NameCensus.

UK surname

Mok

A Chinese surname meaning "ink," likely referring to an ancestor who worked as a calligrapher or ink maker.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Canterbury, Hounslow and Kettering.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mok is 441 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

441

2016, ranked #10,971

Peak year

2016

441 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 441 in 2016, ranked #10,971.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Mok surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mok surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mok 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
1997 modern 328 #12,758
1998 modern 368 #12,096
1999 modern 384 #11,800
2000 modern 359 #12,333
2001 modern 359 #12,153
2002 modern 376 #11,989
2003 modern 377 #11,762
2004 modern 385 #11,607
2005 modern 392 #11,355
2006 modern 399 #11,282
2007 modern 398 #11,411
2008 modern 404 #11,374
2009 modern 425 #11,161
2010 modern 426 #11,396
2011 modern 413 #11,560
2012 modern 412 #11,479
2013 modern 433 #11,184
2014 modern 432 #11,287
2015 modern 440 #11,017
2016 modern 441 #10,971

Geography

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Where Moks 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 Canterbury, Hounslow, Kettering, Warrington and Tandridge. 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 Canterbury 014 Canterbury
2 Hounslow 014 Hounslow
3 Kettering 004 Kettering
4 Warrington 013 Warrington
5 Tandridge 004 Tandridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mok

These lists show first names that appear often with the Mok 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 Mok

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

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Mok surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Mok 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

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, Mok 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

Mok 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

Mok falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Mok

The surname "MOK" has its origins in the Netherlands, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Dutch word "mok," meaning a mug or cup, suggesting that the name may have been initially used as a descriptive name for someone who worked with or sold mugs or cups.

The earliest recorded instances of the name "MOK" can be found in Dutch municipal records from the late 1500s, particularly in the provinces of North Holland and South Holland. Some of the earliest documented individuals with this surname include Pieter Mok, born in Amsterdam in 1572, and Jan Mok, a merchant from Rotterdam who lived in the early 17th century.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the name "MOK" appeared in various Dutch records, including church registers, tax rolls, and legal documents. Several notable individuals with this surname emerged during this period, such as Hendrick Mok (1645-1718), a renowned painter from Delft known for his still-life paintings featuring mugs and cups.

As Dutch settlers and immigrants began to spread across the globe, the surname "MOK" traveled with them. In the late 18th century, records show individuals with this surname in the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia), where they were involved in the spice trade and colonial administration. One such individual was Pieter Mok (1765-1832), a prominent merchant and landowner in Batavia (now Jakarta).

The 19th century saw the further spread of the "MOK" surname, with individuals bearing this name appearing in records from South Africa, where Dutch settlers had established colonies. One notable figure from this period was Johannes Mok (1812-1885), a Boer farmer and military leader who played a role in the Great Trek and the establishment of the Transvaal Republic.

In the 20th century, the "MOK" surname continued to be found in various parts of the world, particularly in countries with Dutch heritage or ties to the Netherlands. Some notable individuals with this surname include Piet Mok (1911-1998), a Dutch painter and sculptor known for his abstract expressionist works, and Theo Mok (1942-2018), a Dutch businessman and philanthropist who founded the Mok Foundation to support education and healthcare initiatives.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mok surname: questions and answers

How common is the Mok surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 441 in 2016. That gives Mok a modern rank of #10,971.

What does the Mok surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "ink," likely referring to an ancestor who worked as a calligrapher or ink maker.

What does the Mok map show?

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