NameCensus.

UK surname

Parks

An English topographic surname for someone who lived near an enclosed public garden or field.

In the 1881 census there were 3,126 people recorded with the Parks surname, ranking it #1,440 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,681, ranked #2,496, down from #1,440 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Maidstone, Doncaster and Eastbourne.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Parks is 3,126 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 14.2%.

1881 census count

3,126

Ranked #1,440

Modern count

2,681

2016, ranked #2,496

Peak year

1881

3,126 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Parks had 3,126 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,440 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,681 in 2016, ranked #2,496.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,126 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Parks surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Parks surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Parks 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 1,875 #1,541
1861 historical 2,331 #1,266
1881 historical 3,126 #1,440
1891 historical 3,002 #1,565
1901 historical 2,953 #1,895
1911 historical 2,835 #1,839
1997 modern 2,617 #2,433
1998 modern 2,723 #2,432
1999 modern 2,746 #2,434
2000 modern 2,740 #2,422
2001 modern 2,657 #2,443
2002 modern 2,682 #2,468
2003 modern 2,579 #2,495
2004 modern 2,560 #2,514
2005 modern 2,521 #2,524
2006 modern 2,501 #2,545
2007 modern 2,534 #2,534
2008 modern 2,544 #2,543
2009 modern 2,658 #2,504
2010 modern 2,719 #2,509
2011 modern 2,686 #2,502
2012 modern 2,604 #2,533
2013 modern 2,681 #2,507
2014 modern 2,699 #2,509
2015 modern 2,674 #2,511
2016 modern 2,681 #2,496

Geography

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Where Parks' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea, Maidstone, Linton, Loddington and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Maidstone, Doncaster and Eastbourne. 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 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
2 London parishes London 3
3 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
4 Maidstone, Linton, Loddington Kent
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Maidstone 013 Maidstone
2 Doncaster 006 Doncaster
3 Eastbourne 001 Eastbourne
4 Doncaster 004 Doncaster
5 Doncaster 031 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Parks

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Parks

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Parks 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

Parks is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Parks 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 Parks 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 Parks, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Parks

The surname PARKS is an English habitational name derived from the Old English word 'pearroc' meaning an enclosed area or park. It originated in regions of England where deer parks were prevalent, such as Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire.

The earliest known record of the surname PARKS dates back to the 13th century in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, where it appears as 'de Parco'. This Latin form translates to 'of the park', indicating that the name likely referred to someone who lived near or worked in a deer park.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are references to several places with the word 'park' or 'parcus' in their names, suggesting that the surname may have derived from these locations. Some examples include Parcus Regis (King's Park) in Gloucestershire and Parcus de Windresore (Windsor Park) in Berkshire.

During the medieval period, the PARKS surname was often associated with individuals who held positions related to the management or maintenance of royal or noble parks and hunting grounds. One notable example is Sir William PARKS (c. 1472-1539), who served as the Master of the Game and Keeper of the Park at Windsor Castle under King Henry VIII.

In the 16th century, the surname PARKS appeared in various spellings, such as Parkes, Parke, and Parck. One prominent figure from this era was Reynolde PARKS (c. 1510-1579), a Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake during the Marian Persecutions under Queen Mary I.

Other notable individuals with the PARKS surname include:

1. Gordon PARKS (1912-2006), an American photographer, filmmaker, and writer known for his groundbreaking work in documenting the Civil Rights Movement. 2. Rosa PARKS (1913-2005), an African American civil rights activist famous for her pivotal role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. 3. Walter PARKS (1863-1915), an English cricketer who played for Surrey and captained the England national team. 4. Henry Flagler PARKS (1842-1909), an American businessman and co-founder of the Standard Oil Company, working alongside John D. Rockefeller. 5. William PARKS (c. 1635-1696), an English colonist and one of the founders of the Woodbridge Township in New Jersey, United States.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Parks families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Parks 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. Kent leads with 487 Parks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.70x.

County Total Index
Kent 487 4.70x
Lancashire 356 0.99x
Sussex 333 6.50x
Middlesex 251 0.83x
Staffordshire 201 1.96x
Surrey 190 1.28x
Yorkshire 166 0.55x
Nottinghamshire 150 3.66x
Lincolnshire 109 2.24x
Durham 94 1.04x
Derbyshire 82 1.72x
Warwickshire 72 0.94x
Cheshire 71 1.06x
Worcestershire 62 1.56x
Gloucestershire 45 0.75x
Lanarkshire 38 0.39x
Hampshire 36 0.58x
Glamorgan 34 0.64x
Shropshire 32 1.22x
Somerset 32 0.65x
Devon 30 0.47x
Oxfordshire 30 1.60x
Northumberland 29 0.64x
Essex 27 0.45x
Leicestershire 23 0.68x
Berkshire 20 0.88x
Angus 19 0.67x
Cornwall 16 0.47x
Cumberland 10 0.38x
Montgomeryshire 10 1.44x
Hertfordshire 9 0.43x
Dorset 8 0.40x
Monmouthshire 7 0.32x
Denbighshire 6 0.52x
Buckinghamshire 5 0.27x
Renfrewshire 5 0.21x
Bedfordshire 3 0.19x
Norfolk 3 0.06x
Royal Navy 3 0.83x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.16x
Isle of Man 2 0.35x
Midlothian 2 0.05x
Westmorland 2 0.30x
Herefordshire 1 0.08x
Kincardineshire 1 0.27x
Perthshire 1 0.07x
Suffolk 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Maidstone in Kent leads with 67 Parks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.69x.

Place Total Index
Maidstone 67 21.69x
Islington London 50 1.70x
Brighton 42 4.06x
Camberwell 37 1.91x
Hailsham 35 112.83x
Stoke Upon Trent 35 3.22x
Birmingham 33 1.29x
Sedgley 33 8.66x
Pemberton 31 21.55x
Cranbrook 30 68.29x
Portsea 29 2.38x
Hackney London 27 1.58x
Lambeth 27 1.02x
Newington 27 2.40x
Aston 26 1.23x
Battle 25 72.28x
Nottingham St Mary 25 2.36x
Hastings St Mary In The 21 19.21x
Liverpool 21 0.96x
Lostock Gralam 21 259.90x
Greenwich 20 4.13x
Ticehurst 20 63.78x
Toxteth Park 20 1.64x
Dundee 19 1.81x
Mile End Old Town 19 3.96x
Shoreditch London 19 1.44x
Tottington Lower End 19 11.09x
Barrow In Furness 18 3.67x
Darley 18 93.60x
Folkestone 18 8.95x
Greasley 18 19.47x
Battersea 17 1.52x
Bury 17 4.13x
Deptford St Paul 17 2.13x
Hastings St Mary 17 13.33x
Manchester 17 1.05x
St John Near Swansea 17 25.97x
Govan 16 0.66x
Knipton 16 470.59x
Lowdham 16 208.06x
Croydon 15 1.82x
Dudley 15 3.11x
Hadlow 15 58.32x
Stourbridge 15 14.69x
Eastbourne 14 5.94x
Lenham 14 67.63x
Marden 14 57.57x
Mayfield 14 46.19x
St Marylebone London 14 0.86x
Stoke Bardolph 14 760.87x
West Derby 14 1.33x
West Peckham 14 292.28x
Bilston 13 6.54x
Dover St Mary Virgin 13 12.95x
Hulme 13 1.73x
Mansfield 13 9.17x
Rotherham 13 7.66x
St Pancras London 13 0.53x
Sutton In Ashfield 13 14.62x
Wandsworth 13 4.44x
Wolstanton 13 4.17x
Yalding 13 49.64x
Church Coppenhall 12 40.00x
Faversham 12 12.13x
Hastings All Sts 12 24.85x
Lee Ward 12 821.92x
Lye 12 18.17x
Ryhope 12 19.11x
Westgate 12 4.28x
Bexhill 11 43.07x
Brocklesby 11 402.93x
Harborne 11 3.35x
Ruddington 11 40.04x
Stranton 11 3.61x
Wadhurst 11 32.69x
West Ham 11 0.83x
Chatham 10 3.51x
Chelsea London 10 1.09x
Tonbridge 10 2.67x
Walsall Foreign 10 1.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 204
Sarah 110
Elizabeth 101
Ann 64
Jane 57
Annie 54
Emma 51
Alice 48
Eliza 45
Ellen 43
Martha 33
Florence 30
Fanny 29
Emily 28
Caroline 27
Hannah 24
Harriet 23
Catherine 22
Clara 22
Kate 22
Margaret 22
Maria 20
Ada 19
Charlotte 18
Louisa 18
Edith 16
Lucy 14
Rose 14
Anne 13
Frances 13
Harriett 13
Amelia 12
Sophia 9
Susan 9
Agnes 8
Elizth. 8
Esther 8
Minnie 8
Isabella 7
Jessie 7
Ruth 7
Eleanor 6
Phoebe 6
Selina 6
Susannah 6
Dinah 5
Gertrude 5
Julia 5
Lizzie 5
Priscilla 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 206
John 158
George 112
Thomas 108
James 93
Henry 77
Joseph 56
Charles 46
Samuel 40
Edward 37
Robert 35
Arthur 31
Alfred 26
Frederick 24
Albert 23
Richard 20
Walter 19
Frank 18
David 14
Harry 14
Isaac 12
Stephen 12
Ernest 11
Peter 11
Benjamin 10
Wm. 9
Abraham 6
Alexander 6
Fred 6
Edwin 5
Mark 5
Thos. 5
Andrew 4
Daniel 4
Francis 4
Fredk. 4
Herbert 4
Willm. 4
Chas. 3
Fred. 3
Geo. 3
Horace 3
Hugh 3
Jas. 3
Job 3
Moses 3
Amos 2
Joshua 2
Matthew 2
Percy 2

FAQ

Parks surname: questions and answers

How common was the Parks surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,126 people were recorded with the Parks surname. That placed it at #1,440 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Parks surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,681 in 2016. That gives Parks a modern rank of #2,496.

What does the Parks surname mean?

An English topographic surname for someone who lived near an enclosed public garden or field.

What does the Parks map show?

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