NameCensus.

UK surname

Luke

An English surname derived from the Latin name Lucas, meaning "man from Lucania," a region in southern Italy.

In the 1881 census there were 2,900 people recorded with the Luke surname, ranking it #1,547 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,161, ranked #1,631, down from #1,547 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Illogan and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham and Flintshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Luke is 4,161 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.5%.

1881 census count

2,900

Ranked #1,547

Modern count

4,161

2016, ranked #1,631

Peak year

2016

4,161 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Luke had 2,900 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,547 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,161 in 2016, ranked #1,631.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,431 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Luke surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Luke surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Luke 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 2,086 #1,395
1861 historical 2,443 #1,197
1881 historical 2,900 #1,547
1891 historical 3,152 #1,499
1901 historical 3,431 #1,620
1911 historical 3,210 #1,621
1997 modern 3,789 #1,714
1998 modern 3,928 #1,721
1999 modern 3,936 #1,727
2000 modern 3,936 #1,722
2001 modern 3,866 #1,713
2002 modern 3,942 #1,720
2003 modern 3,868 #1,713
2004 modern 3,864 #1,720
2005 modern 3,871 #1,684
2006 modern 3,891 #1,673
2007 modern 3,865 #1,705
2008 modern 3,916 #1,695
2009 modern 4,026 #1,684
2010 modern 4,098 #1,693
2011 modern 4,080 #1,675
2012 modern 3,989 #1,685
2013 modern 4,120 #1,661
2014 modern 4,111 #1,675
2015 modern 4,110 #1,655
2016 modern 4,161 #1,631

Geography

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Where Lukes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Illogan, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham and Flintshire. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Illogan Cornwall
3 London parishes London 3
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 040 County Durham
2 County Durham 048 County Durham
3 County Durham 043 County Durham
4 County Durham 044 County Durham
5 Flintshire 001 Flintshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Luke

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Luke

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Luke surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Luke 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Luke 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

Luke 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

Luke falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Luke 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 Luke, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Luke

The surname Luke originated in England and is derived from the Latin name Lucas, which means "man from Lucania," an ancient region in southern Italy. It is thought to have been introduced to England after the Norman Conquest in 1066.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Luke can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Luca" and "Lucas." This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century in England.

During the medieval period, the surname Luke was often spelled in various ways, including Loke, Looke, and Luck. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Luke was Sir Samuel Luke (1586-1670), a prominent English militiaman and politician who fought for the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War.

In the 16th century, the surname Luke was associated with several place names in England, such as Luckington in Wiltshire and Luckley in Berkshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Another distinguished bearer of the Luke surname was Sir Harry Luke (1884-1969), a British naval officer and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of Malta from 1942 to 1944.

The 18th century saw the birth of John Luke (1731-1799), a British agriculturist and author who wrote several influential works on farming practices and rural economy.

In the realm of literature, Samuel Luke (1805-1870) was an English poet and clergyman who published several volumes of poetry, including "The Songs of Zion" in 1853.

The 20th century brought forth Sir Ralph Beresford Luke (1915-2004), a British diplomat and author who served as the Governor of Gibraltar from 1968 to 1973.

Throughout its history, the surname Luke has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including military leaders, politicians, writers, and agriculturists, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who carried this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Luke families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Luke 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. Cornwall leads with 380 Lukes recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.80x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 380 11.80x
Durham 271 3.20x
Middlesex 257 0.90x
Devon 184 3.11x
Lancashire 167 0.49x
Northumberland 164 3.88x
Hampshire 157 2.69x
Surrey 101 0.73x
Yorkshire 98 0.35x
Angus 84 3.19x
Pembrokeshire 77 8.52x
Midlothian 71 1.86x
Lanarkshire 70 0.76x
Gloucestershire 67 1.20x
Argyllshire 62 7.83x
Glamorgan 60 1.21x
Flintshire 45 5.89x
Berwickshire 41 11.91x
Somerset 41 0.90x
Kent 34 0.35x
Worcestershire 34 0.92x
Perthshire 30 2.35x
Fife 28 1.66x
Ayrshire 27 1.27x
Roxburghshire 25 4.85x
Staffordshire 25 0.26x
Essex 24 0.43x
Warwickshire 24 0.33x
Aberdeenshire 22 0.84x
Cheshire 20 0.32x
Renfrewshire 16 0.73x
Channel Islands 14 1.66x
Kinross-shire 14 19.48x
Sussex 13 0.27x
Wiltshire 12 0.48x
Cardiganshire 11 1.59x
Derbyshire 11 0.25x
Buckinghamshire 8 0.47x
Dunbartonshire 8 1.05x
Northamptonshire 8 0.30x
Stirlingshire 8 0.76x
Clackmannanshire 7 2.98x
Lincolnshire 7 0.15x
Monmouthshire 7 0.34x
Royal Navy 7 2.07x
Denbighshire 6 0.56x
Leicestershire 6 0.19x
Selkirkshire 6 2.33x
Suffolk 6 0.17x
Caernarfonshire 5 0.43x
Carmarthenshire 5 0.42x
East Lothian 5 1.33x
Hertfordshire 5 0.26x
West Lothian 5 1.17x
Montgomeryshire 4 0.61x
Norfolk 4 0.09x
Cumberland 3 0.12x
Oxfordshire 3 0.17x
Westmorland 3 0.48x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.11x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.05x
Shropshire 2 0.08x
Berkshire 1 0.05x
Dorset 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camborne in Cornwall leads with 55 Lukes recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.46x.

Place Total Index
Camborne 55 41.46x
Illogan 55 64.52x
St Austell 55 49.98x
Portsea 46 4.03x
Barony 41 1.76x
Manchester 37 2.44x
Dundee 35 3.56x
Kilmorich 32 981.60x
Plymouth Charles The 32 12.27x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 31 2.02x
Chilton 30 113.59x
Lambeth 30 1.21x
Madron Penzance 30 25.63x
Kensington London 28 1.77x
Embleton 26 288.25x
Islington London 26 0.94x
Shoreditch London 26 2.11x
St Marylebone London 26 1.71x
Stoke Damerel 25 6.03x
Plymouth St Andrew 23 5.04x
St Breock 23 132.26x
Cassop 22 377.36x
Haswell 22 36.29x
Liff Benvie 22 5.50x
Wingate 21 36.21x
Stockton On Tees 20 4.90x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 19 3.86x
Uny Lelant 19 109.20x
Alverstoke 17 8.06x
Clifton 17 6.03x
Cheetham 16 6.36x
Chelsea London 16 1.87x
Edinburgh Canongate 16 16.50x
Aston 15 0.76x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 15 2.86x
Cowpen 15 15.40x
Everton 15 1.39x
Fulham London 15 3.64x
Kenwyn 15 17.82x
Southampton St Mary 15 4.09x
Burnham 14 40.13x
Dudley 14 3.10x
Eling 14 23.72x
Kilbirnie 14 27.40x
Castellan 13 773.81x
Coldingham 13 42.00x
Croydon 13 1.69x
Glasgow 13 0.80x
Littleham 13 30.04x
Deptford St Paul 12 1.60x
Foulden 12 313.32x
Llanasa 12 45.27x
Llanfyrnach 12 122.57x
Millbrook 12 8.17x
Newington 12 1.14x
Redruth 12 13.18x
Tavistock 12 17.80x
Winlaton 12 14.79x
Brandon Byshottles 11 10.38x
Clerkenwell London 11 1.64x
Cottingham 11 18.11x
East Chevington 11 78.18x
Hammerwich 11 80.70x
Lanteglos By Fowey 11 83.97x
Paddington London 11 1.05x
Roath 11 4.89x
Sherburn 11 42.72x
South Elmshall 11 214.43x
Westminster St John 11 3.18x
Bethnal Green London 10 0.81x
Cheltenham 10 2.32x
Fossoway 10 80.97x
Gwennap 10 16.47x
Leigh 10 22.18x
Newham In Belford 10 421.94x
Phillack 10 24.07x
Sale 10 12.99x
Stapleton 10 9.45x
Staveley 10 12.65x
West Ham 10 0.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 158
Elizabeth 118
Sarah 62
Jane 61
Ann 44
Margaret 41
Eliza 40
Annie 37
Ellen 31
Catherine 27
Emily 25
Emma 24
Hannah 22
Martha 20
Isabella 18
Alice 17
Susan 14
Anne 13
Fanny 13
Maria 13
Charlotte 12
Florence 12
Grace 12
Harriet 12
Louisa 11
Bessie 10
Caroline 10
Eleanor 10
Kate 10
Agnes 9
Jessie 9
Lucy 9
Amelia 8
Frances 8
Bertha 7
Edith 7
Elizth. 7
Mabel 7
Sophia 7
Ada 6
Anna 6
Clara 6
Julia 6
Ethel 5
Minnie 5
Rebecca 5
Harriett 4
Helen 4
Lilian 4
Matilda 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 160
John 148
Thomas 89
James 71
George 50
Charles 46
Henry 38
Joseph 29
Richard 28
Robert 28
Alfred 26
David 25
Edward 25
Samuel 21
Frederick 17
Arthur 16
Ernest 16
Edwin 15
Walter 15
Harry 12
Albert 11
Francis 9
Geo. 9
Frank 8
Daniel 6
Herbert 6
Jno. 6
Wm. 6
Alexander 5
Mark 5
Mathew 5
Stephen 5
Fredk. 4
Percy 4
Philip 4
Thos. 4
Willie 4
Anthony 3
Benjamin 3
Evan 3
Isaac 3
Jacob 3
Josiah 3
Martin 3
Nicholas 3
Richd. 3
Sidney 3
Tom 3
Edwd. 2
Reginald 2

FAQ

Luke surname: questions and answers

How common was the Luke surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,900 people were recorded with the Luke surname. That placed it at #1,547 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Luke surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,161 in 2016. That gives Luke a modern rank of #1,631.

What does the Luke surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Latin name Lucas, meaning "man from Lucania," a region in southern Italy.

What does the Luke map show?

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