NameCensus.

UK surname

Poke

A surname derived from the Old English word "poke," meaning a small bag or pouch.

In the 1881 census there were 75 people recorded with the Poke surname, ranking it #22,893 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 99, ranked #31,358, down from #22,893 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Greenwich and Edmonton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochdale, Stromness, Sandwick and Stenness and West Mainland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Poke is 164 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.0%.

1881 census count

75

Ranked #22,893

Modern count

99

2016, ranked #31,358

Peak year

1861

164 bearers

Map years

4

1861 to 2006

Key insights

  • Poke had 75 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,893 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 99 in 2016, ranked #31,358.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 164 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Poke surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Poke surname density by area, 2006 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Poke 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 69 #21,148
1861 historical 164 #14,188
1881 historical 75 #22,893
1891 historical 108 #22,828
1901 historical 88 #24,270
1911 historical 91 #23,684
1997 modern 112 #25,244
1998 modern 108 #26,417
1999 modern 115 #25,620
2000 modern 112 #25,978
2001 modern 111 #25,767
2002 modern 123 #24,735
2003 modern 122 #24,628
2004 modern 135 #23,326
2005 modern 133 #23,502
2006 modern 126 #24,493
2007 modern 127 #24,748
2008 modern 125 #25,249
2009 modern 126 #25,686
2010 modern 127 #26,176
2011 modern 119 #27,063
2012 modern 110 #28,514
2013 modern 113 #28,502
2014 modern 111 #29,113
2015 modern 106 #29,895
2016 modern 99 #31,358

Geography

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Where Pokes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Greenwich, Edmonton, London parishes and Llanwonno. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rochdale, Stromness, Sandwick and Stenness, West Mainland, Tewkesbury and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Greenwich London (South Districts)
3 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
4 London parishes London 1
5 Llanwonno Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rochdale 025 Rochdale
2 Stromness, Sandwick and Stenness Orkney Islands
3 West Mainland Orkney Islands
4 Tewkesbury 002 Tewkesbury
5 Kensington and Chelsea 019 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Poke

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Poke

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Poke surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Poke household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Poke 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

Poke is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Poke falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Poke 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 Poke, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Poke

The surname POKE is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "pohha," which referred to a small sack or bag. This suggests that the name may have been initially given as an occupational surname to someone who worked as a maker or seller of bags or pouches.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Pohha." This record indicates that individuals bearing this name were present in various parts of England during the Norman Conquest.

During the 13th century, the surname began to appear in various spellings, such as "Poke" and "Pooke," reflecting the evolution of the English language and regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.

In the 14th century, the surname POKE can be found in various records, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists individuals named "William Poke" and "Reginald Poke" residing in different parts of England.

One notable individual bearing the surname POKE was Sir John Poke (1390-1456), a prominent English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset during the reign of King Henry VI.

Another historical figure with this surname was Richard Poke (1609-1692), an English Puritan minister and author who served as the rector of Bramshott in Hampshire. He wrote several religious works, including "A Spiritual Perspective, or, A Glasse to View Christ in" (1655).

In the 18th century, the surname POKE was also associated with places like Poke Street in Staffordshire, which likely derived its name from individuals bearing this surname residing in the area.

One notable example from this period is John Poke (1730-1805), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and was involved in several notable engagements against the French and Spanish fleets.

The 19th century saw the emergence of individuals like James Poke (1810-1887), a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London and surrounding areas.

While the surname POKE is not among the most common in English-speaking countries, it has a rich historical legacy that can be traced back to medieval England and the various occupations and individuals who bore this name over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Poke families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Poke 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. Middlesex leads with 40 Pokes recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.47x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 40 5.47x
Kent 10 4.01x
Glamorgan 8 6.28x
Orkney 7 86.96x
Devon 3 1.97x
Warwickshire 2 1.08x
Leicestershire 1 1.23x
Monmouthshire 1 1.89x
Somerset 1 0.85x
Surrey 1 0.28x
Wiltshire 1 1.55x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chelsea London in Middlesex leads with 14 Pokes recorded in 1881 and an index of 63.52x.

Place Total Index
Chelsea London 14 63.52x
Fulham London 8 75.40x
Llanwonno 8 174.67x
Bethnal Green London 7 22.03x
Sandwick 7 2333.33x
Ashford 5 205.76x
Greenwich 4 34.33x
Kensington London 4 9.84x
Shoreditch London 4 12.61x
Islington London 2 2.82x
Monks Kirby 2 487.80x
Battersea 1 3.71x
Bridgewater 1 31.25x
Burbage 1 303.03x
East Stonehouse 1 33.33x
Fairfield 1 10000.00x
Melton Mowbray 1 68.49x
Newport 1 39.68x
Paddington London 1 3.72x
Stoke Damerel 1 9.38x
Totnes 1 112.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 6
Mary 4
Eliza 3
Caroline 2
Emma 2
Maria 2
A. 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Betsy 1
Elisa 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Flora 1
Leitchia 1
Lettice 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1
Maude 1
Minnie 1
Phoebe 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
William 4
George 3
James 3
Henry 2
Robert 2
Thomas 2
Thos. 2
Albert 1
Charles 1
David 1
Edward 1
Fredk. 1

Top occupations

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 Poke households.

FAQ

Poke surname: questions and answers

How common was the Poke surname in 1881?

In 1881, 75 people were recorded with the Poke surname. That placed it at #22,893 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Poke surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 99 in 2016. That gives Poke a modern rank of #31,358.

What does the Poke surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English word "poke," meaning a small bag or pouch.

What does the Poke map show?

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