NameCensus.

UK surname

Oak

An English surname derived from the oak tree, likely referring to someone living near an oak grove or oak forest.

In the 1881 census there were 228 people recorded with the Oak surname, ranking it #11,826 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 415, ranked #11,550, up from #11,826 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Topsham, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Plymouth, Southampton and Hastings.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oak is 429 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 82.0%.

1881 census count

228

Ranked #11,826

Modern count

415

2016, ranked #11,550

Peak year

2011

429 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Oak had 228 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,826 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 415 in 2016, ranked #11,550.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 299 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Oak surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Oak surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Oak 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 176 #11,489
1881 historical 228 #11,826
1901 historical 299 #11,673
1997 modern 392 #11,178
1998 modern 398 #11,377
1999 modern 404 #11,361
2000 modern 398 #11,443
2001 modern 388 #11,459
2002 modern 397 #11,497
2003 modern 369 #11,941
2004 modern 372 #11,886
2005 modern 368 #11,926
2006 modern 376 #11,775
2007 modern 381 #11,798
2008 modern 390 #11,693
2009 modern 415 #11,386
2010 modern 425 #11,423
2011 modern 429 #11,197
2012 modern 412 #11,479
2013 modern 420 #11,489
2014 modern 417 #11,632
2015 modern 401 #11,889
2016 modern 415 #11,550

Geography

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Where Oaks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Topsham, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes and Hastings All Saints. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Plymouth, Southampton, Hastings and Stratford-on-Avon. 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 Topsham Devon
2 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
3 London parishes London 1
4 Hastings All Saints Sussex
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Plymouth 031 Plymouth
2 Southampton 007 Southampton
3 Hastings 010 Hastings
4 Hastings 003 Hastings
5 Stratford-on-Avon 007 Stratford-on-Avon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Oak

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Oak

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Oak surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Oak household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Oak 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

Oak 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

Oak 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 Oak 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Oak

The surname Oak is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "ac," meaning oak tree. It is an occupational surname, originally referring to someone who lived near an oak tree or in an oak forest.

The name first appeared in written records in the 13th century. One of the earliest recorded references is in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1285, which mentions a person named Richard de la Oke.

In the Domesday Book, a survey of landowners in England completed in 1086, there are several references to place names containing the word "oc" or "ock," which are believed to be derived from the Old English word for oak.

The name Oak has been found in various historical documents throughout the centuries, including parish records, tax rolls, and court records. Some notable individuals with the surname Oak include:

1. John Oak (c. 1600-1670), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works. 2. Robert Oak (1783-1845), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. 3. Henry Oak (1815-1889), an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from New York. 4. Mary Oak (1854-1932), a British painter and illustrator known for her botanical illustrations. 5. Charles Oak (1887-1967), an American architect who designed several notable buildings in Los Angeles, California.

The surname Oak has also been associated with various place names, such as Oakham in Rutland, England, and Oakley, a common village name found in several English counties.

While the surname Oak is primarily found in England, it has also been recorded in other parts of the world, likely due to migration and cultural exchange. However, its origins can be traced back to the ancient oak forests of England, where it first emerged as a descriptive surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Oak families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Oak 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. Sussex leads with 44 Oaks recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.73x.

County Total Index
Sussex 44 11.73x
Yorkshire 32 1.45x
Middlesex 24 1.08x
Devon 22 4.75x
Hampshire 15 3.29x
Lancashire 15 0.57x
Cambridgeshire 10 7.10x
Durham 10 1.51x
Glamorgan 7 1.81x
Somerset 7 1.96x
Dorset 6 4.11x
Gloucestershire 6 1.38x
Lincolnshire 5 1.41x
Surrey 5 0.46x
Cheshire 4 0.81x
Essex 4 0.91x
Suffolk 3 1.11x
Cornwall 2 0.79x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.67x
Berkshire 1 0.60x
Kent 1 0.13x
Norfolk 1 0.29x
Royal Navy 1 3.77x
Wiltshire 1 0.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hastings St Mary In The in Sussex leads with 19 Oaks recorded in 1881 and an index of 237.50x.

Place Total Index
Hastings St Mary In The 19 237.50x
Hastings All Sts 15 424.93x
Leeds 10 8.04x
Kensington London 9 7.28x
Topsham 8 366.97x
Poplar London 7 16.67x
Armley 6 61.73x
Barrow In Furness 6 16.72x
Halifax 6 18.54x
Hastings St Leonards 6 108.89x
Kirkdale 6 13.51x
Winterborne Kingston 6 1538.46x
Wortley In Bramley 6 34.36x
Cardiff St John 5 39.53x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 5 17.45x
Kirtling 5 793.65x
Little Wilbraham 5 1612.90x
Millbrook 5 43.55x
Ash Priors 4 2666.67x
Auckland St Andrew 4 228.57x
Bristol St Augustine 4 56.82x
Exeter St George The 4 784.31x
Halstead 4 78.13x
North Thoresby 4 701.75x
Amport 3 576.92x
Bideford 3 60.48x
Hastings Holy Trinity 3 108.70x
Manchester 3 2.53x
Newbold Astbury 3 517.24x
Newmarket St Mary 3 144.23x
Wandsworth 3 14.01x
Bedminster 2 5.95x
Bow London 2 7.06x
Hornsey 2 7.11x
Lanteglos 2 172.41x
Nottingham St Mary 2 2.58x
Sheffield 2 2.85x
Southampton St Mary 2 6.98x
St Pancras London 2 1.12x
Ystradyfodwg 2 5.89x
Bishops Cannings 1 136.99x
Caistor 1 70.42x
Camberwell 1 0.70x
Cheltenham 1 2.97x
Christchurch 1 10.12x
Clayhidon 1 222.22x
Clifton 1 4.54x
Fremington 1 106.38x
Frithelstock 1 232.56x
Gate Fulford 1 19.42x
Gateshead 1 2.02x
Halse 1 322.58x
Hastings St Mary 1 10.72x
Holdenhurst 1 8.36x
Holsworthy 1 76.34x
Holy Trinity 1 1.89x
Hurst 1 45.87x
Isleworth 1 10.11x
Lambeth 1 0.52x
Lower Bebington 1 34.25x
Northam 1 29.67x
Pancrasweek 1 400.00x
Portsea 1 1.12x
Royal Navy 1 4.42x
Southampton All Sts 1 12.79x
St Giles In Fields 1 13.04x
St Peters 1 28.49x
St Thomas Winchester 1 31.06x
Stoke 1 53.48x
Titchwell 1 1111.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Alice 8
Sarah 8
Ann 6
Annie 6
Elizabeth 5
Emma 5
Clara 4
Edith 4
Ellen 4
Emily 4
Grace 4
Eliza 3
Anne 2
Esther 2
Lilly 2
Louisa 2
Matilda 2
Robinetta 2
Susan 2
Amey 1
Arabella 1
Augusta 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Charlotte 1
Elison 1
Elizebth.Moors 1
Elizth. 1
Eugeine 1
Evelyn 1
Fanny 1
Freda 1
George 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Jenny 1
Jesse 1
Leah 1
Lilias 1
Luce 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Minie 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 15
George 13
Charles 11
John 11
Thomas 7
James 6
Arthur 4
Edward 4
Robert 4
Albert 3
Alfred 2
Frank 2
Henry 2
Samuel 2
Benjamin 1
Borman 1
Chas.A. 1
Clement 1
Emily 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Holly 1
Jas. 1
Jesse 1
Joseph 1
Lewin 1
Norman 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Oak surname: questions and answers

How common was the Oak surname in 1881?

In 1881, 228 people were recorded with the Oak surname. That placed it at #11,826 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Oak surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 415 in 2016. That gives Oak a modern rank of #11,550.

What does the Oak surname mean?

An English surname derived from the oak tree, likely referring to someone living near an oak grove or oak forest.

What does the Oak map show?

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