamorgan
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 033 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 Isle of Wight 012 Isle of Wight
4 West Lindsey 001 West Lindsey
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 010 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kirke

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kirke

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Kirke surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Kirke household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Kirke is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Kirke is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kirke 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 Kirke is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Kirke

The surname Kirke has its origins in the United Kingdom, specifically England, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "cirice," which means church. This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals who lived near or worked at a church.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Kirke can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where it was spelled as "Kirke." This indicates that the name was already in use during the Middle Ages. Another early reference is in the Domesday Book of 1086, where the place name "Kirkebi" is mentioned, which translates to "church village" or "church farm."

In the late 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name Kirke was Sir David Kirke (1597-1654), an English colonial governor and military officer who played a significant role in the conquest of French territories in North America. He was involved in the capture of Quebec City in 1629 and later served as the governor of Newfoundland.

Another prominent individual was Sir Walter Kirke (1587-1668), an English merchant and colonist who was involved in the fur trade in Canada. He was also a member of the Company of Adventurers of Canada, which had a monopoly on the Canadian fur trade.

In the 18th century, Thomas Kirke (1650-1705) was a renowned English scholar and author, known for his work on the translation of the Bible and his contributions to the field of philology.

The surname Kirke has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Kirkby, which is derived from the Old Norse words "kirkju" and "byr," meaning "church village." This suggests that the name may have originated from individuals who lived in or near these locations.

Another notable figure with the surname Kirke was John Kirke (1716-1788), an English artist and engraver who was known for his portrait paintings and etchings. He was a member of the Royal Academy and his works are held in various collections around the world.

Throughout history, the surname Kirke has been spelled in various ways, including Kirke, Kirk, Kyrke, and Kerke, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and local dialects. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remain rooted in its association with churches and ecclesiastical contexts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kirke families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kirke 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 41 Kirkes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.04x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 41 2.04x
Lincolnshire 27 8.40x
Berkshire 22 14.59x
Yorkshire 17 0.85x
Nottinghamshire 16 5.91x
Staffordshire 14 2.06x
Lanarkshire 9 1.39x
Peeblesshire 9 95.24x
Leicestershire 8 3.59x
Herefordshire 7 8.50x
Fife 6 5.04x
Kent 5 0.73x
Berwickshire 4 16.44x
Cambridgeshire 4 3.14x
Cumberland 2 1.16x
Derbyshire 2 0.64x
Hampshire 2 0.49x
Surrey 2 0.20x
Cardiganshire 1 2.04x
Channel Islands 1 1.68x
Cheshire 1 0.23x
Kincardineshire 1 4.09x
Lancashire 1 0.04x
Midlothian 1 0.37x
Pembrokeshire 1 1.57x
Renfrewshire 1 0.64x
Sussex 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Reading St Giles in Berkshire leads with 11 Kirkes recorded in 1881 and an index of 74.32x.

Place Total Index
Reading St Giles 11 74.32x
Reading St Mary 11 91.06x
Sheffield 11 17.35x
St Pancras London 9 5.56x
Ashby De La Zouch 8 155.04x
Kilbucho 8 5714.29x
West Ravendale 8 20000.00x
Wolverhampton 8 15.34x
Kensington London 7 6.27x
Pembridge 7 769.23x
Boston 6 61.54x
Burntisland 6 180.18x
Kirkby In Ashfield 6 206.90x
Bilston 5 38.05x
Chelsea London 4 6.61x
Fulbourn 4 327.87x
Hutton 4 597.01x
Ordsall 4 193.24x
Finchley 3 38.96x
Govan 3 1.87x
Margate St John Baptist 3 23.90x
Nottingham St Mary 3 4.28x
Rutherglen 3 31.48x
Swaby 3 1071.43x
Acton 2 16.98x
Barony 2 1.22x
Bethnal Green London 2 2.29x
Egremont 2 48.54x
Great Grimsby 2 9.81x
Holy Trinity 2 4.18x
Lambeth 2 1.14x
Sculcoates 2 6.34x
Shoreditch London 2 2.30x
St Nicholas Lincoln 2 65.15x
Sutton In Ashfield 2 34.01x
Waltham 2 392.16x
Alford 1 50.25x
Belper 1 16.39x
Birkenhead 1 2.83x
Broughton 1 666.67x
Burton Upon Trent 1 6.30x
Clee With Weelsby 1 14.22x
Crawford 1 82.64x
Derby St Alkmund 1 10.60x
Dunnottar 1 58.14x
East Markham 1 192.31x
Edmonton 1 6.18x
Gainsborough 1 13.21x
Hackney London 1 0.89x
Hammersmith London 1 2.02x
Harrow On The Hill 1 24.94x
Hove 1 6.73x
Isleworth 1 11.20x
Islington London 1 0.51x
Llangunllo 1 250.00x
Lower Booths 1 23.42x
Osmotherley 1 158.73x
Paisley Middle Church 1 11.03x
Ratho 1 79.37x
Southampton St John 1 238.10x
St George Bloomsbury 1 8.67x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.82x
St Gregory By St Pauls 1 200.00x
St Mary Extra 1 30.21x
St Marylebone London 1 0.93x
St Peter 1 58.14x
Tenby St Mary In 1 30.77x
Tenterden 1 41.32x
Tickhill 1 78.74x
Tonbridge 1 4.04x
Twickenham 1 11.60x
Usselby 1 2500.00x
Whitechapel London 1 5.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Elizabeth 5
Alice 4
Ann 4
Eliza 4
Sarah 4
Emily 3
Maria 3
Marian 3
Catherine 2
Ellen 2
Ethel 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Henrietta 2
Jane 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Winifred 2
Agnes 1
Agness 1
Agusta 1
Amelia 1
Annie 1
Bertha 1
Charlotte 1
Dorathea 1
E. 1
Eleanor 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Grace 1
H. 1
Helena 1
Ida 1
Janavara 1
Kathleen 1
Louise 1
Margaret 1
Margarit 1
Matild 1
Mildred 1
Nora 1
Percy 1
Phebe 1
Priscilla 1
Rosehannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 11
John 8
Henry 4
James 4
Thomas 4
George 3
Robert 3
Samuel 3
Edward 2
Hugh 2
Jason 2
Joseph 2
Michael 2
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Arudd 1
Benjamin 1
Cyrus 1
Frederic 1
Hamy 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Infant 1
Jesse 1
Jonas 1
Karl 1
Kenneth 1
Patrick 1
Phillip 1
Saint 1
Walter 1
Wiliam 1

FAQ

Kirke surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kirke surname in 1881?

In 1881, 214 people were recorded with the Kirke surname. That placed it at #12,284 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kirke surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 308 in 2016. That gives Kirke a modern rank of #14,479.

What does the Kirke surname mean?

Derived from an old English word meaning "church", referring to someone living near a church building.

What does the Kirke map show?

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