NameCensus.

UK surname

Larke

A surname derived from a French word meaning a lark or skylark bird.

In the 1881 census there were 313 people recorded with the Larke surname, ranking it #9,436 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 446, ranked #10,871, down from #9,436 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju, London parishes and Beccles. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk, St Edmundsbury and Uttlesford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Larke is 491 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.5%.

1881 census count

313

Ranked #9,436

Modern count

446

2016, ranked #10,871

Peak year

1998

491 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Larke had 313 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,436 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 446 in 2016, ranked #10,871.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 432 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities.

Larke surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Larke surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Larke 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 234 #9,241
1861 historical 273 #9,134
1881 historical 313 #9,436
1891 historical 421 #8,502
1901 historical 395 #9,562
1911 historical 432 #8,779
1997 modern 488 #9,470
1998 modern 491 #9,737
1999 modern 490 #9,811
2000 modern 478 #9,969
2001 modern 459 #10,082
2002 modern 457 #10,314
2003 modern 452 #10,258
2004 modern 427 #10,749
2005 modern 424 #10,691
2006 modern 413 #10,959
2007 modern 418 #10,976
2008 modern 427 #10,892
2009 modern 433 #11,031
2010 modern 451 #10,897
2011 modern 418 #11,440
2012 modern 449 #10,675
2013 modern 467 #10,544
2014 modern 465 #10,628
2015 modern 454 #10,751
2016 modern 446 #10,871

Geography

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Where Larkes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju, London parishes, Beccles, Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk, St Edmundsbury, Uttlesford and Shepway. 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 St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju Norfolk
2 London parishes London 3
3 Beccles Suffolk
4 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 007 North Norfolk
2 St Edmundsbury 003 St Edmundsbury
3 Uttlesford 009 Uttlesford
4 North Norfolk 012 North Norfolk
5 Shepway 004 Shepway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Larke

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Larke

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

Baseline UK

Group

Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities

Nationally, the Larke surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Larke household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Single-person households are common in these neighbourhoods, and these residents are typically divorced rather than never married. A high proportion of residents were born outside the UK in the EU. There are many young adults, some with young children, but relatively few residents are of normal retirement age or over. Although levels of identification with ethnic minorities are in line with the Supergroup average, individuals identifying with Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is more common than average. High long-term disability rates are observed, and unpaid care is more common than in the rest of the Group. The predominant housing types are terraced houses and flats, which are typically part of the social rented sector. This Group is commonly found in coastal areas and (present-day or former) industrial towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Larke is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Larke 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

Larke falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Larke is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Larke

The surname Larke has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "lauerc," which means "lark," referring to the small songbird. This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone who was perceived as cheerful or lively, akin to the bird's melodious singing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Larke can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Wiltshire, dating back to 1195, where a certain Walter Larke is mentioned. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were administrative records compiled in England during the reign of King Edward I.

During the medieval period, the surname was often spelled in various ways, such as Lark, Larke, and Larkes, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling conventions at the time. Some notable individuals bearing this surname include John Larke, a prominent member of the English Parliament in the 15th century, and Thomas Larke, a renowned scholar and theologian who lived in the 16th century.

In the 17th century, the Larke family established their presence in the village of Crondall, Hampshire, where they were known as landed gentry. One notable figure from this lineage was Sir Michael Larke (1619-1688), a baronet and Member of Parliament who played a significant role in the English Civil War.

Another noteworthy individual with the surname Larke was Robert Larke (1603-1665), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge, from 1647 until his death. He was a prominent figure in the intellectual circles of his time and made valuable contributions to the field of theology.

The surname Larke has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Larke's Hill in Derbyshire and Larke's Farm in Oxfordshire. These place names likely derived from individuals bearing the surname Larke who owned or resided in those locations.

While the surname Larke may not be as common today as it once was, it continues to hold a rich historical legacy, with its roots firmly embedded in the English countryside and its association with the lively and melodious lark.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Larke families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Larke 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. Norfolk leads with 113 Larkes recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.07x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 113 24.07x
Suffolk 64 17.21x
Middlesex 30 0.98x
Surrey 26 1.75x
Kent 19 1.82x
Cornwall 9 2.60x
Gloucestershire 9 1.50x
Worcestershire 9 2.26x
Yorkshire 9 0.30x
Durham 6 0.66x
Hampshire 6 0.96x
Lancashire 3 0.08x
Northamptonshire 2 0.70x
Renfrewshire 2 0.85x
Devon 1 0.16x
Essex 1 0.17x
Midlothian 1 0.24x
Staffordshire 1 0.10x
Sussex 1 0.19x
Warwickshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Beccles in Suffolk leads with 36 Larkes recorded in 1881 and an index of 601.00x.

Place Total Index
Beccles 36 601.00x
Great Yarmouth 23 59.14x
Lowestoft 21 119.52x
Heigham 16 63.49x
Swafield 16 8421.05x
Southrepps 14 1538.46x
Norwich St Julian 13 656.57x
Lambeth 12 4.51x
Bermondsey 9 9.90x
Yardley 9 88.24x
Almondbury 8 54.68x
North Cerney 8 1212.12x
Chatham 7 24.42x
St Endellion 7 583.33x
Aylsham 6 215.05x
Farnborough 6 91.32x
Monkwearmouth 6 69.04x
Poplar London 6 10.41x
Bethnal Green London 5 3.77x
Lewisham 5 9.00x
Limehouse London 5 14.92x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 5 163.93x
Bungay St Mary 4 217.39x
Greenwich 4 8.23x
Blofield 3 252.10x
Earsham 3 468.75x
Gillingham 3 13.97x
Liverpool 3 1.36x
Mattishall 3 319.15x
Norwich St George Tombland 3 361.45x
Battersea 2 1.78x
Bow London 2 5.15x
Bromley London 2 2.98x
Camberwell 2 1.03x
Cathcart 2 15.63x
Chelsea London 2 2.17x
Costessey 2 198.02x
Oulton 2 158.73x
Paddington London 2 1.78x
Stanwick 2 294.12x
Stratton 2 106.95x
Trunch 2 425.53x
Wymondham 2 41.67x
Aston 1 0.47x
Barking 1 5.67x
Benacre 1 454.55x
Colesbourne 1 333.33x
Compton Gifford 1 50.25x
Harborne 1 3.03x
Hove 1 4.43x
Kensington London 1 0.59x
Leith North 1 128.21x
Norwich St Peter Southgate 1 169.49x
Ormesby St Michael 1 333.33x
Ratcliffe London 1 5.93x
Scarborough 1 3.64x
St Mary Aldermanbury 1 555.56x
St Marylebone London 1 0.61x
St Pancras London 1 0.41x
Twickenham 1 7.64x
Woking 1 11.15x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 13
Mary 13
Sarah 13
Emma 8
Alice 7
Edith 7
Eliza 6
Ellen 6
Emily 6
Jane 5
Lucy 5
Agnes 4
Charlotte 4
Hannah 4
Annie 3
Frances 3
Martha 3
Rosa 3
Amy 2
Ann 2
Caroline 2
Eleanor 2
Ethel 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Julia 2
Maria 2
Rose 2
Susanna 2
Allice 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Bella 1
Blanch 1
Bridget 1
Eda 1
Elenor 1
Elizebth 1
Elizth. 1
Ellza 1
Ernest 1
Esther 1
Harriett 1
Honor 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lilian 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 25
John 15
Henry 11
Robert 9
George 6
Charles 5
James 5
Thomas 5
Arthur 4
Walter 4
Benjamin 3
Edward 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Frederick 3
Richard 3
Frank 2
Fredk. 2
Herbert 2
Joseph 2
Lewis 2
Samuel 2
Willie 2
Alford 1
Alfred 1
Aurther 1
Cecil 1
David 1
Douglas 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Elisha 1
Frederic 1
Fredk.G. 1
Louis 1
Norman 1
Robt 1
Sidney 1
Tom 1
Willm.James 1
Wm.Geo. 1

FAQ

Larke surname: questions and answers

How common was the Larke surname in 1881?

In 1881, 313 people were recorded with the Larke surname. That placed it at #9,436 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Larke surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 446 in 2016. That gives Larke a modern rank of #10,871.

What does the Larke surname mean?

A surname derived from a French word meaning a lark or skylark bird.

What does the Larke map show?

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