NameCensus.

UK surname

Roake

From a small tree or shrub; dweller by thickets.

In the 1881 census there were 241 people recorded with the Roake surname, ranking it #11,374 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 283, ranked #15,359, down from #11,374 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Egham, London parishes and Kingston-on-Thames. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Arun, Chichester and Runnymede.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Roake is 328 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.4%.

1881 census count

241

Ranked #11,374

Modern count

283

2016, ranked #15,359

Peak year

2002

328 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Roake had 241 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,374 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 283 in 2016, ranked #15,359.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 325 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Multicultural Inner Suburbs.

Roake surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Roake surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Roake 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 160 #12,347
1861 historical 182 #12,949
1881 historical 241 #11,374
1891 historical 268 #12,087
1901 historical 258 #12,875
1911 historical 325 #10,783
1997 modern 311 #13,217
1998 modern 306 #13,720
1999 modern 314 #13,556
2000 modern 315 #13,495
2001 modern 313 #13,361
2002 modern 328 #13,186
2003 modern 322 #13,192
2004 modern 318 #13,374
2005 modern 301 #13,812
2006 modern 293 #14,116
2007 modern 310 #13,730
2008 modern 307 #13,907
2009 modern 311 #14,069
2010 modern 306 #14,529
2011 modern 299 #14,631
2012 modern 297 #14,607
2013 modern 305 #14,577
2014 modern 292 #15,129
2015 modern 284 #15,344
2016 modern 283 #15,359

Geography

Back to top

Where Roakes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Egham, London parishes, Kingston-on-Thames and Chertsey. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Arun, Chichester, Runnymede, Elmbridge and Tandridge. 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 Egham Berkshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Kingston-on-Thames Surrey
4 Chertsey Surrey
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Arun 010 Arun
2 Chichester 001 Chichester
3 Runnymede 009 Runnymede
4 Elmbridge 003 Elmbridge
5 Tandridge 004 Tandridge

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Roake

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Roake

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

Multicultural Inner Suburbs

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house many younger and middle-aged adults with children. All ethnic minorities, apart from those identifying as Pakistani or Bangladeshi, appear to be present in above average proportions. Affiliation to Christian religions is uncommon. Long-term disability rates are low, mirrored in limited provision of unpaid care. Privately rented terrace houses and flats are the norm. Managerial, professional and technical occupations are prevalent, and work is rarely part time. Many individuals have degree level qualifications. These areas form the inner suburbs of many of the UK’s 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Roake is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Roake is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Roake

The surname Roake has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "roc" and "ac," meaning a rock or an oak tree, suggesting a connection to a prominent geographical feature or a settlement near a notable oak tree.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Roake surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Roc" and "Rok." This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insights into the distribution of surnames and land ownership in England during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the surname began to appear in various records with spellings such as "Roke," "Rooke," and "Rooke." These variations reflect the changes in pronunciation and spelling conventions over time. One notable individual from this era was John Roke, a landowner mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1272.

As the centuries passed, the Roake surname continued to evolve and spread across various regions of England. In the 16th century, the name appeared in records from Gloucestershire, where Richard Rooke was born in 1545. Another notable figure from this period was Sir George Rooke, a prominent English naval officer born in 1650, who played a significant role in several battles during the War of the Spanish Succession.

The 17th century saw the emergence of several notable individuals bearing the Roake surname. Laurence Rooke, born in 1622, was a renowned English mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1666. Additionally, John Rooke, born in 1673, was a prominent English actor and playwright who performed at the famous Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

In the 18th century, the Roake surname continued to be well-represented in various fields. Thomas Rooke, born in 1727, was a respected architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Foundling Hospital and the Mansion House. Another notable figure from this era was Major-General Sir William Rooke, born in 1745, a distinguished British Army officer who served in the American Revolutionary War.

Throughout its history, the Roake surname has been associated with various place names and locations across England. For example, the village of Roke in Oxfordshire and the hamlet of Rook's Nest in Hampshire may have derived their names from the surname or vice versa. Additionally, the presence of the surname in various historical records and documents spanning multiple centuries attests to its enduring legacy within English culture and society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Roake families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Roake 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. Surrey leads with 139 Roakes recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.13x.

County Total Index
Surrey 139 12.13x
Middlesex 41 1.74x
Berkshire 17 9.63x
Essex 9 1.94x
Lancashire 8 0.29x
Warwickshire 7 1.18x
Buckinghamshire 4 2.81x
Kent 4 0.50x
Derbyshire 2 0.54x
Hampshire 2 0.42x
Perthshire 2 1.90x
Somerset 2 0.53x
Leicestershire 1 0.38x
Staffordshire 1 0.13x
Sussex 1 0.25x
Yorkshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chertsey in Surrey leads with 35 Roakes recorded in 1881 and an index of 472.97x.

Place Total Index
Chertsey 35 472.97x
Egham 27 384.07x
Camberwell 19 12.65x
Newington 19 21.88x
Penge 11 73.24x
West Ham 9 8.78x
Kingston On Thames 8 29.07x
Chelsea London 6 8.47x
Leamington Priors 6 41.12x
New Windsor 6 101.18x
Reigate Foreign 6 48.39x
Tilehurst 6 168.54x
Parr 5 50.10x
Shepperton 5 480.77x
St George Hanover 5 16.30x
Tottenham 5 13.35x
Isleworth 4 38.28x
St Martin In Fields 4 28.43x
Datchet 3 309.28x
Newbury 3 53.10x
Westminster St 3 34.60x
Weybridge 3 121.95x
Bath St James 2 50.63x
Bexley 2 28.21x
Blackburn 2 2.69x
Derby St Werburgh 2 9.41x
East Molesey 2 75.19x
Frindsbury 2 66.23x
Grove 2 444.44x
Rattray 2 81.30x
St Pancras London 2 1.06x
Streatham 2 11.47x
Aldershot 1 6.20x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.98x
Brighton 1 1.25x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.80x
Eston 1 19.72x
Farnham Royal 1 119.05x
Frimley 1 30.67x
Guildford Friary 1 277.78x
Heaton Norris 1 6.30x
Keele 1 119.05x
Kensington London 1 0.77x
Lambeth 1 0.49x
Leamington 1 25.45x
Mitcham 1 13.81x
Portsea 1 1.06x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 2.11x
Spitalfields London 1 5.66x
St Marylebone London 1 0.80x
Staines 1 26.88x
Swithland 1 500.00x
Walton On Thames 1 19.01x
Westminster St James 1 4.14x
Woking 1 14.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 14
John 10
Henry 9
James 9
George 7
Joseph 7
Richard 7
Thomas 5
Abraham 3
Edward 3
Robert 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Walter 2
Alhasy 1
Baig 1
Barney 1
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
Chas. 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Infant 1
Jacob 1
Phillip 1
Roboam 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
W.Henry 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Roake surname: questions and answers

How common was the Roake surname in 1881?

In 1881, 241 people were recorded with the Roake surname. That placed it at #11,374 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Roake surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 283 in 2016. That gives Roake a modern rank of #15,359.

What does the Roake surname mean?

From a small tree or shrub; dweller by thickets.

What does the Roake map show?

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