NameCensus.

UK surname

Pook

An English surname possibly derived from a place name or occupational term.

In the 1881 census there were 844 people recorded with the Pook surname, ranking it #4,467 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,089, ranked #5,376, down from #4,467 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Tormoham with Torquay and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wyre, Brighton and Hove and South Hams.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pook is 1,263 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.0%.

1881 census count

844

Ranked #4,467

Modern count

1,089

2016, ranked #5,376

Peak year

1911

1,263 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pook had 844 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,467 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,089 in 2016, ranked #5,376.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,263 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pook surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pook surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pook 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 613 #4,211
1861 historical 529 #4,961
1881 historical 844 #4,467
1891 historical 872 #4,710
1901 historical 1,112 #4,348
1911 historical 1,263 #3,766
1997 modern 1,128 #4,965
1998 modern 1,147 #5,071
1999 modern 1,146 #5,126
2000 modern 1,184 #4,963
2001 modern 1,145 #5,010
2002 modern 1,175 #4,985
2003 modern 1,131 #5,059
2004 modern 1,116 #5,127
2005 modern 1,123 #5,050
2006 modern 1,118 #5,066
2007 modern 1,089 #5,230
2008 modern 1,077 #5,308
2009 modern 1,091 #5,355
2010 modern 1,139 #5,276
2011 modern 1,127 #5,262
2012 modern 1,105 #5,271
2013 modern 1,124 #5,282
2014 modern 1,114 #5,337
2015 modern 1,108 #5,323
2016 modern 1,089 #5,376

Geography

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Where Pooks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Tormoham with Torquay, London parishes, Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wyre, Brighton and Hove, South Hams, Shropshire and West Somerset. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
3 London parishes London 3
4 Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner Hampshire
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wyre 001 Wyre
2 Brighton and Hove 011 Brighton and Hove
3 South Hams 004 South Hams
4 Shropshire 019 Shropshire
5 West Somerset 004 West Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pook

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pook

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Pook 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

Pook is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pook 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 Pook is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Pook

The surname POOK is believed to have originated in England in the late 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "puca", meaning a goblin or mischievous spirit. The name may have initially been used as a nickname for someone who was considered impish or playful.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1197, where a person named William Puk is mentioned. This early spelling variation suggests the name's roots in the Old English word.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Poke, Pooke, and Pook, in different regions of England. The Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire from 1273 includes a reference to a Simon Poke, while the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296 mention a John Pook.

The name is also associated with certain place names, such as Pook Hill in Hertfordshire and Pook Lane in Somerset, which may have influenced the surname's development and distribution.

Notable individuals with the surname POOK throughout history include:

1. William Pook (c. 1590-1668), an English clergyman and religious writer who served as the Rector of Brightwell, Berkshire. 2. John Pook (1737-1805), a British naval officer and explorer who participated in several voyages to the Pacific Ocean with Captain James Cook. 3. Samuel Pook (1775-1841), an English engraver and artist known for his illustrations of Gothic architecture and historical buildings. 4. Mary Pook (1806-1891), a British novelist and children's author who wrote under the pseudonym "Aunt Judy". 5. George Pook (1865-1939), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the late 19th century.

While the surname POOK may have originated from a playful nickname, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including clergy, explorers, artists, authors, and sportsmen.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pook families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pook 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. Devon leads with 294 Pooks recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.15x.

County Total Index
Devon 294 17.15x
Hampshire 131 7.76x
Surrey 90 2.24x
Middlesex 76 0.92x
Sussex 54 3.89x
Kent 49 1.74x
Somerset 46 3.47x
Gloucestershire 20 1.24x
Lancashire 16 0.16x
Dorset 10 1.85x
Yorkshire 10 0.12x
Durham 8 0.33x
Wiltshire 7 0.96x
Cornwall 6 0.64x
Glamorgan 6 0.42x
Monmouthshire 5 0.84x
Berkshire 4 0.65x
Royal Navy 4 4.08x
Warwickshire 3 0.14x
Hertfordshire 2 0.35x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.19x
Essex 1 0.06x
Midlothian 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 68 Pooks recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.56x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 68 20.56x
Tiverton 44 149.05x
Tormoham 27 37.24x
Croydon 25 11.23x
Alverstoke 23 37.66x
Battle 23 245.46x
Bedminster 21 16.86x
Molland 21 1489.36x
East Stonehouse 16 47.39x
Tedburn St Mary 16 883.98x
Deptford St Paul 14 6.46x
Stokefleming 14 648.15x
Hammersmith London 12 5.92x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 11 7.24x
Greenwich 11 8.39x
Kensington London 11 2.40x
Camberwell 10 1.90x
Wimbledon 10 22.20x
Harting 9 249.31x
Lambeth 9 1.25x
Plymouth St Andrew 9 6.82x
Portland 9 30.97x
Culmstock 8 329.22x
Exeter St Thomas The 8 45.79x
Fareham 8 39.45x
Halberton 8 200.50x
Huntspill 8 147.33x
Islington London 8 1.00x
St Pancras London 8 1.21x
Bedford 7 34.26x
Bishops Waltham 7 99.57x
Chelsea London 7 2.82x
Cheriton Bishop 7 419.16x
Dunsford 7 319.63x
Exeter St Sidwell 7 17.83x
Portsmouth 7 18.02x
Shobrooke 7 386.74x
Bishopsteignton 6 185.19x
Brixham 6 30.21x
Cadbury 6 800.00x
Cardiff St Mary 6 7.60x
Clist St Lawrance 6 1764.71x
Dinton 6 465.12x
Lewisham 6 4.01x
York St Mary 6 17.76x
Battersea 5 1.65x
Brighton 5 1.79x
Christchurch 5 27.16x
Dulverton 5 128.87x
Fowey 5 116.82x
Hampstead London 5 3.90x
Herstmonceaux 5 119.90x
Otterbourne 5 207.47x
Penge 5 9.51x
Reigate Foreign 5 11.51x
Wingate 5 29.78x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 1.87x
Bampton 4 76.19x
Bermondsey 4 1.63x
Calverleigh 4 1739.13x
Dawlish 4 31.30x
Drewsteignton 4 176.21x
Exeter St David 4 27.32x
Headley 4 87.15x
Newington 4 1.32x
Royal Navy 4 4.77x
Stoodleigh 4 322.58x
Topsham 4 49.44x
Clifton In York 3 17.59x
Cullompton 3 40.11x
Edmonton 3 4.52x
Folkestone 3 5.51x
Framwellgate 3 20.68x
Guildford St Nicholas 3 42.31x
Ifield 3 51.81x
Kenton 3 55.45x
Lee 3 7.36x
Paddington London 3 0.99x
Toxteth Park 3 0.91x
Westbury On Trym 3 5.48x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 56
Elizabeth 37
Eliza 19
Emily 19
Ann 18
Alice 16
Ellen 16
Jane 15
Emma 14
Sarah 12
Caroline 10
Charlotte 10
Florence 10
Annie 8
Fanny 7
Frances 7
Clara 6
Ethel 6
Susan 6
Louisa 5
Lucy 5
Harriet 4
Harriett 4
Margaret 4
Martha 4
Rhoda 4
Ada 3
Anne 3
Bessie 3
Eleanor 3
Elizh. 3
Hannah 3
Laura 3
Maria 3
Maud 3
Rebecca 3
Susannah 3
Agnes 2
Allice 2
Amelia 2
Bessy 2
Catherine 2
Elizth. 2
Esther 2
Gertrude 2
Grace 2
Kate 2
Lydia 2
Matilda 2
Rosa 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 56
John 45
George 36
Thomas 29
James 28
Henry 27
Charles 20
Alfred 15
Richard 15
Harry 9
Samuel 9
Walter 9
Frederick 8
Robert 8
Arthur 7
Albert 5
Frank 5
Edwin 4
Edward 3
Ernest 3
Geo. 3
Herbert 3
Tom 3
Frances 2
Francis 2
Fredrick 2
Louis 2
Mark 2
Matthew 2
Percy 2
Philip 2
Sholto 2
Sidney 2
Sydney 2
Wm. 2
Author 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
Edgar 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Geoff 1
Jessie 1
Joseph 1
Joshua 1
Leonard 1
Leopold 1
Levy 1
Wm.Sydney 1

FAQ

Pook surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pook surname in 1881?

In 1881, 844 people were recorded with the Pook surname. That placed it at #4,467 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pook surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,089 in 2016. That gives Pook a modern rank of #5,376.

What does the Pook surname mean?

An English surname possibly derived from a place name or occupational term.

What does the Pook map show?

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