NameCensus.

UK surname

Pyke

An English topographic surname derived from Middle English "pike" meaning pointed hill or peak.

In the 1881 census there were 1,031 people recorded with the Pyke surname, ranking it #3,808 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,462, ranked #4,211, down from #3,808 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sefton, North Norfolk and High Peak.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pyke is 1,629 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.8%.

1881 census count

1,031

Ranked #3,808

Modern count

1,462

2016, ranked #4,211

Peak year

1999

1,629 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pyke had 1,031 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,808 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,462 in 2016, ranked #4,211.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,591 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pyke surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pyke surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pyke 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 700 #3,729
1861 historical 695 #3,885
1881 historical 1,031 #3,808
1891 historical 1,131 #3,759
1901 historical 1,393 #3,611
1911 historical 1,591 #3,058
1997 modern 1,568 #3,761
1998 modern 1,606 #3,829
1999 modern 1,629 #3,804
2000 modern 1,613 #3,821
2001 modern 1,573 #3,839
2002 modern 1,561 #3,947
2003 modern 1,502 #3,995
2004 modern 1,486 #4,041
2005 modern 1,462 #4,046
2006 modern 1,451 #4,077
2007 modern 1,471 #4,069
2008 modern 1,482 #4,075
2009 modern 1,522 #4,064
2010 modern 1,558 #4,058
2011 modern 1,518 #4,118
2012 modern 1,488 #4,121
2013 modern 1,510 #4,136
2014 modern 1,500 #4,177
2015 modern 1,469 #4,213
2016 modern 1,462 #4,211

Geography

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Where Pykes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Pancras and Wigan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sefton, North Norfolk, High Peak and Greenwich. 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 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Wigan Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sefton 024 Sefton
2 North Norfolk 001 North Norfolk
3 High Peak 008 High Peak
4 Greenwich 011 Greenwich
5 Sefton 007 Sefton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pyke

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pyke

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Pyke is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pyke is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pyke falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pyke is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Pyke

The surname Pyke has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "pic," meaning a pointed hill or peak, suggesting that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a prominent hill or mountain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pyke can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This ancient document mentions a landowner named Richard Pyke in the county of Oxfordshire.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name appeared in various spellings, including Pyke, Pike, and Pyk, reflecting the lack of standardized spelling conventions during that era. Some of these variations may have originated from different regional dialects or scribal errors in official records.

The surname Pyke is also associated with several place names in England, such as Pike Hill in Staffordshire and Pyke Nook in Yorkshire. These locations likely influenced the development of the surname or were named after individuals bearing the name.

Among notable historical figures with the surname Pyke, one can mention Sir William Pyke (1540-1616), an English gentleman and landowner who served as a member of parliament for Somerset during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent individual was Robert Pyke (1592-1659), an English soldier and politician who fought in the English Civil War on the Parliamentarian side.

In the realm of literature, the name Pyke is associated with the 17th-century poet and playwright James Pyke (1623-1700), who is known for his contributions to the genre of Cavalier poetry.

Moving forward in time, John Pyke (1745-1809) was a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and later became a prominent figure in the Royal Navy.

Lastly, one cannot overlook the significance of Sir Walter Pyke (1856-1935), a British businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of education and healthcare in his hometown of Sheffield.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pyke families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pyke 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 181 Pykes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.79x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 181 1.79x
Devon 118 5.62x
Surrey 108 2.20x
Lancashire 86 0.72x
Somerset 82 5.05x
Berkshire 64 8.45x
Suffolk 57 4.64x
Hampshire 54 2.61x
Wiltshire 41 4.60x
Norfolk 35 2.26x
Essex 29 1.46x
Gloucestershire 22 1.11x
Yorkshire 21 0.21x
Cheshire 18 0.81x
Durham 18 0.60x
Cambridgeshire 15 2.35x
Kent 12 0.35x
Sussex 12 0.71x
Buckinghamshire 8 1.31x
Dorset 7 1.06x
Lanarkshire 7 0.21x
Leicestershire 7 0.63x
Lincolnshire 7 0.43x
Oxfordshire 5 0.80x
Staffordshire 4 0.12x
Channel Islands 3 1.00x
Cornwall 3 0.26x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.15x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.11x
Angus 1 0.11x
Glamorgan 1 0.06x
Hertfordshire 1 0.14x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.50x
Northamptonshire 1 0.11x
Northumberland 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 0.83x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 41 Pykes recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.05x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 41 5.05x
Reading St Mary 28 46.17x
Sampford Courtenay 27 859.87x
Paddington London 25 6.74x
Reigate Foreign 23 43.23x
Lambeth 22 2.50x
North Petherton 21 160.31x
Wigan 21 12.56x
Reading St Giles 20 26.93x
Bow 18 640.57x
Preston 18 5.62x
St Marylebone London 17 3.16x
Great Somerford 14 736.84x
Mile End Old Town 14 8.79x
Sheringham 13 325.00x
St George Hanover 13 9.87x
Walcot 13 15.03x
Stoke Damerel 11 7.49x
Thurloxton 11 1964.29x
Bristol St James St Paul 10 15.16x
Croydon 10 3.67x
Great Neston 10 136.05x
Gresham 10 757.58x
North Tawton 10 155.04x
Shoreditch London 10 2.29x
Stow Upland 10 247.52x
Wetherden 10 581.40x
Bury St Edmunds St James 9 27.43x
Caterham 9 41.44x
Hackney London 9 1.59x
Newington 9 2.42x
Northam 9 58.82x
Stowmarket 9 63.38x
West Derby 9 2.57x
Willingham 9 164.84x
Woolpit 9 252.10x
Aldershot 8 11.55x
Charlinch 8 1159.42x
Cheltenham 8 5.24x
St Bartholomew Hyde 8 161.94x
Stoke Canon 8 544.22x
Upton Cum Chalvey 8 32.92x
Windle 8 11.88x
Witham 8 78.05x
Brighton 7 2.04x
Chelsea London 7 2.30x
Ealing 7 7.77x
Plymouth St Andrew 7 4.33x
Richmond 7 10.16x
Baughurst 6 357.14x
Bideford 6 26.68x
Braunton 6 84.27x
Bromley London 6 2.70x
Crondall 6 54.05x
Fulwood 6 46.40x
Glasgow 6 1.04x
Lyme Regis 6 75.66x
Marlborough St Mary Virgin 6 95.39x
St Pauls Cray 6 228.14x
Wiveliscombe 6 66.30x
Amcotts 5 364.96x
Birkenhead 5 2.82x
Byers Green 5 59.03x
Castleton 5 4.18x
Chester Le Street 5 21.70x
Epsom 5 20.88x
Havant 5 47.76x
Kensington London 5 0.89x
Oxford St Mary Magdalen 5 67.66x
Romford 5 15.89x
Rotherham 5 8.87x
Rotherhithe 5 4.01x
Sheffield 5 1.57x
Sparsholt 5 333.33x
Toxteth Park 5 1.23x
Twinstead 5 724.64x
West Ham 5 1.14x
Weston Super Mare 5 12.20x
Wraxall 5 161.29x
Liverpool 4 0.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 78
John 56
George 45
Henry 35
Charles 31
James 31
Thomas 22
Edward 18
Samuel 15
Alfred 14
Robert 14
Arthur 11
Frederick 11
Ernest 9
Joseph 8
Albert 7
Francis 6
David 5
Hugh 5
Richard 5
Daniel 4
Herbert 4
Stephen 4
Chas. 3
Edwin 3
Frank 3
Isaac 3
Martin 3
Walter 3
Percy 2
Tom 2
Baldwin 1
Barford 1
Clarence 1
Clary 1
Cyril 1
Ezra 1
F. 1
Fred.Wm. 1
Fredc. 1
Frederic 1
Geo.F. 1
Geo.Wm. 1
Jesse 1
Jos. 1
Leon 1
Leonard 1
Lionel 1
Magnus 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Pyke surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pyke surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,031 people were recorded with the Pyke surname. That placed it at #3,808 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pyke surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,462 in 2016. That gives Pyke a modern rank of #4,211.

What does the Pyke surname mean?

An English topographic surname derived from Middle English "pike" meaning pointed hill or peak.

What does the Pyke map show?

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