NameCensus.

UK surname

Oldaker

An English surname originating as a nickname meaning "someone older than average".

In the 1881 census there were 158 people recorded with the Oldaker surname, ranking it #14,989 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 155, ranked #23,197, down from #14,989 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Harborne, Barking and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Guildford and Herefordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oldaker is 207 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.9%.

1881 census count

158

Ranked #14,989

Modern count

155

2016, ranked #23,197

Peak year

1911

207 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Oldaker had 158 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,989 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 155 in 2016, ranked #23,197.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 207 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Oldaker surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Oldaker surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Oldaker 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 145 #13,223
1861 historical 116 #18,751
1881 historical 158 #14,989
1891 historical 159 #17,636
1901 historical 188 #15,742
1911 historical 207 #14,635
1997 modern 155 #20,684
1998 modern 155 #21,227
1999 modern 162 #20,781
2000 modern 157 #21,146
2001 modern 154 #21,122
2002 modern 157 #21,261
2003 modern 155 #21,217
2004 modern 156 #21,261
2005 modern 155 #21,318
2006 modern 165 #20,634
2007 modern 167 #20,719
2008 modern 167 #20,901
2009 modern 163 #21,715
2010 modern 170 #21,560
2011 modern 159 #22,382
2012 modern 155 #22,762
2013 modern 157 #22,904
2014 modern 158 #23,022
2015 modern 156 #23,106
2016 modern 155 #23,197

Geography

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Where Oldakers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Harborne, Barking, St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and Kings Norton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Guildford, Herefordshire, Rushmoor and Bromsgrove. 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 Harborne Worcestershire
2 Barking Essex
3 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 Kings Norton Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 005 Cornwall
2 Guildford 017 Guildford
3 Herefordshire 002 Herefordshire, County of
4 Rushmoor 004 Rushmoor
5 Bromsgrove 008 Bromsgrove

Forenames

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First names often paired with Oldaker

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Oldaker

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Oldaker is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Oldaker 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

Oldaker falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Oldaker

The surname Oldaker is believed to have originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational surname, derived from a place name that has since become obscure or no longer exists.

One theory suggests that the name Oldaker may be derived from the Old English words "eald" meaning old, and "ac" meaning oak tree. This would indicate that the name may have been given to someone who lived near an old oak tree or in an area where such trees were prevalent.

Another possibility is that the name is derived from a place name containing the elements "old" and "acre," which could refer to an old cultivated field or area of land. However, there is no definitive record of a place name that perfectly matches the spelling "Oldaker."

While the name Oldaker does not appear to be mentioned in the Domesday Book, which was a survey of land and property conducted in 1086, there are records of the name in various historical documents from the 13th century onwards.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Oldaker can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where a John Oldaker is mentioned. Another early reference is in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1327, which lists a William Oldaker.

In the 16th century, there are records of an Oldaker family residing in the village of Barrow-upon-Trent in Derbyshire. One notable member of this family was Thomas Oldaker (c. 1535-1599), who served as the Rector of Barrow-upon-Trent and was a renowned scholar and translator.

Another individual of note was John Oldaker (1629-1689), who was a clergyman and author from Gloucestershire. He published several works, including "A Vindication of the Church of England" and "A Treatise Concerning Schism."

In the 18th century, there was a prominent Oldaker family based in the county of Shropshire. One member, William Oldaker (1720-1804), was a successful businessman and landowner who served as the High Sheriff of Shropshire in 1773.

Moving into the 19th century, we find Robert Oldaker (1801-1876), who was a notable architect and surveyor from Staffordshire. He was responsible for designing several churches and other buildings in the region.

Throughout its history, the surname Oldaker has been spelled in various ways, including Oldacre, Oldeaker, and Oldacor, likely due to regional dialects and variations in record-keeping practices.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Oldaker families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Oldaker 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. Warwickshire leads with 49 Oldakers recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.61x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 49 12.61x
Middlesex 24 1.56x
Worcestershire 18 8.94x
Essex 16 5.26x
Herefordshire 9 14.24x
Staffordshire 7 1.35x
Sussex 7 2.69x
Surrey 6 0.80x
Buckinghamshire 4 4.29x
Cambridgeshire 3 3.07x
Hampshire 3 0.95x
Hertfordshire 3 2.82x
Oxfordshire 3 3.15x
Gloucestershire 2 0.66x
Monmouthshire 2 1.80x
Derbyshire 1 0.41x
Somerset 1 0.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 28 Oldakers recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.62x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 28 21.62x
Aston 18 16.82x
Shoreditch London 10 14.97x
Offenham 9 3103.45x
Kings Norton 8 44.32x
Treville 8 10000.00x
Barking 7 78.65x
Harborne 7 41.99x
Dagenham 5 276.24x
Epsom 4 109.29x
Preston 4 88.11x
Alcester 3 234.38x
Chesterton 3 99.67x
Handborough 3 588.24x
Kensington London 3 3.50x
St Luke London 3 12.14x
West Ham 3 4.47x
Alton 2 84.03x
Brighton 2 3.82x
Chalfont St Peter 2 259.74x
Christchurch 2 57.97x
Hammersmith London 2 5.27x
Hampstead London 2 8.33x
Paddington London 2 3.53x
St Albans St Peter 2 55.87x
Stoke Poges 2 175.44x
Cheltenham 1 4.29x
Gloucester St Mary Crypt 1 217.39x
Hatfield 1 46.51x
Hereford St John 1 138.89x
Kingston On Thames 1 5.54x
Lambeth 1 0.74x
Marston Montgomery 1 500.00x
Pershore St Andrew 1 90.09x
South Stoneham 1 14.60x
Uckfield 1 88.50x
Walcot 1 7.57x
Westminster St James 1 6.31x
Willesden 1 6.88x
Woodford 1 29.07x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Sarah 7
Elizabeth 5
Clara 4
Ellen 4
Emily 4
Emma 4
Hannah 4
Jane 3
Julia 3
Alice 2
Charlotte 2
Eliza 2
Florence 2
Letitia 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Susannah 2
Ada 1
Amy 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Avis 1
Catherine 1
Christiana 1
Edith 1
Florie 1
Florry 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Joseph 1
Lizie 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Marian 1
Maud 1
Minnie 1
Susan 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
James 6
Thomas 5
William 5
George 4
Charles 3
Edward 3
Francis 3
Arthur 2
Harry 2
Henry 2
Herbert 2
Maurice 2
Richard 2
Richd. 2
Robert 2
Wm. 2
Alfred 1
David 1
Ellen 1
Fritz 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Horace 1
Izaac 1
Joseph 1
Phillip 1
Ralf 1
Reginald 1
Stephen 1
Thos.N. 1

FAQ

Oldaker surname: questions and answers

How common was the Oldaker surname in 1881?

In 1881, 158 people were recorded with the Oldaker surname. That placed it at #14,989 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Oldaker surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 155 in 2016. That gives Oldaker a modern rank of #23,197.

What does the Oldaker surname mean?

An English surname originating as a nickname meaning "someone older than average".

What does the Oldaker map show?

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