NameCensus.

UK surname

Loke

A surname derived from the Scandinavian word for "meadow" or "clearing."

In the 1881 census there were 72 people recorded with the Loke surname, ranking it #23,371 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 196, ranked #19,848, up from #23,371 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Mentmore, Draughton and Wollaston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Thurrock, Brent and Camden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Loke is 196 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 172.2%.

1881 census count

72

Ranked #23,371

Modern count

196

2016, ranked #19,848

Peak year

2016

196 bearers

Map years

4

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Loke had 72 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,371 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 196 in 2016, ranked #19,848.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 106 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Loke surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Loke surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Loke 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 70 #21,020
1861 historical 106 #20,147
1881 historical 72 #23,371
1891 historical 83 #26,376
1901 historical 58 #27,724
1911 historical 92 #23,580
1997 modern 147 #21,393
1998 modern 156 #21,144
1999 modern 171 #20,072
2000 modern 161 #20,822
2001 modern 165 #20,199
2002 modern 165 #20,619
2003 modern 156 #21,115
2004 modern 162 #20,756
2005 modern 164 #20,552
2006 modern 167 #20,447
2007 modern 167 #20,719
2008 modern 170 #20,672
2009 modern 177 #20,560
2010 modern 175 #21,186
2011 modern 179 #20,732
2012 modern 189 #19,949
2013 modern 189 #20,273
2014 modern 187 #20,570
2015 modern 191 #20,205
2016 modern 196 #19,848

Geography

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Where Lokes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Mentmore, Draughton, Wollaston, Foleshill and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Thurrock, Brent, Camden, Wirral and Westminster. 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 Mentmore Bedfordshire
2 Draughton Northamptonshire
3 Wollaston Northamptonshire
4 Foleshill Warwickshire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Thurrock 004 Thurrock
2 Brent 032 Brent
3 Camden 025 Camden
4 Wirral 008 Wirral
5 Westminster 018 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Loke

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Loke

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Loke surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Loke household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Loke 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

Loke is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Loke 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 Loke 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
Asian - Chinese

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

Meaning and origin of Loke

The surname LOKE has its origins in England, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "loca," meaning a lock or enclosure, referring to someone who lived near a lock or gate.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name LOKE can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Loca" in various locations across England. This suggests that the name had already been established by the time of the Norman Conquest in the 11th century.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the surname LOKE appeared in various records across the country, often associated with place names such as Lockesley, Lockerley, and Loxley. These place names further reinforce the connection between the surname and the Old English word "loca."

In the 15th century, a notable figure bearing the surname LOKE was John Loke, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Norwich, who was born around 1420. Another notable individual from this period was Sir William Loke, a member of the English gentry who lived in the late 15th century.

In the 16th century, the surname LOKE appeared in various records, including those of Thomas Loke, a scholar and author who lived from 1505 to 1565. During the same period, Henry Loke, a wealthy landowner and philanthropist, was born in 1540 and made significant contributions to the city of Norwich.

Moving into the 17th century, the name LOKE continued to be associated with notable individuals, such as Sir Michael Loke, a prominent lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles I.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname LOKE remained present in various historical records, with individuals like John Loke, a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London during the late 18th century, and William Loke, a successful industrialist and philanthropist who lived from 1793 to 1867.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Loke families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Loke 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. Bedfordshire leads with 15 Lokes recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.68x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 15 43.68x
Staffordshire 8 3.57x
Essex 6 4.58x
Leicestershire 6 8.16x
Northamptonshire 6 9.62x
Hertfordshire 4 8.75x
Lancashire 4 0.51x
Middlesex 4 0.60x
Sussex 4 3.58x
Warwickshire 4 2.39x
Worcestershire 4 4.62x
Buckinghamshire 1 2.49x
Norfolk 1 0.98x
Yorkshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire leads with 11 Lokes recorded in 1881 and an index of 743.24x.

Place Total Index
Leighton Buzzard 11 743.24x
Handsworth 8 144.93x
Desborough 6 1276.60x
Romford 6 289.86x
Hitchin 4 194.17x
Leicester All Sts 4 277.78x
Yardley 4 180.18x
Kirkdale 3 22.66x
Denton 2 1818.18x
Dunstable 2 188.68x
Foleshill 2 113.64x
Hanwell 2 169.49x
Heath Reach 2 833.33x
Leicester Black Friars 2 416.67x
Rugby 2 88.50x
Brighton 1 4.43x
Hove 1 20.37x
Liverpool 1 2.09x
Rawmarsh 1 43.10x
St Pancras London 1 1.87x
Willesden 1 16.00x
Wing 1 270.27x
Worstead 1 588.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 7
Mary 4
Maria 3
Amelia 2
Ann 2
Caroline 2
Eliza 2
Elizabeth 2
Emily 2
Ada 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Francess 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 5
Thomas 4
George 3
William 3
Charles 2
Edward 2
James 2
Clark 1
Dan 1
Ernest 1
Jessie 1
Joseph 1
Samuel 1

FAQ

Loke surname: questions and answers

How common was the Loke surname in 1881?

In 1881, 72 people were recorded with the Loke surname. That placed it at #23,371 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Loke surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 196 in 2016. That gives Loke a modern rank of #19,848.

What does the Loke surname mean?

A surname derived from the Scandinavian word for "meadow" or "clearing."

What does the Loke map show?

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