UK surname
A surname derived from the Old English word "pic", referring to someone who lived near a pike or pointed hill.
In the 1881 census there were 27 people recorded with the Pikes surname, ranking it #29,793 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 18, ranked #36,832, down from #29,793 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Burton-on-Trent, Branscombe and Newnham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pikes is 129 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 33.3%.
1881 census count
27
Ranked #29,793
Modern count
18
2016, ranked #36,832
Peak year
1861
129 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Pikes surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Pikes surname density by area, 1861 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 | 129 | #17,271 |
| 1881 | historical | 27 | #29,793 |
| 1891 | historical | 44 | #30,838 |
| 1901 | historical | 34 | #30,281 |
| 1911 | historical | 35 | #29,478 |
| 1997 | modern | 16 | #36,292 |
| 1998 | modern | 19 | #36,009 |
| 1999 | modern | 20 | #35,923 |
| 2000 | modern | 17 | #36,207 |
| 2001 | modern | 15 | #36,265 |
| 2002 | modern | 18 | #36,067 |
| 2003 | modern | 19 | #36,011 |
| 2004 | modern | 17 | #36,342 |
| 2005 | modern | 14 | #36,730 |
| 2006 | modern | 16 | #36,601 |
| 2007 | modern | 14 | #36,886 |
| 2008 | modern | 12 | #37,143 |
| 2009 | modern | 12 | #37,230 |
| 2010 | modern | 12 | #37,307 |
| 2011 | modern | 12 | #37,287 |
| 2012 | modern | 15 | #36,982 |
| 2013 | modern | 17 | #36,857 |
| 2014 | modern | 18 | #36,811 |
| 2015 | modern | 19 | #36,736 |
| 2016 | modern | 18 | #36,832 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Burton-on-Trent, Branscombe, Newnham, Dorstone and Vowchurch. 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 | Burton-on-Trent | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Branscombe | Devon |
| 3 | Newnham | Gloucestershire |
| 4 | Dorstone | Brecon |
| 5 | Vowchurch | Herefordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Pikes 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 Pikes, 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 Pikes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Pikes 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, Pikes 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 Pikes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Pikes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Pikes originates from England and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "pic," meaning a pointed hill or peak, and the name likely referred to someone who lived near a prominent hill or peak.
The earliest known record of the name Pikes appears in the Pipe Rolls of Berkshire in 1195, where a Roger de Pikes is mentioned. This suggests that the name may have originated in the county of Berkshire, possibly near a place with a prominent hill or peak.
In the 13th century, the name Pikes appeared in various records, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where a John de Pikes is listed. This indicates that the name had spread to other parts of England by this time.
One of the earliest known instances of the name Pikes appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a landowner named Picatus is recorded in Lincolnshire. While not an exact spelling match, this name is likely related to the later Pikes surname and may be an early ancestor.
Notable individuals with the surname Pikes throughout history include:
1. Sir Walter Pikes (c. 1355 - 1413), an English soldier and knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War. 2. John Pikes (c. 1500 - 1562), an English merchant and benefactor who funded the construction of a school in his hometown of Taunton, Somerset. 3. Elizabeth Pikes (c. 1620 - 1687), one of the first English settlers in the Massachusetts Bay Colony and a prominent member of the Puritan community. 4. Thomas Pikes (1670 - 1738), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas. 5. William Pikes (1789 - 1861), a British explorer and naturalist who led expeditions to South America and wrote extensively about the flora and fauna of the region.
The name Pikes has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Pikes Cross in Worcestershire, Pikes Hill in Northamptonshire, and Pikes Peak in Derbyshire, further reinforcing its connection to prominent hills or peaks.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pikes 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. Herefordshire leads with 18 Pikes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 166.82x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Herefordshire | 18 | 166.82x |
| Leicestershire | 3 | 10.28x |
| Surrey | 2 | 1.56x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 3.01x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 2.18x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.38x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dorstone in Herefordshire leads with 7 Pikes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 17500.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Dorstone | 7 | 17500.00x |
| Vowchurch | 5 | 16666.67x |
| Humberstone | 3 | 1250.00x |
| Birmingham | 2 | 9.04x |
| Peterchurch | 2 | 3333.33x |
| Bradford | 1 | 15.85x |
| Brobury | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 5.95x |
| Eardisley | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Eaton Bishop | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Holmer | 1 | 526.32x |
| Kenfig | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 1 | 18.87x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Pikes 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 Pikes 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 Pikes households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Wheelwright | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Farm Laborer | 1 |
| Farm Servt (Indoor) | 1 |
| General Serv Domestic | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Mole Catcher | 1 |
| Platelayer | 1 |
| Raily Labourer | 1 |
| Raily Labr | 1 |
| Shop Servant | 1 |
| Stone Mason | 1 |
| Wheelwright Apprentice | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 27 people were recorded with the Pikes surname. That placed it at #29,793 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 18 in 2016. That gives Pikes a modern rank of #36,832.
A surname derived from the Old English word "pic", referring to someone who lived near a pike or pointed hill.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pikes 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.