NameCensus.

UK surname

Perkes

An English habitational surname derived from a location called Perks in Staffordshire.

In the 1881 census there were 200 people recorded with the Perkes surname, ranking it #12,836 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 129, ranked #26,270, down from #12,836 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sedgley, Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, and Great Malvern, Madresfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torbay and Wyre.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Perkes is 316 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 35.5%.

1881 census count

200

Ranked #12,836

Modern count

129

2016, ranked #26,270

Peak year

1851

316 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Perkes had 200 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,836 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016, ranked #26,270.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 316 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Perkes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Perkes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Perkes 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 316 #7,323
1861 historical 240 #10,226
1881 historical 200 #12,836
1891 historical 175 #16,467
1901 historical 203 #14,969
1911 historical 185 #15,686
1997 modern 136 #22,398
1998 modern 135 #23,118
1999 modern 146 #22,202
2000 modern 140 #22,752
2001 modern 133 #23,132
2002 modern 131 #23,793
2003 modern 134 #23,260
2004 modern 131 #23,756
2005 modern 125 #24,398
2006 modern 130 #24,053
2007 modern 116 #26,209
2008 modern 118 #26,212
2009 modern 117 #26,927
2010 modern 125 #26,448
2011 modern 134 #25,050
2012 modern 133 #25,187
2013 modern 145 #24,207
2014 modern 141 #24,855
2015 modern 137 #25,226
2016 modern 129 #26,270

Geography

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Where Perkes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sedgley, Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Great Malvern, Madresfield, Rowley Regis and Dudley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torbay and Wyre. 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 Sedgley Staffordshire
2 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
3 Great Malvern, Madresfield Worcestershire
4 Rowley Regis Staffordshire
5 Dudley Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torbay 017 Torbay
2 Wyre 003 Wyre
3 Wyre 002 Wyre
4 Wyre 005 Wyre
5 Wyre 001 Wyre

Forenames

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First names often paired with Perkes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Perkes

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Perkes, 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 Perkes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Perkes 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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Perkes is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Perkes is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Perkes falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Perkes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Perkes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Perkes

The surname Perkes is believed to have originated from the Old French personal name Peres, which is derived from the Latin name Petrus, meaning "rock". This name was given to several early bearers of the surname, who were known for their strength and resilience.

The Perkes surname first appeared in the historical records of England during the 12th century. It is thought to have been introduced by Norman settlers who arrived after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The earliest recorded spelling of the name was found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Buckinghamshire in 1273, where it was written as Perkes.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the Perkes family became well-established in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire. Some early bearers of the name were landowners and wealthy merchants, while others were skilled tradesmen and artisans.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Perkes was William Perkes, who was born in Oxfordshire in the late 13th century. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of the local shire court. Another notable figure was John Perkes, a wealthy merchant from Gloucester who lived during the 15th century and was involved in the wool trade.

In the 16th century, the Perkes family continued to prosper, and some members made significant contributions to various fields. One such individual was Richard Perkes (1551-1615), a renowned scholar and theologian who served as the Rector of St. Olave's Church in London.

During the 17th century, the surname Perkes was also found in various parts of the British Isles, including Scotland and Ireland. One notable bearer of the name was Robert Perkes (1611-1689), a Scottish minister and author who wrote several religious texts.

In the 18th century, the Perkes family continued to establish itself in various professions and industries. One prominent figure was John Perkes (1730-1805), a successful businessman and landowner from Buckinghamshire who served as the High Sheriff of the county in 1791.

As the centuries passed, the Perkes surname spread to other parts of the world, particularly to the United States and Canada, where many descendants of the original English and Scottish Perkes families settled and established new roots.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Perkes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Perkes 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. Worcestershire leads with 48 Perkes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.23x.

County Total Index
Worcestershire 48 19.23x
Staffordshire 40 6.20x
Warwickshire 22 4.56x
Middlesex 16 0.84x
Yorkshire 14 0.74x
Lancashire 13 0.57x
Gloucestershire 12 3.20x
Cheshire 7 1.66x
Northamptonshire 7 3.89x
Essex 5 1.32x
Devon 3 0.75x
Herefordshire 3 3.83x
Surrey 2 0.21x
Derbyshire 1 0.33x
Glamorgan 1 0.30x
Hampshire 1 0.26x
Westmorland 1 2.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dudley in Worcestershire leads with 27 Perkes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 88.96x.

Place Total Index
Dudley 27 88.96x
Bredon 12 1411.76x
Sedgley 12 50.06x
Foleshill 8 157.79x
Rowley Regis 8 44.49x
Wellesbourne Hastings 8 1739.13x
Marburywith Quoisley 7 1590.91x
Northampton St Sepulchre 7 76.50x
Tipton 7 35.43x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 15.57x
Hammersmith London 5 10.62x
Middlesbrough 5 20.27x
Stoke Upon Trent 5 7.31x
West Ham 5 6.00x
Everton 4 5.53x
Gloucester Barton St 4 181.82x
Kingswinford 4 17.07x
Middleton In Oldham 4 58.82x
Moreton Valence 4 1818.18x
St Andrew Holborn 4 61.73x
Aston 3 2.26x
Hanwell 3 88.50x
Kingsland 3 434.78x
Leeds 3 2.80x
North Meols 3 13.51x
Plymouth Charles The 3 17.11x
Stourbridge 3 46.73x
Acton 2 17.84x
Birmingham 2 1.24x
Claines 2 29.20x
Clapham 2 8.37x
Gloucester Kingsholm St 2 142.86x
Moss Side 2 16.75x
Bidford 1 97.09x
Cannock 1 8.88x
Cheltenham 1 3.46x
Glossop Dale 1 7.13x
Great Malvern 1 19.19x
Hagley 1 123.46x
Kidderminster Borough 1 6.84x
Langdale 1 208.33x
Lichfield Close 1 666.67x
Llantwit Major 1 153.85x
Ryde 1 11.88x
St Marylebone London 1 0.98x
Tewkesbury 1 29.85x
Tutnall Cobley 1 303.03x
Upper Penn 1 61.73x
West Bromwich 1 2.71x
Westminster St 1 14.18x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 10
William 10
George 8
John 8
Edward 7
Joseph 7
Henry 6
Thomas 6
Frank 5
Arthur 3
James 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
Frederick 2
Adam 1
Edwin 1
Elisha 1
Enoch 1
Ezekiah 1
Fred 1
Garabaldi 1
Infant 1
Job 1
Josiah 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Whitmore 1

FAQ

Perkes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Perkes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 200 people were recorded with the Perkes surname. That placed it at #12,836 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Perkes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016. That gives Perkes a modern rank of #26,270.

What does the Perkes surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a location called Perks in Staffordshire.

What does the Perkes map show?

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