NameCensus.

UK surname

Medlock

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "meadow by a lake or stream lock."

In the 1881 census there were 465 people recorded with the Medlock surname, ranking it #7,144 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 746, ranked #7,323, down from #7,144 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to King's Lynn St Margaret, London parishes and Wrestlingworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham, South Holland and Sevenoaks.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Medlock is 775 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 60.4%.

1881 census count

465

Ranked #7,144

Modern count

746

2016, ranked #7,323

Peak year

1999

775 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Medlock had 465 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,144 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 746 in 2016, ranked #7,323.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 686 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Medlock surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Medlock surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Medlock 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 227 #9,448
1861 historical 261 #9,481
1881 historical 465 #7,144
1891 historical 579 #6,585
1901 historical 611 #6,972
1911 historical 686 #6,177
1997 modern 767 #6,758
1998 modern 774 #6,938
1999 modern 775 #6,959
2000 modern 766 #6,986
2001 modern 749 #6,990
2002 modern 761 #7,035
2003 modern 757 #6,960
2004 modern 732 #7,150
2005 modern 717 #7,188
2006 modern 708 #7,287
2007 modern 735 #7,173
2008 modern 751 #7,098
2009 modern 750 #7,248
2010 modern 758 #7,320
2011 modern 746 #7,340
2012 modern 733 #7,356
2013 modern 736 #7,451
2014 modern 744 #7,432
2015 modern 732 #7,463
2016 modern 746 #7,323

Geography

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Where Medlocks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around King's Lynn St Margaret, London parishes, Wrestlingworth, Whittlesey St Mary and St Andrew, Standground (Stilton & Peterborough, Northamptonshire) and Wakefield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rotherham, South Holland and Sevenoaks. 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 King's Lynn St Margaret Norfolk
2 London parishes London 3
3 Wrestlingworth Bedfordshire
4 Whittlesey St Mary and St Andrew, Standground (Stilton & Peterborough, Northamptonshire) Cambridgeshire
5 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rotherham 013 Rotherham
2 South Holland 001 South Holland
3 Rotherham 010 Rotherham
4 Rotherham 014 Rotherham
5 Sevenoaks 013 Sevenoaks

Forenames

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First names often paired with Medlock

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Medlock

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Medlock is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Medlock is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Medlock falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Medlock

The surname Medlock is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from a place name in Lancashire, England, where the Medlock river flows. The name is thought to have evolved from the Old English words "mēd" and "lōc," meaning "meadow stream" or "meadow enclosure."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Medlock can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Medeloc," indicating its usage during the Norman period.

In the 13th century, the name Medlock was documented in various legal and administrative records, such as the Assize Rolls of Lancashire and the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire. These records often referred to individuals who lived near the Medlock river or in the vicinity of the area known as Medlock.

One notable individual with the surname Medlock was John Medlock, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Chester during the late 16th century. He played a significant role in the city's government and was instrumental in developing trade relations with neighboring regions.

Another historical figure with the Medlock surname was William Medlock, a Puritan minister who lived in the 17th century. He served as the vicar of St. Bartholomew's Church in London and was known for his fervent preaching and support for the Puritan movement.

In the 18th century, the name Medlock gained recognition through the works of Samuel Medlock, a renowned English poet and satirist. Born in 1738, Medlock's poetry often criticized the social and political issues of his time, earning him both praise and criticism from his contemporaries.

The Medlock surname also has connections to the Industrial Revolution in England. James Medlock, born in 1785, was a pioneering engineer and inventor who contributed significantly to the development of textile machinery, particularly in the cotton industry.

Throughout history, the Medlock surname has been associated with various places in England, such as Medlock Vale in Manchester, Medlock Bridge in Cheshire, and the village of Medlock near Woodhouse in Yorkshire. These place names likely influenced the spelling variations of the surname, including Medlock, Medlocke, and Medlok.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Medlock families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Medlock 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 83 Medlocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.83x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 83 1.83x
Bedfordshire 63 26.88x
Norfolk 62 8.91x
Yorkshire 49 1.09x
Huntingdonshire 43 47.85x
Northamptonshire 31 7.28x
Cambridgeshire 30 10.46x
Lancashire 27 0.50x
Kent 13 0.84x
Lincolnshire 12 1.66x
Surrey 12 0.54x
Sussex 11 1.44x
Derbyshire 6 0.85x
Midlothian 6 0.99x
Inverness-shire 4 2.96x
Lanarkshire 4 0.27x
Hertfordshire 2 0.64x
Channel Islands 1 0.75x
Devon 1 0.11x
Essex 1 0.11x
Gloucestershire 1 0.11x
Somerset 1 0.14x
Warwickshire 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. Great Gransden in Huntingdonshire leads with 24 Medlocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 2424.24x.

Place Total Index
Great Gransden 24 2424.24x
Standground 24 1176.47x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 22 105.57x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 21 100.53x
Islington London 20 4.56x
Tempsford 18 2168.67x
South Lynn 17 216.56x
St Pancras London 14 3.84x
Poplar London 12 14.05x
Chesterton 11 124.43x
Great Staughton 10 574.71x
Pendleton In Salford 10 15.63x
Brighton 9 5.85x
Gayton 9 769.23x
Dunton 8 1081.08x
Greenwich 8 11.10x
Higher Booths 8 82.64x
Southwark St Saviour 8 34.39x
Wrestlingworth 8 792.08x
Bolton On Dearne 7 451.61x
St Andrewthe Less 7 21.37x
Biggleswade 6 78.13x
Brimington 6 111.52x
Edworth 6 3529.41x
Little Addington 6 1132.08x
Waresley 6 1666.67x
Clerkenwell London 5 4.68x
Cockayne Hatley 5 2941.18x
Gomersal 5 23.89x
Holy Trinity 5 4.63x
Hornsey 5 8.74x
Lewisham 5 6.07x
Ratcliffe London 5 20.01x
Skirbeck Quarter 5 378.79x
St George Bloomsbury 5 19.25x
Swaffham 5 88.34x
West Ardsley 5 92.59x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 4 27.89x
Govan 4 1.10x
Inverness 4 11.76x
Quadring 4 287.77x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 4.39x
Spitalfields London 4 11.75x
St Giles Cambridge 4 108.11x
St Marylebone London 4 1.66x
West Lynn 4 449.44x
Batley 3 7.04x
Deeping St Nicholas 3 141.51x
Great Shelford 3 198.68x
Meldreth 3 270.27x
Mile End New Town 3 48.54x
Preston 3 2.09x
Willington 3 789.47x
Ashton Under Lyne 2 1.70x
Chipping Barnet 2 36.63x
Fletton 2 69.69x
Ingoldisthorpe 2 416.67x
Newmarket All Sts 2 94.79x
Northill 2 91.32x
Oldham 2 1.15x
Sandy 2 48.43x
Shillington 2 57.97x
St Giles In Fields 2 12.81x
Birmingham 1 0.26x
Bristol St Augustine 1 6.98x
Cockpen 1 14.10x
Downham Market 1 20.92x
Felstead 1 32.68x
Fincham 1 81.30x
Habergham Eaves 1 2.04x
Keysoe 1 90.91x
Kimberworth 1 4.02x
Marham 1 86.21x
Peterborough 1 3.24x
Potton 1 32.15x
Shitlington 1 21.55x
Shoreditch London 1 0.51x
South Leith 1 1.47x
St Botolph Aldersgate 1 19.27x
Walcot 1 2.58x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 27
John 23
George 19
Charles 14
Thomas 14
James 11
Frederick 10
Joseph 10
Richard 9
Alfred 8
Henry 7
Arthur 5
Edward 5
Samuel 5
Fred 4
Ernest 3
Thos. 3
Amos 2
Augustus 2
Harry 2
Robert 2
Walter 2
A. 1
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Amnon 1
Arther 1
Daniel 1
Elijah 1
Enoch 1
Eugene 1
F. 1
Frank 1
G. 1
Geo. 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Infant 1
J. 1
Jona 1
Nelson 1
Rd. 1
Richd. 1
Robt. 1
Siven 1
Solomon 1
Tim 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Medlock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Medlock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 465 people were recorded with the Medlock surname. That placed it at #7,144 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Medlock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 746 in 2016. That gives Medlock a modern rank of #7,323.

What does the Medlock surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "meadow by a lake or stream lock."

What does the Medlock map show?

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