UK surname
A surname derived from the Old French term "par(c)quier" meaning park keeper or gamekeeper.
In the 1881 census there were 49 people recorded with the Parkey surname, ranking it #26,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 31, ranked #35,942, down from #26,735 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Manchester and Mottram-in-Longdendale. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Parkey is 101 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 36.7%.
1881 census count
49
Ranked #26,735
Modern count
31
2016, ranked #35,942
Peak year
1891
101 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Parkey surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Parkey 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 | 25 | #28,853 |
| 1861 | historical | 87 | #22,681 |
| 1881 | historical | 49 | #26,735 |
| 1891 | historical | 101 | #23,870 |
| 1901 | historical | 81 | #25,130 |
| 1911 | historical | 75 | #25,322 |
| 1997 | modern | 45 | #33,168 |
| 1998 | modern | 46 | #33,286 |
| 1999 | modern | 48 | #33,233 |
| 2000 | modern | 49 | #33,187 |
| 2001 | modern | 44 | #33,490 |
| 2002 | modern | 44 | #33,790 |
| 2003 | modern | 45 | #33,803 |
| 2004 | modern | 43 | #34,149 |
| 2005 | modern | 43 | #34,328 |
| 2006 | modern | 40 | #34,854 |
| 2007 | modern | 41 | #34,974 |
| 2008 | modern | 42 | #34,994 |
| 2009 | modern | 43 | #35,088 |
| 2010 | modern | 40 | #35,403 |
| 2011 | modern | 35 | #35,659 |
| 2012 | modern | 31 | #35,876 |
| 2013 | modern | 33 | #35,808 |
| 2014 | modern | 33 | #35,843 |
| 2015 | modern | 33 | #35,803 |
| 2016 | modern | 31 | #35,942 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Manchester, Mottram-in-Longdendale and Ashton-under-Lyne. 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 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 2 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 3 | Mottram-in-Longdendale | Lancashire |
| 4 | Stockport | Lancashire |
| 5 | Ashton-under-Lyne | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Parkey 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 Parkey, 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 Parkey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Parkey 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, Parkey 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 Parkey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Parkey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname PARKEY has its roots in England, originating during the late Middle Ages, approximately between the 14th and 16th centuries. It is believed to be derived from an old English word "parc," which referred to an enclosed area or a park, often used for hunting or grazing animals. The name likely evolved from a locational or occupational origin, indicating someone who lived near or worked in a park or enclosed area.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1301, which mentions a John de Parke. This suggests that the name may have initially been spelled as "Parke" before evolving into its current form.
In the 15th century, the PARKEY surname appeared in the records of the Essex county, with a mention of Robert Parkey in the Court Rolls of Waltham in 1441. This provides evidence of the name's presence in different regions of England during that time period.
During the reign of King Henry VIII in the 16th century, a notable figure named William PARKEY was appointed as the Constable of the Tower of London in 1537. This position held significant importance and highlights the prominence of individuals bearing the PARKEY surname during that era.
In the late 16th century, the name is found in the Parish Registers of St. Dunstan's, Stepney, where the baptism of a child named John PARKEY is recorded in 1589. This entry further solidifies the presence of the PARKEY surname in London and its surrounding areas.
Another noteworthy figure with the PARKEY surname was Sir John PARKEY, a prominent English politician and landowner who lived from 1626 to 1678. He served as a Member of Parliament for Hertfordshire and played an influential role in local affairs.
Over the centuries, the PARKEY surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Parkefeld (Parkfield) in Derbyshire and Parkebury (Parkbury) in Hertfordshire, further emphasizing its locational origins.
While the surname PARKEY has undergone spelling variations like Parke, Parkes, and Parkee throughout history, its essence remains rooted in the concept of an enclosed area or park, reflecting the rich tapestry of England's past and the lives of those who bore this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Parkey 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. Cheshire leads with 23 Parkeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.28x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cheshire | 23 | 24.28x |
| Lancashire | 15 | 2.95x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.19x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 5.68x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.68x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 3.77x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.45x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.92x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mottram in Cheshire leads with 9 Parkeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2093.02x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Mottram | 9 | 2093.02x |
| Tonge | 8 | 747.66x |
| Matley | 7 | 23333.33x |
| Gorton | 6 | 125.26x |
| Hattersley | 4 | 10000.00x |
| Dukinfield | 2 | 45.66x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 1 | 12.63x |
| Butlers Marston | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Clevedon | 1 | 138.89x |
| Hereford All Sts | 1 | 123.46x |
| Hyde | 1 | 35.71x |
| Iffley | 1 | 454.55x |
| Manchester | 1 | 4.37x |
| Milton In Gravesend | 1 | 45.45x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Parkey 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 Parkey 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 Parkey households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 10 |
| Cotton Weaver | 3 |
| Labourer | 3 |
| Farmers Girl At Home | 2 |
| Railway Porter | 2 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Beer House Keeper | 1 |
| Bleachers Labourer | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Cotton & Linen Blacker | 1 |
| Cotton Spinner | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| Farmer & 2 Labourers 26 Acres Cheshire Measure | 1 |
| Farmer Wife | 1 |
| Farmers Boy At Home | 1 |
| Fireman (Munic) | 1 |
| Labourers Wife | 1 |
| Labrour | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 49 people were recorded with the Parkey surname. That placed it at #26,735 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 31 in 2016. That gives Parkey a modern rank of #35,942.
A surname derived from the Old French term "par(c)quier" meaning park keeper or gamekeeper.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Parkey 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.