NameCensus.

UK surname

Link

An occupational surname referring to a person who made or operated links for chain mail armor.

In the 1881 census there were 542 people recorded with the Link surname, ranking it #6,362 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,193, ranked #4,993, up from #6,362 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stottesden, Kinlet, King's Lynn St Margaret and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Wyre Forest and Merthyr Tydfil.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Link is 1,193 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 120.1%.

1881 census count

542

Ranked #6,362

Modern count

1,193

2016, ranked #4,993

Peak year

2016

1,193 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Link had 542 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,362 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,193 in 2016, ranked #4,993.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 863 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Link surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Link surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Link 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 318 #7,293
1861 historical 320 #7,960
1881 historical 542 #6,362
1891 historical 599 #6,391
1901 historical 708 #6,230
1911 historical 863 #5,145
1997 modern 994 #5,535
1998 modern 1,047 #5,456
1999 modern 1,059 #5,445
2000 modern 1,068 #5,389
2001 modern 1,053 #5,358
2002 modern 1,088 #5,317
2003 modern 1,068 #5,300
2004 modern 1,076 #5,289
2005 modern 1,069 #5,260
2006 modern 1,084 #5,198
2007 modern 1,090 #5,225
2008 modern 1,102 #5,205
2009 modern 1,135 #5,184
2010 modern 1,155 #5,220
2011 modern 1,144 #5,203
2012 modern 1,146 #5,102
2013 modern 1,173 #5,091
2014 modern 1,186 #5,076
2015 modern 1,183 #5,033
2016 modern 1,193 #4,993

Geography

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Where Links are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stottesden, Kinlet, King's Lynn St Margaret, London parishes, Pontefract and Batley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Wyre Forest and Merthyr Tydfil. 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 Stottesden, Kinlet Shropshire
2 King's Lynn St Margaret Norfolk
3 London parishes London 3
4 Pontefract Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 035 Shropshire
2 Wyre Forest 011 Wyre Forest
3 Merthyr Tydfil 006 Merthyr Tydfil
4 Shropshire 039 Shropshire
5 Shropshire 034 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Link

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Link

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Link, 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 Link surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Link 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, Link 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

Link is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Link

The surname LINK is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the Old English word "linc," which referred to a ridge or rising ground. This name likely emerged as a topographic surname, describing someone who lived near or on a ridge or hill.

The earliest recorded use of the surname LINK can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk. In some instances, the name was also spelled as "Lynke" or "Lincke," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling during that era.

One of the earliest documented references to the LINK surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which recorded landowners and taxpayers in England. The name was also mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, indicating its widespread use across various parts of the country.

Notably, the LINK surname appeared in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. However, the precise entry and location are not definitively known.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the LINK surname. One of the earliest was John Link, a prominent English merchant and alderman in the city of London, who lived in the late 14th century. Another early figure was William Link, a member of the English Parliament who represented the county of Norfolk in the 1420s.

In the 16th century, Henry Link, born in 1522, was a renowned scholar and theologian who played a significant role in the English Reformation. He authored several influential works on religion and theology during his lifetime.

During the 17th century, the LINK surname was associated with the landed gentry in various parts of England. One notable family was the Links of Lincolnshire, who owned substantial estates and held positions of influence in local government and society.

In the 18th century, Samuel Link, born in 1745, was a renowned English naturalist and botanist. He made significant contributions to the study of plant life and is credited with discovering several new species of plants during his expeditions throughout the British Isles.

By the 19th century, the LINK surname had spread to other parts of the world, particularly through British emigration and colonization. Some notable individuals from this period include David Link, an English architect born in 1812, who designed several prominent buildings in London, and William Link, a British explorer and writer born in 1856, who documented his travels in Africa and Asia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Link families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Link 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. Kent leads with 131 Links recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.25x.

County Total Index
Kent 131 7.25x
Yorkshire 105 2.00x
Shropshire 49 10.71x
Middlesex 41 0.77x
Worcestershire 40 5.78x
Herefordshire 33 15.19x
Surrey 27 1.05x
Norfolk 20 2.46x
Lancashire 19 0.30x
Warwickshire 13 0.97x
Hampshire 9 0.83x
Staffordshire 9 0.50x
Devon 7 0.63x
Sussex 7 0.78x
Berkshire 6 1.51x
Essex 6 0.57x
Leicestershire 5 0.85x
Derbyshire 4 0.48x
Durham 3 0.19x
Monmouthshire 3 0.78x
Brecknockshire 1 0.94x
Cornwall 1 0.17x
Glamorgan 1 0.11x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 1.30x
Lanarkshire 1 0.06x
Royal Navy 1 1.58x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Knottingley in Yorkshire leads with 35 Links recorded in 1881 and an index of 379.20x.

Place Total Index
Knottingley 35 379.20x
Bethersden 23 1250.00x
Stottesdon 19 913.46x
South Lynn 13 141.46x
Ashford 12 68.18x
Alveley 11 607.73x
Chartham 10 222.22x
Cleobury Mortimer 10 347.22x
Castleford 9 47.10x
Hackney London 9 3.03x
Holbeck 9 25.88x
Warehorne 9 937.50x
Batley 8 16.04x
Bedford 8 60.84x
Claines 8 42.15x
Penge 8 23.65x
Portsea 8 3.76x
Canterbury St Mary 7 57.71x
Faversham 7 40.63x
Great Chart 7 518.52x
Kidderminster Borough 7 17.29x
Tormoham 7 15.01x
Canterbury St Alphage 6 310.88x
Chelsea London 6 3.76x
Chilham 6 233.46x
Croydon 6 4.19x
Dilwyn 6 314.14x
Dormington 6 3157.89x
East Ardsley 6 131.87x
Lewisham 6 6.23x
Sowerby In Halifax 6 34.97x
Upper Arley 6 451.13x
Worcester All Sts 6 149.63x
Bethnal Green London 5 2.17x
Birmingham 5 1.12x
Chart Sutton 5 400.00x
Great Bowden 5 93.63x
Hastings Holy Trinity 5 75.99x
Headcorn 5 184.50x
Hereford St Peter 5 86.21x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 5 20.45x
Margate St John Baptist 5 15.11x
St Marylebone London 5 1.77x
Staplehurst 5 168.35x
Tonbridge 5 7.67x
West Ham 5 2.17x
Worcester St John 5 60.53x
Astley 4 275.86x
Camberwell 4 1.18x
Edgbaston 4 9.66x
Horbury 4 43.57x
Hunslet 4 4.89x
Liverpool 4 1.05x
Sandal Magna 4 51.55x
South Hinksey 4 231.21x
Wakefield 4 9.93x
Whitwood 4 53.62x
Ashover 3 72.64x
Aston 3 0.82x
Bridstow 3 241.94x
Everingham 3 625.00x
Farlow 3 476.19x
Kingston On Thames 3 4.84x
Lambeth 3 0.65x
Llanbaddock 3 422.54x
St George In East London 3 6.02x
Stoke Newington London 3 7.27x
Sunderland 3 10.78x
Chatham 2 4.02x
Clewer 2 12.28x
Donington 2 277.78x
Hereford St Nicholas 2 67.57x
Holmer 2 51.15x
Lakenham 2 17.29x
Mathon 2 98.52x
New Hampton 2 5000.00x
Pencombe 2 425.53x
Penistone 2 48.90x
St Pancras London 2 0.47x
Sutton Valence 2 97.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 33
Elizabeth 24
Sarah 20
Ann 15
Emily 10
Eliza 9
Hannah 8
Maria 8
Alice 7
Annie 6
Ellen 5
Kate 5
Ada 4
Amy 4
Edith 4
Emma 4
Harriett 4
Jane 4
Sophia 4
Catherine 3
Jessie 3
Lucy 3
Martha 3
Rebecca 3
Rose 3
Betsy 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Elizth. 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Harriet 2
Beatrice 1
Caroline 1
Daisy 1
Esther 1
Flora 1
Georganna 1
Katherine 1
Kezia 1
Laura 1
Letitia 1
Lewiz 1
Lione 1
Lissy 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Lousia 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Link surname: questions and answers

How common was the Link surname in 1881?

In 1881, 542 people were recorded with the Link surname. That placed it at #6,362 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Link surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,193 in 2016. That gives Link a modern rank of #4,993.

What does the Link surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person who made or operated links for chain mail armor.

What does the Link map show?

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