NameCensus.

UK surname

Pakes

An English surname derived from the medieval personal name "Pake", of uncertain meaning.

In the 1881 census there were 151 people recorded with the Pakes surname, ranking it #15,419 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 187, ranked #20,488, down from #15,419 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford and Emberton, Hardmead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochdale, Luton and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pakes is 253 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.8%.

1881 census count

151

Ranked #15,419

Modern count

187

2016, ranked #20,488

Peak year

1911

253 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pakes had 151 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,419 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 187 in 2016, ranked #20,488.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 253 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Pakes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pakes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pakes 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 91 #18,187
1861 historical 106 #20,147
1881 historical 151 #15,419
1891 historical 197 #15,101
1901 historical 235 #13,662
1911 historical 253 #12,776
1997 modern 203 #17,457
1998 modern 208 #17,693
1999 modern 211 #17,662
2000 modern 211 #17,603
2001 modern 206 #17,624
2002 modern 211 #17,696
2003 modern 206 #17,799
2004 modern 204 #17,992
2005 modern 199 #18,198
2006 modern 197 #18,465
2007 modern 197 #18,669
2008 modern 199 #18,699
2009 modern 209 #18,493
2010 modern 213 #18,660
2011 modern 212 #18,575
2012 modern 211 #18,539
2013 modern 214 #18,671
2014 modern 206 #19,318
2015 modern 200 #19,567
2016 modern 187 #20,488

Geography

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Where Pakes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford, Emberton, Hardmead and Luton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rochdale, Luton, Bradford, Redditch and Milton Keynes. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)
4 Emberton, Hardmead Buckinghamshire
5 Luton Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rochdale 019 Rochdale
2 Luton 021 Luton
3 Bradford 004 Bradford
4 Redditch 007 Redditch
5 Milton Keynes 003 Milton Keynes

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pakes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pakes

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Pakes is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pakes is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pakes falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Pakes

The surname PAKES is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from an occupational surname referring to someone who was involved in the baking or selling of pies, pastries, or bread. The name may have evolved from the Old English word "bæcere," meaning "baker."

In medieval England, surnames often originated from the trades or professions of individuals, reflecting their occupations or the roles they played within their communities. The name PAKES likely emerged as a way to identify bakers or individuals associated with the baking trade.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname PAKES can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire, dated around 1273. This historical record mentions a John le Pak, which is believed to be an early spelling variation of the surname.

Another notable historical reference is the appearance of the name PAKES in the Hearth Tax Returns for the county of Shropshire in the late 17th century. These tax records provide valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of surnames during that period.

Among the notable individuals bearing the surname PAKES throughout history is William PAKES, a prominent English composer who lived from 1567 to 1634. He is renowned for his contributions to the development of English madrigals and his work as a member of the Gentlemen of the Chapel Royal.

In the 18th century, John PAKES (1739-1809) was a distinguished English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Chartham in Kent. He wrote several theological works and was known for his sermons and lectures.

Moving into the 19th century, Edward PAKES (1807-1892) was a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Church of St. John the Baptist in Chatham, Kent. His architectural style was influenced by the Gothic Revival movement of the time.

Another significant figure was Mary PAKES (1860-1944), a British philanthropist and social reformer. She dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of the working class and advocating for women's rights. Her efforts led to the establishment of several charitable organizations and the promotion of education for underprivileged children.

In the realm of literature, Reginald PAKES (1886-1962) was a notable English writer and poet. He published several collections of poetry and was celebrated for his vivid descriptions of rural life and the natural world.

While the surname PAKES may have originated from humble beginnings associated with the baking trade, its history is enriched by the diverse contributions of individuals who have carried this name throughout the centuries, leaving their mark in various fields, including music, literature, architecture, and social reform.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pakes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pakes 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. Bedfordshire leads with 48 Pakes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 62.93x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 48 62.93x
Middlesex 22 1.49x
Buckinghamshire 19 21.34x
Kent 11 2.19x
Nottinghamshire 10 5.04x
Northamptonshire 8 5.77x
Lancashire 6 0.34x
Yorkshire 6 0.41x
Surrey 5 0.70x
Warwickshire 5 1.35x
Hertfordshire 4 3.94x
Derbyshire 3 1.30x
Devon 1 0.33x
Essex 1 0.34x
Hampshire 1 0.33x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 4.69x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Luton in Bedfordshire leads with 43 Pakes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 325.76x.

Place Total Index
Luton 43 325.76x
Nottingham St Mary 10 19.47x
Tyringham 10 11111.11x
Fulham London 9 42.13x
Willesden 8 57.64x
Deptford St Paul 7 18.06x
Gate Fulford 6 175.95x
Great Eccleston 6 1875.00x
Aston 5 4.89x
Emberton 5 1515.15x
Camberwell 4 4.25x
Duston 4 317.46x
Harrold 4 769.23x
Hertford St Andrew 4 320.00x
Deptford St Nicholas 3 75.19x
Northampton All Sts 3 63.83x
Derby St Alkmund 2 28.94x
Kensington London 2 2.44x
Newport Pagnell 2 107.53x
Bedford St Paul 1 19.12x
Borgue 1 175.44x
Chelsea London 1 2.25x
George Nympton 1 1000.00x
Hackney London 1 1.21x
Litchurch 1 10.78x
Maidstone 1 6.68x
Olney 1 81.30x
Portsea 1 1.69x
Rockingham 1 909.09x
Sherington 1 333.33x
Southwark Christchurch 1 14.49x
West Ham 1 1.56x
Westminster St 1 18.42x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ellen 7
Mary 7
Ann 5
Annie 5
Lizzie 4
Eliza 3
Elizabeth 3
Harriet 3
Jane 3
Maria 3
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Charlotte 2
Ethel 2
Harriett 2
Kate 2
Bettsy 1
Clara 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Florry 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Laura 1
Leah 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Marion 1
Minnie 1
Nellie 1
Rose 1
Rosina 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Pakes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pakes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 151 people were recorded with the Pakes surname. That placed it at #15,419 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pakes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 187 in 2016. That gives Pakes a modern rank of #20,488.

What does the Pakes surname mean?

An English surname derived from the medieval personal name "Pake", of uncertain meaning.

What does the Pakes map show?

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