UK surname
An English surname derived from an Old English word meaning a dweller in a rocky place.
In the 1881 census there were 82 people recorded with the Rork surname, ranking it #21,957 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6, ranked #38,110, down from #21,957 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bothwell, Gateshead and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rork is 120 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 92.7%.
1881 census count
82
Ranked #21,957
Modern count
6
2016, ranked #38,110
Peak year
1861
120 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rork surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rork surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 80 | #19,558 |
| 1861 | historical | 120 | #18,255 |
| 1881 | historical | 82 | #21,957 |
| 1891 | historical | 58 | #29,439 |
| 1901 | historical | 8 | #33,289 |
| 1911 | historical | 13 | #32,172 |
| 1997 | modern | 8 | #37,372 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 9 | #37,119 |
| 2001 | modern | 9 | #36,980 |
| 2002 | modern | 9 | #37,051 |
| 2003 | modern | 8 | #37,248 |
| 2004 | modern | 7 | #37,496 |
| 2005 | modern | 8 | #37,422 |
| 2006 | modern | 7 | #37,634 |
| 2007 | modern | 8 | #37,572 |
| 2008 | modern | 7 | #37,735 |
| 2009 | modern | 8 | #37,689 |
| 2010 | modern | 8 | #37,769 |
| 2011 | modern | 8 | #37,737 |
| 2012 | modern | 8 | #37,740 |
| 2013 | modern | 6 | #38,049 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 6 | #38,076 |
| 2016 | modern | 6 | #38,110 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bothwell, Gateshead, Edinburgh, Manchester and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bothwell | Lanark |
| 2 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 3 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rork surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rork, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Rork surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rork household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Rork is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rork is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rork, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname RORK has its origins in the United Kingdom, tracing back to the late 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "roc" and "roc-chele," which referred to a small stream or a rocky ravine. This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a locational surname for individuals residing near such geographical features.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name RORK can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, England, from the year 1275, where it appears as "Roke." This spelling variation hints at the phonetic origins of the surname and its potential connection to the term "roc."
The RORK surname is also mentioned in the Hearth Tax Returns of 1662-1666 for Warwickshire, where it is listed as "Rooke." This indicates that the name was present in the Midlands region of England during that time period.
Notable individuals bearing the RORK surname throughout history include John Rork, a merchant from Bristol, England, who was recorded in the Port Books of 1594. Another early example is Thomas Rork, who was born in Gloucestershire in 1612 and served as a member of the local parish council.
In the 17th century, the RORK surname appears in the Parish Registers of St. Mary's Church in Warwick, where the marriage of William Rork and Elizabeth Downes was recorded in 1671.
The surname RORK can also be traced to Scotland, where it was likely introduced by English settlers. One notable Scottish bearer of the name was James Rork, a prominent merchant from Edinburgh who lived from 1745 to 1824.
In the United States, the RORK surname can be found in records dating back to the late 18th century, when many individuals from the British Isles immigrated to the new colonies. One early example is Samuel Rork, who was born in Virginia in 1787 and served in the War of 1812.
These examples demonstrate the long-standing presence and historical significance of the RORK surname, which has its roots in the geographical and linguistic traditions of the British Isles.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rork surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 20 Rorks recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.73x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lanarkshire | 20 | 7.73x |
| Lancashire | 14 | 1.48x |
| Midlothian | 11 | 10.27x |
| Yorkshire | 9 | 1.14x |
| Roxburghshire | 6 | 41.41x |
| Durham | 4 | 1.68x |
| Stirlingshire | 4 | 13.56x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.38x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 1.13x |
| Devon | 2 | 1.20x |
| Dumfriesshire | 2 | 11.32x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.51x |
| Angus | 1 | 1.35x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.61x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.37x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Carrington in Midlothian leads with 7 Rorks recorded in 1881 and an index of 4117.65x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Carrington | 7 | 4117.65x |
| Hook | 7 | 402.30x |
| Bothwell | 6 | 85.47x |
| Liverpool | 6 | 10.41x |
| Makerston | 6 | 6000.00x |
| Dalserf | 5 | 193.80x |
| Manchester | 5 | 11.72x |
| Falkirk | 4 | 57.89x |
| New Monkland | 4 | 52.29x |
| Islington London | 3 | 3.87x |
| Ryhope | 3 | 181.82x |
| South Leith | 3 | 24.88x |
| Battersea | 2 | 6.80x |
| Old Monkland | 2 | 19.47x |
| Tormoham | 2 | 28.41x |
| Bootle Cum Linacre | 1 | 13.26x |
| Bury | 1 | 9.23x |
| Cobham | 1 | 400.00x |
| Dalkeith | 1 | 47.39x |
| Dalziel | 1 | 35.97x |
| Dumfries | 1 | 57.47x |
| Dundee | 1 | 3.62x |
| Govan | 1 | 1.56x |
| Hyde | 1 | 19.19x |
| Macclesfield | 1 | 12.74x |
| Maryhill | 1 | 19.76x |
| Middlesbrough | 1 | 9.69x |
| Mouswald | 1 | 666.67x |
| Portsmouth | 1 | 26.53x |
| Warrington | 1 | 8.89x |
| Washington | 1 | 100.00x |
| Whitby | 1 | 37.45x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rork surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Rork surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Rork households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Doubler Cotton Mill | 2 |
| Fruit Dealer | 2 |
| Bricksetter Maker | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Chemical Labror | 1 |
| Coal Heaver | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Corn Merchant | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| French Polisher | 1 |
| House Keeper | 1 |
| Inmate Cobham College | 1 |
| Kitchenmaid | 1 |
| Labour | 1 |
| Labourer In Iron Works | 1 |
| Leading Stoker | 1 |
| Market Gardener 9 Acres | 1 |
| Railway Porter | 1 |
| Retired Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Shopman (Corn Merchant) | 1 |
| Spring Maker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 82 people were recorded with the Rork surname. That placed it at #21,957 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 6 in 2016. That gives Rork a modern rank of #38,110.
An English surname derived from an Old English word meaning a dweller in a rocky place.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rork bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.