NameCensus.

UK surname

Luk

A Chinese surname derived from the Chinese character meaning "deer".

In the 1881 census there were 13 people recorded with the Luk surname, ranking it #31,761 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 250, ranked #16,792, up from #31,761 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Oldham, Bromley and Cambridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Luk is 250 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1823.1%.

1881 census count

13

Ranked #31,761

Modern count

250

2016, ranked #16,792

Peak year

2016

250 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Luk had 13 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,761 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 250 in 2016, ranked #16,792.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 13 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Luk surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Luk surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Luk 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 7 #32,070
1881 historical 13 #31,761
1901 historical 3 #34,063
1997 modern 149 #21,214
1998 modern 159 #20,916
1999 modern 167 #20,374
2000 modern 163 #20,657
2001 modern 162 #20,460
2002 modern 170 #20,243
2003 modern 185 #18,999
2004 modern 179 #19,523
2005 modern 203 #17,961
2006 modern 200 #18,294
2007 modern 211 #17,856
2008 modern 207 #18,243
2009 modern 203 #18,840
2010 modern 222 #18,148
2011 modern 217 #18,271
2012 modern 222 #17,921
2013 modern 247 #16,935
2014 modern 243 #17,232
2015 modern 245 #17,040
2016 modern 250 #16,792

Geography

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Where Luks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Oldham, Bromley, Cambridge, Barnet and Brent. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Oldham 033 Oldham
2 Bromley 032 Bromley
3 Cambridge 002 Cambridge
4 Barnet 025 Barnet
5 Brent 027 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Luk

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Luk

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

Student Living and Professional Footholds

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

The Group includes many students, some of whom reside in communal residences. Single-person households are the most prevalent and the modal age band is 25 to 44. There are few families with dependent children. A significant number of White residents were born in EU countries (although UK-born residents are more common than in the rest of the Group), and households reflect a diversity of ethnic groups. Residential turnover is exceptionally high and, communal properties aside, flats are the norm. Some properties, including those in the private rental sector, are over-crowded. Many residents are professionals and technicians educated to degree level, and the Group is particularly common near the campuses of established university towns and cities.

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Luk is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Luk 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

Luk 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 Luk 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Luk

The surname Luk has its origins in England, tracing back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "luc," meaning "lock" or "enclosure." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a gate or enclosed area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, dated 1195, which mention a person named Willelmus Luk. The Pipe Rolls were a series of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, providing valuable insights into the names used during that period.

Another significant historical reference is the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which contained records of landholders and their holdings. These rolls include entries for individuals with the surname Luk, indicating their presence in various counties across England.

During the 13th century, the name Luk appeared in various spellings, such as Loke, Looke, and Lok, reflecting the fluidity of surname spellings in that era. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of scribes who recorded the names.

One notable bearer of the Luk surname was John Luk, a prominent merchant from Bristol who lived in the late 14th century. Records show that he was involved in trade with the continent and played a role in the city's economic affairs.

In the 16th century, the Luk surname was associated with several place names in England, such as Lukesland in Kent and Lukeshall in Essex. These toponymic references suggest that some families with the surname may have derived their name from the location where they resided.

Another individual of historical significance was Sir William Luk, who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was a respected statesman and served as a Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire in the early 1600s.

During the English Civil War in the mid-17th century, Captain Richard Luk was a notable figure who fought for the Parliamentarian forces. He was known for his bravery and military prowess in several key battles.

In the realm of literature, one cannot overlook the contribution of Samuel Luk, an English poet and playwright who lived from 1638 to 1719. His works, though not widely acclaimed during his lifetime, have since gained recognition for their lyrical quality and insightful commentary on contemporary society.

As the centuries progressed, the Luk surname continued to be found across various regions of England, with families often maintaining close ties to their ancestral homes and local communities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Luk families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Luk 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. Staffordshire leads with 9 Luks recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.03x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 9 21.03x
Northumberland 4 21.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sedgley in Staffordshire leads with 9 Luks recorded in 1881 and an index of 566.04x.

Place Total Index
Sedgley 9 566.04x
Chirton 2 465.12x
Raw 1 0.00x
Seaton Delaval 1 588.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Amelia 1
Catherine 1
Emma 1
Johanna 1
Nancy 1
Naomi 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 2
James 2
Abra. 1
Arthur 1
Joseph 1

FAQ

Luk surname: questions and answers

How common was the Luk surname in 1881?

In 1881, 13 people were recorded with the Luk surname. That placed it at #31,761 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Luk surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 250 in 2016. That gives Luk a modern rank of #16,792.

What does the Luk surname mean?

A Chinese surname derived from the Chinese character meaning "deer".

What does the Luk map show?

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