UK surname
A Germanic occupational surname for a baker of breads or pastries.
In the 1881 census there were 79 people recorded with the Pake surname, ranking it #22,357 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 76, ranked #33,304, down from #22,357 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Wolstanton and Earsdon. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pake is 182 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.8%.
1881 census count
79
Ranked #22,357
Modern count
76
2016, ranked #33,304
Peak year
1861
182 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Pake surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Pake surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 133 | #14,106 |
| 1861 | historical | 182 | #12,949 |
| 1881 | historical | 79 | #22,357 |
| 1891 | historical | 121 | #21,169 |
| 1901 | historical | 92 | #23,800 |
| 1911 | historical | 55 | #27,313 |
| 1997 | modern | 76 | #29,997 |
| 1998 | modern | 71 | #30,869 |
| 1999 | modern | 75 | #30,661 |
| 2000 | modern | 82 | #29,922 |
| 2001 | modern | 84 | #29,508 |
| 2002 | modern | 85 | #29,867 |
| 2003 | modern | 85 | #29,877 |
| 2004 | modern | 88 | #29,758 |
| 2005 | modern | 93 | #29,133 |
| 2006 | modern | 96 | #28,946 |
| 2007 | modern | 94 | #29,650 |
| 2008 | modern | 92 | #30,286 |
| 2009 | modern | 93 | #30,682 |
| 2010 | modern | 90 | #31,621 |
| 2011 | modern | 83 | #32,336 |
| 2012 | modern | 73 | #33,431 |
| 2013 | modern | 81 | #32,996 |
| 2014 | modern | 80 | #33,133 |
| 2015 | modern | 78 | #33,210 |
| 2016 | modern | 76 | #33,304 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Wolstanton, Earsdon, Haddenham and Bathgate. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 2 | Wolstanton | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Earsdon | Northumberland |
| 4 | Haddenham | Cambridgeshire |
| 5 | Bathgate | Linlithgow |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Pake surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pake, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Pake surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Pake household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Pake is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pake is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Pake, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Pake has its origins in England, with records of the name dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "peek" or "peke", which means "sharp point" or "peak". This suggests that the name was likely originally given to someone who lived near a distinct hill or mountain peak.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Pake surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where a Richard Pake is mentioned. The Pipe Rolls were a series of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer during the Middle Ages.
In the 13th century, the name appears in various forms, such as "Pek", "Peake", and "Pyke", indicating the fluidity of spellings during that time. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 list a Johannes Pyk in Oxfordshire, and a Robert Pek in Cambridgeshire.
The Pake surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Peak Hill in Hertfordshire and Peak Forest in Derbyshire. These locations likely contributed to the formation and spread of the surname in their respective regions.
Notable individuals with the Pake surname throughout history include Sir Robert Pake (1516-1592), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another notable figure was John Pake (1572-1649), a Puritan minister and one of the founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in America.
Other individuals of note include William Pake (1670-1738), an English clergyman and author, and Thomas Pake (1793-1859), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. Additionally, George Pake (1924-2004) was an American physicist and pioneer in the field of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Overall, the surname Pake has a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages in England, with its origins likely rooted in geographic features and place names. It has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including lawyers, clergymen, military officers, and scientists, contributing to the cultural tapestry of both England and beyond.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pake surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 19 Pakes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.47x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 19 | 2.47x |
| West Lothian | 12 | 103.45x |
| Cambridgeshire | 10 | 20.50x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 0.92x |
| Northumberland | 5 | 4.36x |
| Cumberland | 4 | 6.03x |
| Midlothian | 4 | 3.88x |
| Stirlingshire | 3 | 10.56x |
| Suffolk | 3 | 3.20x |
| Sussex | 3 | 2.31x |
| Lanarkshire | 2 | 0.80x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.22x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 2.15x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.44x |
| East Lothian | 1 | 9.80x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.38x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 1.17x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bathgate in West Lothian leads with 12 Pakes recorded in 1881 and an index of 476.19x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bathgate | 12 | 476.19x |
| Chelsea London | 10 | 43.08x |
| Haddenham | 9 | 1956.52x |
| Sculcoates | 6 | 49.59x |
| Hartley | 5 | 1612.90x |
| Workington | 4 | 105.26x |
| Cramond | 3 | 384.62x |
| Dunipace | 3 | 600.00x |
| Risby | 3 | 2500.00x |
| Spitalfields London | 3 | 51.81x |
| Wadhurst | 3 | 352.94x |
| Barony | 2 | 3.17x |
| Shoreditch London | 2 | 5.99x |
| Bromley London | 1 | 5.90x |
| Chadderton | 1 | 22.37x |
| Chester Le Street | 1 | 56.82x |
| Datchet | 1 | 312.50x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 2.41x |
| Folkestone | 1 | 19.61x |
| Haddington | 1 | 66.23x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 1 | 4.80x |
| Pendleton In Salford | 1 | 9.18x |
| St Andrewthe Less | 1 | 17.95x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 9.94x |
| Tottenham | 1 | 8.15x |
| Westminster St John | 1 | 10.66x |
| York St Nicholas In | 1 | 232.56x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Pake surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Pake surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Pake households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 9 |
| Farm Lab. | 3 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Apprentice | 1 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Bakers Wife | 1 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Boot Maker | 1 |
| Bread Baker | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Commercial Clerk | 1 |
| Confectioner | 1 |
| Cook (Domestic Serv) | 1 |
| Cotton Operative | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Drapers Apprentice | 1 |
| General Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Grocers Assistant | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Housemaid Dom Serv | 1 |
| Infant | 1 |
| Marriner | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Parlor Maid | 1 |
| Proprietoress | 1 |
| Railway Clerk | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Washerwoman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 79 people were recorded with the Pake surname. That placed it at #22,357 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 76 in 2016. That gives Pake a modern rank of #33,304.
A Germanic occupational surname for a baker of breads or pastries.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pake bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.