NameCensus.

UK surname

Luker

An English occupational surname referring to a lock maker or locksmith.

In the 1881 census there were 768 people recorded with the Luker surname, ranking it #4,815 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,066, ranked #5,482, down from #4,815 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swindon, Cotswold and Redcar and Cleveland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Luker is 1,190 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.8%.

1881 census count

768

Ranked #4,815

Modern count

1,066

2016, ranked #5,482

Peak year

1999

1,190 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Luker had 768 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,815 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,066 in 2016, ranked #5,482.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,125 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Luker surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Luker surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Luker 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 422 #5,779
1861 historical 423 #6,073
1881 historical 768 #4,815
1891 historical 789 #5,096
1901 historical 1,080 #4,475
1911 historical 1,125 #4,136
1997 modern 1,143 #4,913
1998 modern 1,180 #4,948
1999 modern 1,190 #4,966
2000 modern 1,155 #5,063
2001 modern 1,121 #5,086
2002 modern 1,129 #5,172
2003 modern 1,116 #5,115
2004 modern 1,086 #5,246
2005 modern 1,061 #5,290
2006 modern 1,043 #5,385
2007 modern 1,065 #5,321
2008 modern 1,046 #5,443
2009 modern 1,048 #5,559
2010 modern 1,066 #5,578
2011 modern 1,073 #5,486
2012 modern 1,060 #5,452
2013 modern 1,077 #5,480
2014 modern 1,095 #5,415
2015 modern 1,069 #5,480
2016 modern 1,066 #5,482

Geography

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Where Lukers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, London parishes and Farringdon, Great. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swindon, Cotswold, Redcar and Cleveland, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Stroud. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 1
4 Farringdon, Great Berkshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swindon 004 Swindon
2 Cotswold 002 Cotswold
3 Redcar and Cleveland 011 Redcar and Cleveland
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 014 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 Stroud 002 Stroud

Forenames

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First names often paired with Luker

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Luker

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Luker, 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 Luker surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Luker 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Luker is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Luker 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

Luker falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Luker

The surname Luker is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "loke," meaning "lock" or "enclosure," potentially indicating an ancestor who lived near a locked or enclosed area.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of England, such as Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Robert le Luker, mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1273.

In the 14th century, variations of the name appeared in historical records, including Lokere, Loker, and Lokere. The Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1327 mention a William le Lokere, while the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1332 refer to a John le Lokere.

The Luker surname is also linked to several place names in England, such as Lucker in Northumberland and Loker in Somerset. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Notable individuals with the surname Luker throughout history include:

1. John Luker (c. 1550-1615), an English Catholic priest and martyr who was executed during the reign of King James I. 2. William Luker (1781-1855), an English engraver and artist known for his topographical engravings of London. 3. Sir Oliver Joseph Luker (1834-1906), a British politician and industrialist who served as a Member of Parliament for Pudsey from 1892 to 1906. 4. Bertha Luker (1873-1966), an American educator and activist who fought for women's suffrage and labor rights. 5. Sidney Luker (1871-1944), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire and Somerset in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

While the Luker surname may have evolved from various regional dialects and place names, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in England, with potential links to the Old English word for "lock" or "enclosure."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Luker families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Luker 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. Berkshire leads with 166 Lukers recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.60x.

County Total Index
Berkshire 166 29.60x
Gloucestershire 147 10.03x
Middlesex 106 1.42x
Surrey 72 1.98x
Oxfordshire 44 9.54x
Hampshire 31 2.02x
Kent 31 1.22x
Wiltshire 18 2.72x
Worcestershire 18 1.84x
Essex 17 1.15x
Dorset 14 2.85x
Lancashire 14 0.16x
Glamorgan 12 0.92x
Buckinghamshire 11 2.44x
Sussex 11 0.87x
Somerset 9 0.75x
Staffordshire 8 0.32x
Northamptonshire 7 1.00x
Monmouthshire 6 1.11x
Shropshire 6 0.93x
Warwickshire 6 0.32x
Yorkshire 6 0.08x
Northumberland 3 0.27x
Derbyshire 1 0.09x
Herefordshire 1 0.33x
Norfolk 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 23 Lukers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.18x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 23 3.18x
Great Faringdon 21 260.55x
Reading St Mary 19 42.30x
Leckhampton 18 199.34x
Appleton 15 1020.41x
Bristol St George 15 22.13x
Harlington 15 380.71x
Kingston Bagpuize 14 2187.50x
Walton On Thames 14 83.73x
Avening 13 250.97x
Ramsbury 13 217.03x
Reading St Giles 13 23.62x
Abingdon St Helen 12 73.17x
Handborough 12 483.87x
Corfe Castle 11 241.76x
Gloucester St Nicholas 11 162.00x
Tewkesbury 11 84.10x
Clerkenwell London 10 5.67x
Kensington London 10 2.41x
Hempstead 9 502.79x
Kings Norton 9 10.29x
Newington 9 3.26x
Painswick 9 86.87x
South Hamlet 9 99.23x
Barnes 8 51.95x
Bibury 8 451.98x
Camberwell 8 1.68x
Clewer 8 34.81x
Crowmarsh Gifford 8 1025.64x
Richmond 8 15.68x
St Marylebone London 8 2.01x
Wycombe 8 23.76x
Chigwell 7 50.29x
Clitheroe 7 26.82x
Dudley 7 5.90x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 7 26.11x
Gloucester St Mary Crypt 7 311.11x
Headington 7 97.77x
Longworth 7 460.53x
Marcham 7 348.26x
Petersfield 7 166.27x
Plumstead 7 8.24x
Ravensthorpe 7 551.18x
Tilehurst 7 61.78x
Tonbridge 7 7.61x
Bitton 6 47.02x
Church Preen 6 2000.00x
Harwell 6 289.86x
Newnham Murren 6 952.38x
Overton 6 163.49x
Prittlewell 6 29.35x
Southampton St Mary 6 6.23x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 3.99x
St Luke London 6 5.01x
Tubney 6 1428.57x
Wallingford St Leonard 6 229.89x
Westbury On Trym 6 12.08x
Aberdare 5 5.60x
Aldershot 5 9.75x
Battersea 5 1.82x
Fulham London 5 4.61x
Fyfield 5 581.40x
Keynsham 5 57.87x
Northfleet 5 22.26x
Rotherham 5 11.98x
St George Hanover Square 5 3.80x
Wantage 5 55.93x
Westminster St James 5 6.51x
Brighton 4 1.57x
Habergham Eaves 4 4.94x
Lambeth 4 0.61x
Ramsgate 4 9.61x
Rowley Regis 4 5.69x
South Stoneham 4 12.04x
Tipton 4 5.18x
West Ham 4 1.23x
Cheltenham 3 2.65x
Stroud 3 10.52x
Swanage 3 49.59x
West Swallowfield 3 112.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 36
Mary 36
Ann 23
Sarah 23
Alice 15
Ellen 14
Emma 12
Jane 11
Annie 10
Eliza 10
Emily 9
Ada 8
Martha 7
Harriet 6
Louisa 6
Maria 6
Rose 6
Edith 5
Esther 5
Hannah 5
Margaret 5
Minnie 5
Amelia 4
Anne 4
Clara 4
Fanny 4
Florence 4
Kate 4
Matilda 4
Charlotte 3
Harriett 3
Rosa 3
Sophia 3
Alvena 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Elizth. 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Laura 2
Lily 2
Lucy 2
R. 2
Sussanah 2
Bertha 1
Elizath. 1
Emley 1
Hellen 1
Ida 1
Una 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 47
George 37
John 30
James 29
Thomas 25
Charles 24
Henry 20
Alfred 18
Albert 12
Joseph 12
Frederick 9
Arthur 8
David 7
Edward 7
Frank 7
Harry 7
Walter 7
Fredk. 6
Robert 6
Ernest 5
Richard 5
Fredrick 4
Benjamin 3
Philip 3
Daniel 2
Samuel 2
T. 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Abraham 1
Allan 1
Caleb 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
Cristoper 1
Enoch 1
F. 1
Fred 1
Fred.H. 1
Fredk.G. 1
G. 1
Isaac 1
Jesse 1
Leonard 1
Levi 1
Mark 1
Noah 1
Oliver 1
Oscar 1
Percy 1

FAQ

Luker surname: questions and answers

How common was the Luker surname in 1881?

In 1881, 768 people were recorded with the Luker surname. That placed it at #4,815 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Luker surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,066 in 2016. That gives Luker a modern rank of #5,482.

What does the Luker surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a lock maker or locksmith.

What does the Luker map show?

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