NameCensus.

UK surname

Pluck

An English surname possibly deriving from the Old French "peluchon" meaning downy feather or light wool.

In the 1881 census there were 373 people recorded with the Pluck surname, ranking it #8,380 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 595, ranked #8,776, down from #8,380 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, Braintree and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Cambridgeshire, Craigton and Thurrock.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pluck is 690 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.5%.

1881 census count

373

Ranked #8,380

Modern count

595

2016, ranked #8,776

Peak year

2002

690 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pluck had 373 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,380 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 595 in 2016, ranked #8,776.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 549 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Pluck surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pluck surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pluck 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 208 #10,107
1861 historical 204 #11,814
1881 historical 373 #8,380
1891 historical 379 #9,254
1901 historical 499 #8,065
1911 historical 549 #7,300
1997 modern 630 #7,862
1998 modern 655 #7,854
1999 modern 647 #7,979
2000 modern 652 #7,916
2001 modern 649 #7,803
2002 modern 690 #7,597
2003 modern 684 #7,529
2004 modern 655 #7,790
2005 modern 653 #7,741
2006 modern 635 #7,950
2007 modern 643 #7,926
2008 modern 639 #8,020
2009 modern 649 #8,085
2010 modern 638 #8,365
2011 modern 611 #8,558
2012 modern 576 #8,872
2013 modern 602 #8,728
2014 modern 607 #8,721
2015 modern 589 #8,850
2016 modern 595 #8,776

Geography

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Where Plucks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, Braintree, London parishes, St Dunstan Stepney and Arkesden. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Cambridgeshire, Craigton, Thurrock and Fenland. 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 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Braintree Essex
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
5 Arkesden Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Cambridgeshire 014 South Cambridgeshire
2 Craigton Glasgow City
3 Thurrock 005 Thurrock
4 Fenland 003 Fenland
5 South Cambridgeshire 015 South Cambridgeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pluck

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pluck

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Pluck surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Pluck household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Pluck is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pluck is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Pluck

The surname Pluck has its origins in England, with records dating back to the late 13th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English word "pluccian," which means "to pluck" or "to pull." This could suggest that the earliest bearers of this name may have been involved in activities such as plucking feathers or picking fruits and vegetables.

One of the earliest known records of the Pluck surname can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where a person named Roger Pluck is listed as residing in Oxfordshire. The surname also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327, which mentions a John Plucke.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Pluck surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Sussex, Surrey, and Kent in southern England. Variants of the name, such as Plucke, Ploke, and Plouk, can also be found in historical records from this period.

One notable historical figure with the surname Pluck was Sir John Pluck, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in the late 15th century. He was known for his philanthropic efforts and contributed to the construction of several churches and educational institutions in London.

Another prominent individual was Thomas Pluck, born in 1588 in Kent. He was a renowned scholar and author who wrote several influential works on theology and philosophy during the early 17th century.

In the 18th century, the Pluck surname gained prominence in the literary world with the birth of James Pluck (1741-1819), a celebrated poet and playwright from Yorkshire. His works often explored themes of nature and rural life, reflecting his upbringing in the English countryside.

A noteworthy figure from the 19th century was Sir William Pluck (1820-1895), a prominent businessman and philanthropist from Lancashire. He made his fortune in the textile industry and was known for his contributions to various charitable causes, particularly those related to education and healthcare.

While the Pluck surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand, due to immigration and cultural exchange. However, the origins and historical significance of this name remain firmly rooted in the English countryside and its rich cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pluck families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pluck 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. Essex leads with 93 Plucks recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.64x.

County Total Index
Essex 93 12.64x
Middlesex 91 2.44x
Cambridgeshire 58 24.57x
Kent 39 3.07x
Lancashire 18 0.41x
Suffolk 12 2.64x
Surrey 12 0.66x
Yorkshire 11 0.30x
Bedfordshire 9 4.66x
Channel Islands 9 8.15x
Hertfordshire 8 3.11x
Lanarkshire 5 0.41x
Durham 4 0.36x
Sussex 4 0.64x
Lincolnshire 3 0.50x
Caernarfonshire 2 1.33x
Huntingdonshire 2 2.70x
Oxfordshire 1 0.43x
Warwickshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Braintree in Essex leads with 23 Plucks recorded in 1881 and an index of 348.48x.

Place Total Index
Braintree 23 348.48x
West Ham 19 11.70x
Edmonton 17 56.63x
Arkesden 16 2962.96x
Minster In Sheppey 13 61.73x
Beccles 12 164.38x
Mile End Old Town 10 17.00x
Ramsgate 10 48.19x
Tonbridge 10 21.81x
Islington London 9 2.49x
St Andrewthe Less 9 33.38x
St George In East 9 35.50x
St Helier 9 25.03x
Witham 9 237.47x
Colchester St Nicholas 8 1212.12x
Foulmire 8 1142.86x
St Marylebone London 8 4.02x
Eston 7 87.06x
Hornsey 7 14.86x
Liverpool 7 2.61x
Rickmansworth 7 99.01x
Stoke Newington London 7 24.12x
Elm 6 259.74x
Sawston 6 263.16x
West Wickham 6 1034.48x
Bedford St Paul 5 37.79x
Glasgow 5 2.34x
Hinxton 5 1136.36x
Melbourn 5 217.39x
Newington 5 3.63x
Bedford St Mary 4 80.48x
March 4 50.63x
Queenborough 4 317.46x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 3.10x
Bottisham 3 149.25x
Bromley London 3 3.66x
Chelmsford 3 23.77x
Hove 3 10.88x
Kirkdale 3 4.03x
Lambeth 3 0.92x
Linton 3 133.93x
Mile End New Town 3 58.94x
Saffron Walden 3 38.61x
Wendens Ambo 3 638.30x
Boreham 2 157.48x
Chelsea London 2 1.78x
Dwygyfylchi 2 71.94x
Everton 2 1.42x
Hackney London 2 0.96x
Kensington London 2 0.97x
Kimberworth 2 9.76x
Limehouse London 2 4.89x
Pittington 2 64.10x
Spalding 2 16.92x
Tottenham 2 3.37x
Wicken Bonant 2 952.38x
Wilsden 2 52.77x
Woodford 2 24.01x
Bluntisham 1 71.94x
Bow London 1 2.11x
Brighton 1 0.79x
Cheetham 1 3.03x
Clapham 1 2.15x
Clavering 1 75.19x
Croydon 1 0.99x
Crundale 1 285.71x
Huntingdon St Benedict 1 107.53x
Lanchester 1 49.02x
Lewisham 1 1.48x
Little Shelford 1 151.52x
Manchester 1 0.50x
Norwood 1 11.74x
Nutfield 1 72.99x
Old Artillery Ground 1 31.15x
Oxford St Thomas 1 9.31x
Paddington London 1 0.73x
St Pancras London 1 0.33x
Tanfield 1 7.59x
Walton On Thames 1 11.99x
Welwyn 1 45.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 16
Mary 14
Elizabeth 12
Emma 11
Emily 7
Alice 6
Ann 6
Jane 6
Louisa 6
Agnes 5
Amelia 5
Kate 5
Catherine 4
Eliza 4
Margaret 4
Annie 3
Elizth. 3
Ellen 3
Hannah 3
Matilda 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Adelaide 2
Anne 2
Esther 2
Harriet 2
Jessie 2
Lydia 2
Rebecca 2
Alma 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Cecilia 1
Edith 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Harriett 1
Harritt 1
Hephzibah 1
Honoria 1
Katherine 1
Lilian 1
Lily 1
Lousia 1
Margarett 1
Margret 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Marian 1
Ulalia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 24
James 16
Henry 12
Charles 11
John 11
George 10
Alfred 9
Thomas 9
Arthur 8
Frederick 8
Walter 7
Ernest 5
Harry 5
Samuel 5
Herbert 3
Jas. 3
Robert 3
David 2
Edward 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Joseph 2
Stephen 2
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.John 1
Fredrick 1
Herman 1
Jarvous 1
Jesse 1
Joel 1
Johnny 1
Josiah 1
Lawrence 1
Leonard 1
Levi 1
Nathan 1
Nehemiah 1
Nemia 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Ralph 1
Reuben 1
Robt.Fredk. 1
Stee 1
Steve 1
Taler 1
Timothy 1

FAQ

Pluck surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pluck surname in 1881?

In 1881, 373 people were recorded with the Pluck surname. That placed it at #8,380 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pluck surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 595 in 2016. That gives Pluck a modern rank of #8,776.

What does the Pluck surname mean?

An English surname possibly deriving from the Old French "peluchon" meaning downy feather or light wool.

What does the Pluck map show?

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