NameCensus.

UK surname

Pryke

An English surname derived from the Old English word "prica," meaning a pointed stake or pick.

In the 1881 census there were 1,063 people recorded with the Pryke surname, ranking it #3,713 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,464, ranked #4,206, down from #3,713 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lavenham and Stowmarket. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Babergh, Mid Suffolk and Ipswich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pryke is 1,791 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.7%.

1881 census count

1,063

Ranked #3,713

Modern count

1,464

2016, ranked #4,206

Peak year

1911

1,791 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pryke had 1,063 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,713 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,464 in 2016, ranked #4,206.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,791 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pryke surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pryke surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pryke 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 659 #3,932
1861 historical 600 #4,419
1881 historical 1,063 #3,713
1891 historical 1,353 #3,216
1901 historical 1,638 #3,150
1911 historical 1,791 #2,734
1997 modern 1,618 #3,661
1998 modern 1,651 #3,731
1999 modern 1,657 #3,747
2000 modern 1,657 #3,724
2001 modern 1,614 #3,742
2002 modern 1,634 #3,770
2003 modern 1,578 #3,819
2004 modern 1,561 #3,863
2005 modern 1,486 #3,996
2006 modern 1,466 #4,046
2007 modern 1,472 #4,065
2008 modern 1,497 #4,039
2009 modern 1,534 #4,037
2010 modern 1,546 #4,091
2011 modern 1,553 #4,026
2012 modern 1,520 #4,032
2013 modern 1,518 #4,122
2014 modern 1,505 #4,166
2015 modern 1,485 #4,174
2016 modern 1,464 #4,206

Geography

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Where Prykes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lavenham, Stowmarket and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Babergh, Mid Suffolk and Ipswich. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Lavenham Suffolk
3 Stowmarket Suffolk
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Babergh 001 Babergh
2 Babergh 004 Babergh
3 Mid Suffolk 006 Mid Suffolk
4 Ipswich 010 Ipswich
5 Ipswich 006 Ipswich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pryke

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pryke

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

Pryke 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

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

Meaning and origin of Pryke

The surname PRYKE is of English origin and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "prica," which means "a sharp point" or "a prick." This word was likely used to describe someone who lived near a pointed hill or a sharp ridge, or perhaps someone who was known for their sharp wit or personality.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various records from the county of Gloucestershire in the west of England. In the Pipe Rolls of 1195, there is a mention of a William Prike, and in the Assize Rolls of 1221, a Thomas Prike is listed as a landowner in the village of Bisley.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir John Pryke, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in the 14th century. He was a member of the retinue of Edward, the Black Prince, and fought alongside him in the Battle of Crecy during the Hundred Years' War in 1346.

Another notable figure with the surname was William Pryke, a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol in the late 16th century. He was a member of the Society of Merchant Venturers, a prestigious organization of influential traders and businessmen.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in various parish records across the counties of Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire. One such record is from the parish of Brinkworth in Wiltshire, where a family by the name of Pryke is mentioned in the churchwarden's accounts in 1679.

During the 18th century, the surname was also found in areas of London and the surrounding counties. One notable bearer from this period was John Pryke, a successful businessman and property owner who lived in the city of Westminster in the late 1700s.

Throughout history, the surname PRYKE has been spelled in various ways, including Prike, Pryck, and Prycke. While the name has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by individuals and families who emigrated from the British Isles.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pryke families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pryke 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. Suffolk leads with 479 Prykes recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.85x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 479 37.85x
Essex 166 8.09x
Middlesex 164 1.58x
Norfolk 71 4.44x
Cambridgeshire 47 7.14x
Surrey 42 0.83x
Kent 17 0.48x
Hampshire 13 0.61x
Huntingdonshire 11 5.33x
Caernarfonshire 9 2.14x
Yorkshire 9 0.09x
Shropshire 8 0.89x
Warwickshire 7 0.27x
Durham 4 0.13x
Cheshire 3 0.13x
Derbyshire 3 0.18x
Hertfordshire 3 0.42x
Lancashire 3 0.02x
Sussex 2 0.11x
Bedfordshire 1 0.19x
Cornwall 1 0.09x
Royal Navy 1 0.81x
Staffordshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bramford in Suffolk leads with 43 Prykes recorded in 1881 and an index of 905.26x.

Place Total Index
Bramford 43 905.26x
St Pancras London 37 4.42x
Islington London 30 2.98x
Stowmarket 30 205.20x
Little Waldingfield 27 1824.32x
West Ham 26 5.74x
Lavenham 25 377.64x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 24 50.04x
Ipswich St Mathew 23 64.86x
Barnham 22 1349.69x
Combs 22 521.33x
Cockley Cley 19 2567.57x
Naughton 19 3333.33x
Fordham 18 423.53x
Hadleigh 17 138.44x
Battersea 16 4.19x
Hackney London 16 2.75x
Ipswich St Margaret 16 37.26x
Wickhambrook 16 336.84x
Colchester St Botolph 15 86.01x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 14 58.95x
Thorrington 14 1076.92x
Ardleigh 12 210.90x
Hornsey 12 9.13x
Colchester St Giles 11 54.29x
Denston 11 1157.89x
Aldeburgh 10 133.51x
Elmstead 10 303.03x
Great Bentley 10 307.69x
Thorpe Morieux 10 675.68x
Bow London 9 6.80x
Enfield 9 13.20x
Heigham 9 10.50x
Llandegai 9 69.98x
Preston 9 841.12x
Bricett 8 888.89x
Haughley 8 253.97x
Haughmond Demesne 8 1702.13x
Ipswich St Peter 8 46.98x
Kirtling 8 273.97x
Lambeth 8 0.88x
Sutton 8 396.04x
Brent Eleigh 7 864.20x
Bury St Edmunds St James 7 20.71x
Cavendish 7 171.15x
Chedburgh 7 777.78x
Colchester St Leonard 7 106.06x
Great Catworth 7 327.10x
Kensington London 7 1.21x
Leyton Low 7 16.79x
Minster In Sheppey 7 11.92x
Nettlestead 7 2000.00x
Somersham 7 482.76x
Wroxhall 7 1111.11x
Braintree 6 32.59x
East Wretham 6 967.74x
Ipswich St Mary Key 6 182.93x
Manningtree 6 179.64x
Playford 6 705.88x
Shoreditch London 6 1.33x
West Tofts 6 895.52x
Belstead 5 442.48x
Blaxhall 5 273.22x
Camberwell 5 0.75x
Clare 5 82.51x
Limehouse London 5 4.38x
Stonham Earl 5 222.22x
Wickham 5 127.55x
Willesden 5 5.11x
Woolverstone 5 581.40x
Bocking 4 32.44x
Chesterton 4 19.71x
Clapham 4 3.08x
Great Barton 4 136.52x
Holbrook 4 144.40x
Ipswich St Mary At Elms 4 99.50x
Romford 4 12.34x
St Ives 4 37.38x
Tottenham 4 2.42x
Westoe 4 2.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 58
George 51
James 39
John 38
Charles 26
Alfred 25
Arthur 24
Walter 24
Robert 19
Frederick 18
Henry 18
Thomas 17
Samuel 15
Harry 14
Sydney 10
Albert 7
David 7
Edward 6
Fredrick 6
Edgar 5
Herbert 5
Elijah 4
Wm. 4
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Fredk. 3
Geo. 3
Joseph 3
Stephen 3
Zachariah 3
Benjamin 2
Louis 2
Morris 2
Oliver 2
Palmer 2
Thos. 2
Alfd. 1
Arther 1
B. 1
Calley 1
Enos 1
Francis 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Henery 1
Horace 1
Isaac 1
Jeremiah 1
Jesse 1
Zacharih 1

FAQ

Pryke surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pryke surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,063 people were recorded with the Pryke surname. That placed it at #3,713 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pryke surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,464 in 2016. That gives Pryke a modern rank of #4,206.

What does the Pryke surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English word "prica," meaning a pointed stake or pick.

What does the Pryke map show?

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