NameCensus.

UK surname

Maker

An occupational surname referring to a craftsman or artisan who constructs or creates objects.

In the 1881 census there were 466 people recorded with the Maker surname, ranking it #7,133 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 362, ranked #12,810, down from #7,133 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brent, Mid Suffolk and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Maker is 1,664 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 22.3%.

1881 census count

466

Ranked #7,133

Modern count

362

2016, ranked #12,810

Peak year

1911

1,664 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Maker had 466 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,133 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 362 in 2016, ranked #12,810.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,664 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Maker surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Maker surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Maker 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 463 #5,359
1861 historical 1,125 #2,494
1881 historical 466 #7,133
1891 historical 733 #5,416
1901 historical 506 #7,977
1911 historical 1,664 #2,936
1997 modern 347 #12,251
1998 modern 361 #12,280
1999 modern 355 #12,478
2000 modern 360 #12,309
2001 modern 351 #12,349
2002 modern 384 #11,794
2003 modern 375 #11,808
2004 modern 365 #12,077
2005 modern 364 #12,008
2006 modern 364 #12,106
2007 modern 370 #12,073
2008 modern 368 #12,238
2009 modern 382 #12,150
2010 modern 400 #11,992
2011 modern 392 #12,038
2012 modern 368 #12,468
2013 modern 370 #12,626
2014 modern 378 #12,512
2015 modern 371 #12,567
2016 modern 362 #12,810

Geography

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Where Makers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Brent, Mid Suffolk, Cornwall and South Hams. 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 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Brent 017 Brent
2 Mid Suffolk 010 Mid Suffolk
3 Cornwall 043 Cornwall
4 South Hams 004 South Hams
5 Cornwall 042 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Maker

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Maker

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Maker surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Maker household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Maker 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

Maker is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Maker falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Maker is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Maker

The surname MAKER is an occupational name that originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word 'macian', meaning 'to make' or 'to create'. The name would have been given to someone who worked as a skilled craftsman or artisan, such as a carpenter, blacksmith, or potter.

The earliest recorded instances of the MAKER surname can be traced back to the late 12th century. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Richard le Maker, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1195. Another early record is from the Curia Regis Rolls of Huntingdonshire in 1201, which mentions a William le Maker.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name appeared in various records across England, often with different spellings such as Maker, Macker, and Mayker. For example, the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296 listed a John le Maker, while the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1347 mentioned a Robert Mayker.

The MAKER name was also associated with certain place names, particularly in Kent and Sussex. For instance, the hamlet of Makersbury in Kent was recorded as Makeresberie in the Domesday Book of 1086, suggesting a connection to an early bearer of the MAKER surname.

One notable individual with the MAKER surname was John Maker (c. 1440-1501), a prominent English lawyer and Speaker of the House of Commons during the reign of Henry VII. Another was Thomas Maker (1572-1634), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Stouting in Kent.

In the 17th century, the MAKER name spread to other parts of the British Isles, including Scotland and Ireland. William Maker (1612-1684) was a Scottish minister and author who served as the Principal of the University of Edinburgh. Meanwhile, Robert Maker (1630-1692) was an Irish physician and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of botany.

As the centuries progressed, the MAKER surname continued to be represented by individuals from various fields, including scholars, writers, and artists. One such example was Michael Maker (1784-1853), an English painter and engraver known for his landscapes and architectural studies.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Maker families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Maker 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. Middlesex leads with 90 Makers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.97x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 90 1.97x
Devon 75 7.89x
Lancashire 50 0.92x
Cornwall 43 8.32x
Surrey 32 1.44x
Hampshire 28 2.99x
Gloucestershire 22 2.46x
Yorkshire 20 0.44x
Kent 15 0.96x
Somerset 15 2.04x
Dorset 13 4.34x
Durham 10 0.74x
Warwickshire 10 0.87x
Glamorgan 8 1.01x
Berkshire 7 2.04x
Nottinghamshire 7 1.14x
Staffordshire 7 0.45x
Cheshire 2 0.20x
Essex 2 0.22x
Monmouthshire 2 0.61x
Royal Navy 2 3.68x
Stirlingshire 2 1.19x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.36x
Derbyshire 1 0.14x
Herefordshire 1 0.53x
Northumberland 1 0.15x
Sussex 1 0.13x
Wiltshire 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bodmin in Cornwall leads with 22 Makers recorded in 1881 and an index of 257.31x.

Place Total Index
Bodmin 22 257.31x
Tavistock 19 175.60x
Newington 17 10.08x
Milton Abbott 16 1159.42x
Poplar London 13 15.09x
Bow London 12 20.65x
Manchester 11 4.52x
Paddington London 11 6.55x
Portsea 11 6.00x
Toxteth Park 11 6.00x
Hornsey 10 17.32x
St George Hanover 10 16.78x
St Helens 10 147.06x
Aston 9 2.84x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 9 10.68x
Calstock 8 78.90x
Bray 7 69.51x
Coddington 7 864.20x
Curry Mallet 7 921.05x
Folkestone 7 23.17x
Lifton 7 305.68x
Merthyr Tydfil 7 9.16x
Westbury On Trym 7 23.08x
Bere Ferrers 6 384.62x
Bickleigh 6 645.16x
Habergham Eaves 6 12.12x
Hackney London 6 2.34x
Hawkchurch 6 645.16x
Hoyland Nether 6 54.05x
Mile End Old Town 6 8.33x
Blisland 5 574.71x
Camberwell 5 1.71x
Christow 5 543.48x
Dawdon 5 29.92x
Kirkdale 5 5.49x
Leeds 5 1.96x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 6.83x
Shoreditch London 5 2.53x
Wolverhampton 5 4.22x
Bedminster 4 5.79x
Callington 4 132.89x
Cheetham 4 9.90x
Lambeth 4 1.00x
Margate St John Baptist 4 14.03x
Scriven Cum Tentergate 4 238.10x
Tamerton Foliott 4 218.58x
Enfield 3 10.02x
Hampton Wick London 3 89.82x
Mortlake 3 30.27x
St Marylebone London 3 1.23x
Wareham Holy Trinity 3 229.01x
Whippingham 3 42.31x
Wolsingham 3 24.23x
Birkenhead 2 2.49x
Blackburn 2 1.39x
Bradford 2 1.83x
Bromley London 2 1.99x
Bury 2 3.23x
Chevening 2 117.65x
Churchill 2 170.94x
Horfield 2 22.20x
Lamerton 2 110.50x
Long Ashton 2 54.95x
Moreton Hampstead 2 81.30x
Mynyddyslwyn 2 15.36x
Netherbury 2 80.65x
Pendleton In Salford 2 3.10x
Romford 2 14.04x
Royal Navy 2 4.30x
Stirling 2 9.42x
West Bromwich 2 2.27x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 1 2.37x
Birmingham 1 0.26x
Ealing 1 2.45x
Glossop Dale 1 2.99x
Portland 1 6.21x
South Stoneham 1 4.93x
St George Bloomsbury 1 3.82x
Swansea Town 1 1.53x
Wycombe 1 4.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 40
Elizabeth 25
Sarah 15
Ann 14
Ellen 11
Alice 8
Emma 8
Jane 7
Margaret 6
Eliza 5
Julia 5
Maria 5
Catherine 4
Edith 4
Emily 4
Louisa 4
Rose 4
Annie 3
Ethel 3
Kate 3
Ada 2
Amy 2
Bessie 2
Betsy 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Isabella 2
Kathleen 2
M. 2
Margt. 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
S. 2
Selina 2
Sophia 2
Agnes 1
Bridget 1
C. 1
Charlotte 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Ester 1
Esther 1
Henrietta 1
Hettie 1
Jannott 1
Jessie 1
Joanna 1
Laura 1
Wilson 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 31
William 27
Thomas 21
James 16
George 15
Henry 13
Charles 7
Albert 6
Joseph 6
Robert 6
Harry 4
Michael 4
Daniel 3
Edward 3
Richard 3
W. 3
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
J. 2
Thos. 2
Timothy 2
Walter 2
Arscott 1
Arthur 1
Conn 1
Cornelius 1
Edmund 1
Edwd. 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.Chas. 1
Fredrick 1
Henrry 1
Jeremiah 1
Jonah 1
Jonathan 1
Joshua 1
Marwood 1
Nicholas 1
Patrick 1
Rd.Thos. 1
Richd. 1
Sampson 1
Samuel 1
T. 1
Uriah 1
Wallace 1
Wiliam 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Maker surname: questions and answers

How common was the Maker surname in 1881?

In 1881, 466 people were recorded with the Maker surname. That placed it at #7,133 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Maker surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 362 in 2016. That gives Maker a modern rank of #12,810.

What does the Maker surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a craftsman or artisan who constructs or creates objects.

What does the Maker map show?

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