NameCensus.

UK surname

Roke

A surname derived from the Old English word "roc," meaning a rock or rocky location.

In the 1881 census there were 41 people recorded with the Roke surname, ranking it #27,870 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 140, ranked #24,865, up from #27,870 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland, Cornwall and Uttlesford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Roke is 165 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 241.5%.

1881 census count

41

Ranked #27,870

Modern count

140

2016, ranked #24,865

Peak year

2010

165 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Roke had 41 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,870 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016, ranked #24,865.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 88 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Roke surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Roke surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Roke 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 43 #25,518
1861 historical 49 #27,768
1881 historical 41 #27,870
1891 historical 88 #25,677
1901 historical 48 #28,808
1911 historical 80 #24,821
1997 modern 147 #21,393
1998 modern 141 #22,517
1999 modern 152 #21,636
2000 modern 149 #21,874
2001 modern 149 #21,568
2002 modern 153 #21,609
2003 modern 146 #22,069
2004 modern 149 #21,905
2005 modern 150 #21,786
2006 modern 148 #22,111
2007 modern 149 #22,318
2008 modern 157 #21,766
2009 modern 161 #21,879
2010 modern 165 #22,026
2011 modern 146 #23,736
2012 modern 143 #24,019
2013 modern 140 #24,779
2014 modern 141 #24,855
2015 modern 134 #25,607
2016 modern 140 #24,865

Geography

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Where Rokes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sunderland, Cornwall, Uttlesford and Test Valley. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sunderland 012 Sunderland
2 Sunderland 004 Sunderland
3 Cornwall 071 Cornwall
4 Uttlesford 005 Uttlesford
5 Test Valley 001 Test Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Roke

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Roke

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Roke surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Roke 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 predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Roke is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Roke 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

Roke falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Roke

The surname "ROKE" is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "roc," meaning a rock or outcrop of rock. The name is believed to have emerged in the medieval period, likely around the 12th or 13th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1203, where a William de la Roke is mentioned. This suggests that the name was initially used as a descriptive term for someone who lived near a prominent rock formation.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name can be found in various records and documents, often with slight variations in spelling, such as Rok, Rooke, and Rokes. These variations reflect the fluidity of surname spelling during that time.

The name "ROKE" is also associated with several place names in England, such as Roke Manor in Wiltshire and Roke Farm in Hampshire. These place names likely originated from the Old English word "roc" and may have contributed to the development of the surname.

One notable figure bearing the surname "ROKE" was John Roke (c. 1490-1561), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Carlisle from 1537 to 1561. He was a prominent figure during the Reformation and played a role in the dissolution of monasteries under King Henry VIII.

Another historical figure was Sir Thomas Roke (c. 1556-1629), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Gatton in 1597 and for Bramber in 1601. He was also a prominent judge and held the position of Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 1618 until his death.

In the 17th century, the name "ROKE" can be found in the parish records of various English counties, indicating its continued presence across the country. One notable individual from this period was Robert Roke (1622-1670), an English minister and author who wrote several religious works.

The 18th century saw the birth of Samuel Roke (1738-1804), an English clergyman and botanist known for his contributions to the study of plants. He authored several publications on botany and was a member of the Linnean Society of London.

In the 19th century, William Roke (1823-1888) was a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Kingsdown, Kent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Roke families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Roke 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. Durham leads with 13 Rokes recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.93x.

County Total Index
Durham 13 10.93x
Middlesex 12 3.00x
Surrey 7 3.59x
Angus 2 5.40x
Cheshire 2 2.27x
Hampshire 2 2.44x
Buckinghamshire 1 4.14x
Devon 1 1.20x
Lancashire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 10 Rokes recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.60x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 10 44.60x
Ryhope 8 963.86x
Send Ripley 5 2000.00x
Tudhoe 4 384.62x
Cheadle 2 118.34x
Dundee 2 14.46x
Headley 2 909.09x
Kensington London 2 8.99x
Darlington 1 21.79x
Egham 1 83.33x
Exeter Heavitree 1 161.29x
Kingston On Thames 1 21.37x
Liverpool 1 3.47x
Upton Cum Chalvey 1 104.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 4
Sarah 4
Lucy 2
Anne 1
Catherine 1
Elizabeth 1
Harriet 1
Mary 1
Rosanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6
Dominick 2
William 2
Alfd. 1
Alfd.J.T. 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Ernest 1
Henry 1
James 1
Michael 1
Owen 1
Patrick 1
Richard 1
Stephen 1
Thomas 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 Roke households.

FAQ

Roke surname: questions and answers

How common was the Roke surname in 1881?

In 1881, 41 people were recorded with the Roke surname. That placed it at #27,870 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Roke surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016. That gives Roke a modern rank of #24,865.

What does the Roke surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English word "roc," meaning a rock or rocky location.

What does the Roke map show?

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