NameCensus.

UK surname

Nokes

A variant spelling of the medieval English surname "Noke," derived from the Old English "noc," meaning "brook."

In the 1881 census there were 671 people recorded with the Nokes surname, ranking it #5,378 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 779, ranked #7,078, down from #5,378 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Minster, St Leonard Shoreditch and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torridge, Bromsgrove and Surrey Heath.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nokes is 868 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.1%.

1881 census count

671

Ranked #5,378

Modern count

779

2016, ranked #7,078

Peak year

1911

868 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nokes had 671 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,378 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 779 in 2016, ranked #7,078.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 868 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Nokes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nokes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nokes 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 510 #4,903
1861 historical 507 #5,159
1881 historical 671 #5,378
1891 historical 720 #5,479
1901 historical 760 #5,877
1911 historical 868 #5,123
1997 modern 795 #6,567
1998 modern 818 #6,643
1999 modern 818 #6,677
2000 modern 834 #6,559
2001 modern 806 #6,615
2002 modern 830 #6,581
2003 modern 823 #6,497
2004 modern 804 #6,642
2005 modern 789 #6,673
2006 modern 771 #6,835
2007 modern 771 #6,899
2008 modern 768 #6,973
2009 modern 783 #7,001
2010 modern 803 #7,003
2011 modern 781 #7,086
2012 modern 752 #7,209
2013 modern 774 #7,163
2014 modern 776 #7,172
2015 modern 772 #7,143
2016 modern 779 #7,078

Geography

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Where Nokes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Minster, St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and Bromsgrove, Upton Warren. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torridge, Bromsgrove and Surrey Heath. 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 Minster Kent
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Bromsgrove, Upton Warren Worcestershire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torridge 008 Torridge
2 Bromsgrove 011 Bromsgrove
3 Bromsgrove 013 Bromsgrove
4 Bromsgrove 012 Bromsgrove
5 Surrey Heath 005 Surrey Heath

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nokes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nokes

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Nokes, 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 Nokes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Nokes 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Nokes 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

Nokes 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

Nokes falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Nokes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Nokes

The surname Nokes originated in England during the Middle Ages, derived from the Middle English word 'nok', meaning a nook or corner of land. It likely emerged as a descriptive name referring to someone who lived in a secluded or remote area.

The earliest known record of the Nokes surname dates back to 1273, when William de la Noke was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire. This suggests that the name was initially associated with specific locations or landmarks before evolving into a hereditary surname.

In the 14th century, the Nokes surname appeared in various documents, such as tax rolls and court records. For instance, John atte Noke was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327, indicating his residence in a particular 'nook' or corner.

The Nokes surname has also been linked to place names, including Noak Hill in Romford, Essex, and Noak Bridge in Chigwell, Essex. These locations may have contributed to the surname's development and spread throughout the region.

Notable individuals with the Nokes surname include Robert Nokes (1628-1692), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Coventry during the 17th century. Another prominent figure was James Nokes (1670-1753), an English actor and playwright renowned for his comedic performances on the London stage.

In the 18th century, Elizabeth Nokes (1733-1781) gained recognition as a British actress and writer, known for her work in various theatrical productions. Additionally, Thomas Nokes (1767-1837) was a prominent English artist and engraver, whose works were exhibited at the Royal Academy.

Moving into the 19th century, George Nokes (1812-1868) was a British architect responsible for designing several notable buildings, including the Church of St. Peter in Wolverhampton and the Royal Orphan Asylum in Madeley.

Throughout its history, the Nokes surname has maintained a presence across various regions of England, particularly in areas like Essex, Oxfordshire, and the West Midlands. While its origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages, the name has endured and continues to be carried by individuals today.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nokes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nokes 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 100 Nokes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.54x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 100 1.54x
Essex 93 7.24x
Worcestershire 72 8.47x
Surrey 55 1.73x
Kent 50 2.25x
Warwickshire 49 2.99x
Staffordshire 48 2.19x
Wiltshire 27 4.69x
Lancashire 23 0.30x
Norfolk 21 2.10x
Leicestershire 20 2.77x
Somerset 17 1.62x
Cambridgeshire 16 3.88x
Yorkshire 11 0.17x
Durham 9 0.46x
Hampshire 7 0.52x
Shropshire 7 1.25x
Montgomeryshire 6 4.02x
Sussex 6 0.55x
Denbighshire 5 2.03x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.46x
Derbyshire 3 0.29x
Glamorgan 3 0.26x
Gloucestershire 3 0.24x
Devon 2 0.15x
Suffolk 2 0.25x
Bedfordshire 1 0.30x
Herefordshire 1 0.37x
Hertfordshire 1 0.22x
Lanarkshire 1 0.05x
Lincolnshire 1 0.10x
Midlothian 1 0.11x
Northumberland 1 0.10x
Royal Navy 1 1.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bromsgrove in Worcestershire leads with 46 Nokes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 160.84x.

Place Total Index
Bromsgrove 46 160.84x
Minster In Sheppey 33 89.72x
Aston 23 5.09x
Islington London 18 2.85x
Halstead 16 106.81x
Bilston 15 35.24x
Birmingham 15 2.74x
Newington 15 6.24x
Dudley 14 13.55x
Lambeth 14 2.47x
Leicester St Mary 14 24.02x
Shoreditch London 14 4.96x
Mucking 13 2321.43x
Wolverhampton 11 6.51x
Camberwell 10 2.41x
Chelmsford 10 45.37x
St Pancras London 10 1.91x
Warminster 10 79.30x
Coventry St Michael 9 17.07x
Kings Norton 8 10.50x
Linton 8 204.08x
South Weald 8 72.73x
St Andrewthe Less 8 16.99x
Leigh 7 156.60x
Newton 7 11.76x
Sedgley 7 8.58x
St George Hanover 7 8.24x
Thurlstone 7 110.06x
Wellow 7 227.27x
Westbury 7 52.12x
Bethnal Green London 6 2.12x
Epping 6 114.94x
Hornsey 6 7.29x
Llanfair Caereinion 6 117.88x
Margate St John Baptist 6 14.76x
Springfield 6 106.57x
Abergele 5 70.72x
Handsworth 5 9.24x
Hastings St Mary In The 5 21.37x
Kensington London 5 1.38x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 5 16.65x
Leicester St Margaret 5 2.84x
Sedgefield 5 72.46x
Sutton Veney 5 308.64x
West Ham 5 1.76x
Brentwood 4 51.09x
Cockerton 4 64.41x
Finchley 4 16.04x
Hulme 4 2.48x
Newington 4 22.52x
Nottingham St Mary 4 1.76x
Oswestry Rural 4 46.46x
Rushall 4 30.96x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 3.06x
St Marylebone London 4 1.15x
Westminster St John 4 5.05x
Acton 3 7.87x
Aldershot 3 6.71x
Battersea 3 1.25x
Croydon 3 1.70x
Ealing 3 5.16x
Hackney London 3 0.82x
Kingswinford 3 3.76x
Llantrisant 3 10.51x
Lonbridge Deverill 3 148.51x
Preston 3 1.45x
Putney 3 10.11x
Rayleigh 3 101.35x
Redditch 3 17.41x
South Lynn 3 26.57x
St Anne Soho London 3 8.07x
St Gilesin Fields 3 79.16x
Stanford Le Hope 3 163.04x
Swaffham 3 36.86x
Timsbury 3 94.64x
Wroxeter 3 275.23x
Broughton In Salford 2 2.83x
Heigham 2 3.72x
Paddington London 2 0.84x
Twining 2 104.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 44
Sarah 24
Elizabeth 21
Emma 17
Eliza 15
Ann 12
Emily 11
Jane 11
Alice 10
Florence 9
Hannah 9
Ada 7
Annie 7
Kate 7
Edith 6
Ellen 6
Harriet 6
Susan 6
Caroline 5
Clara 5
Gertrude 5
Louisa 4
Bertha 3
Catherine 3
Constance 3
Esther 3
Harriett 3
Jessie 3
Lucy 3
Susannah 3
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Charlotte 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Harriot 2
Laura 2
Louise 2
Marian 2
Marion 2
Minnie 2
Rosanna 2
Selina 2
Sophia 2
C.E. 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizh. 1
Elizobath 1
Emmaline 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 40
George 34
John 26
James 20
Henry 18
Thomas 18
Joseph 16
Arthur 15
Charles 12
Walter 12
Alfred 8
Edward 8
Albert 6
Robert 5
Frederick 4
Samuel 4
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Frank 3
Richard 3
Abraham 2
Amos 2
Benjamin 2
Enos 2
Frederic 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
H. 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Levett 2
Mark 2
Moses 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
C.F. 1
Cecil 1
Charle 1
Christifor 1
Daniel 1
Elizabeth 1
Fedr.H. 1
Geo. 1
Hy. 1
Job 1
Joshua 1
Mary 1
Maurice 1
Reuben 1

FAQ

Nokes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nokes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 671 people were recorded with the Nokes surname. That placed it at #5,378 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nokes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 779 in 2016. That gives Nokes a modern rank of #7,078.

What does the Nokes surname mean?

A variant spelling of the medieval English surname "Noke," derived from the Old English "noc," meaning "brook."

What does the Nokes map show?

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