NameCensus.

UK surname

Rorke

A locational surname derived from a place named Rorke in Ireland.

In the 1881 census there were 265 people recorded with the Rorke surname, ranking it #10,612 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 155, ranked #23,197, down from #10,612 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire East, Bury and Ryedale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rorke is 283 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 41.5%.

1881 census count

265

Ranked #10,612

Modern count

155

2016, ranked #23,197

Peak year

1891

283 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rorke had 265 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,612 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 155 in 2016, ranked #23,197.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 283 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rorke surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rorke surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rorke 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 118 #15,362
1861 historical 136 #16,556
1881 historical 265 #10,612
1891 historical 283 #11,573
1901 historical 266 #12,617
1911 historical 128 #19,664
1997 modern 166 #19,797
1998 modern 167 #20,258
1999 modern 168 #20,312
2000 modern 173 #19,889
2001 modern 168 #19,986
2002 modern 165 #20,619
2003 modern 152 #21,486
2004 modern 155 #21,352
2005 modern 154 #21,396
2006 modern 158 #21,229
2007 modern 158 #21,464
2008 modern 153 #22,132
2009 modern 158 #22,168
2010 modern 154 #23,082
2011 modern 165 #21,829
2012 modern 159 #22,361
2013 modern 155 #23,108
2014 modern 159 #22,930
2015 modern 156 #23,106
2016 modern 155 #23,197

Geography

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Where Rorkes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire East, Bury, Ryedale, Dollar and Muckhart and Meadows and Southside. 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 London parishes London 3
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire East 006 Cheshire East
2 Bury 007 Bury
3 Ryedale 004 Ryedale
4 Dollar and Muckhart Clackmannanshire
5 Meadows and Southside City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rorke

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rorke

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Rorke is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Rorke is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rorke falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rorke is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Rorke

The surname Rorke has its origins in Ireland, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic word "ruarc," which means "red" or "ruddy." This name likely referred to an ancestor with reddish hair or a ruddy complexion.

The Rorke family was prominent in County Leitrim, located in the northwestern part of Ireland. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. It mentions Muircheartach Ruarc, a powerful chieftain who ruled over the territory of Breifne (modern-day Leitrim and Cavan) in the 12th century.

In the 14th century, the Rorke surname appeared in various official records and documents, including the Pipe Rolls of County Leitrim. These records often referred to landowners and prominent families in the region. During this period, the spelling of the name varied, with variations such as Roarke, Rourke, and Rourk being commonly used.

One notable figure in the Rorke family history was Felim Rorke, who lived in the 16th century. He was a renowned Irish chieftain and leader of the Rorke clan in County Leitrim. Felim played a significant role in the Gaelic resistance against English colonization efforts in Ireland.

Another prominent individual bearing the Rorke surname was Sir John Rorke (1642-1722), an Irish lawyer and landowner. He served as a Member of Parliament for County Leitrim and was known for his contributions to the legal and political spheres of his time.

In the 18th century, the Rorke family continued to hold significant influence and landholdings in County Leitrim. One notable member was John Rorke (1727-1807), a wealthy landowner and member of the Irish Parliament, who represented County Leitrim in the Irish House of Commons.

The Rorke surname has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Rorke's Drift, a famous battle site during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, and Rorke's Drift, a small village in County Leitrim named after the family.

Throughout history, the Rorke surname has been carried by individuals from different walks of life, including scholars, artists, and military personnel. Some notable examples include Joseph Rorke (1814-1889), an Irish-born American artist known for his landscape paintings, and Patrick Rorke (1855-1910), an Irish-American civil engineer who worked on various infrastructure projects in the United States.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rorke families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rorke 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. Lancashire leads with 51 Rorkes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.66x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 51 1.66x
Lanarkshire 44 5.26x
Midlothian 28 8.09x
Middlesex 27 1.04x
Nottinghamshire 19 5.45x
East Lothian 13 37.97x
Renfrewshire 13 6.49x
Yorkshire 12 0.47x
Surrey 10 0.79x
Stirlingshire 9 9.44x
Derbyshire 6 1.48x
Cheshire 5 0.88x
Perthshire 5 4.31x
Cumberland 4 1.80x
Durham 4 0.52x
Northumberland 3 0.78x
Dunbartonshire 2 2.88x
Kent 2 0.23x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.42x
Angus 1 0.42x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.61x
Essex 1 0.20x
Lincolnshire 1 0.24x
Northamptonshire 1 0.41x
Roxburghshire 1 2.14x
Sussex 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 14 Rorkes recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.62x.

Place Total Index
Barony 14 6.62x
Nottingham St Mary 12 13.32x
Wigan 12 28.00x
Abbey 11 35.99x
Bothwell 11 48.52x
St Pancras London 10 4.81x
Govan 9 4.35x
Liverpool 8 4.29x
Campsie 7 133.84x
Garvald 7 1029.41x
Westminster St 7 73.45x
Glossop Dale 6 31.66x
Birkenhead 5 10.99x
Edinburgh Greenside 5 109.17x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 3.59x
Nottingham St Nicholas 5 105.26x
Alyth 4 128.21x
Barnsley 4 15.14x
Bermondsey 4 5.20x
Cleator 4 43.20x
Colinton 4 103.63x
Edinburgh Tron Church 4 246.91x
Glasgow 4 2.69x
Hulme 4 6.25x
Lancaster 4 21.92x
Liberton 4 74.77x
Maryhill 4 24.45x
Byker 3 15.78x
Dunbar 3 62.50x
Hackney London 3 2.07x
Huddersfield 3 8.04x
Little Bolton 3 7.61x
Openshaw 3 20.89x
Preston 3 3.66x
South Leith 3 7.70x
Battersea 2 2.10x
Carrington 2 370.37x
Charlton Next Woolwich 2 21.74x
Dewsbury 2 7.61x
Helmington Row 2 55.87x
Islington London 2 0.80x
Lambeth 2 0.89x
Manchester 2 1.45x
Oldham 2 2.02x
Ormiston 2 219.78x
Prescot 2 36.04x
Roseneath 2 150.38x
Shotts 2 20.00x
St Anne Soho London 2 13.55x
St George Martyr 2 45.87x
Barrow In Furness 1 2.40x
Benfieldside 1 19.76x
Berwick North 1 41.67x
Cheam 1 74.07x
Colchester St Peter 1 49.02x
Crumpsall 1 13.83x
Dundee 1 1.12x
Edinburgh St Johns 1 45.66x
Falkirk 1 4.48x
Gate Fulford 1 16.72x
Gateshead 1 1.74x
Great Coates 1 454.55x
Hastings St Mary 1 9.22x
Hawick 1 9.54x
Ince In Makerfield 1 7.01x
Kimberworth 1 7.03x
Neilston 1 9.94x
Newark Upon Trent 1 7.99x
Newington 1 1.05x
Perth East Church 1 9.14x
Port Glasgow 1 10.33x
Shingay 1 1250.00x
St Clement Danes 1 23.92x
Stirling 1 8.32x
Thornton In Fylde 1 14.90x
Toxteth Park 1 0.96x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 1 11.33x
West Derby 1 1.11x
Witton 1 25.91x
York St Maurice 1 20.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Catherine 5
Ellen 5
Jane 4
Elizabeth 3
Hannah 3
Margaret 3
Sarah 3
Ann 2
Annie 2
Eliza 2
Maria 2
Minnie 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Alexandra 1
Anne 1
Bridge 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Christine 1
Emma 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Frances 1
Geo.Geraldine 1
Josephine 1
Kate 1
Kitty 1
Lucy 1
Martha 1
May 1
Rosannah 1
Rose 1
Rosina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 15
Thomas 8
James 7
William 6
Michael 4
Patrick 4
Edward 3
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Henry 2
Samuel 2
Alfred 1
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
George 1
Hugh 1
Larence 1
Lareus 1
Laurence 1
Miles 1
Owen 1
Patk. 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Rorke surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rorke surname in 1881?

In 1881, 265 people were recorded with the Rorke surname. That placed it at #10,612 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rorke surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 155 in 2016. That gives Rorke a modern rank of #23,197.

What does the Rorke surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place named Rorke in Ireland.

What does the Rorke map show?

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