NameCensus.

UK surname

Secker

An English surname derived from the occupational word for someone who investigated or examined.

In the 1881 census there were 704 people recorded with the Secker surname, ranking it #5,166 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,102, ranked #5,336, down from #5,166 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Batley and East Dereham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include King's Lynn and West Norfolk, South Norfolk and Newport.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Secker is 1,169 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.5%.

1881 census count

704

Ranked #5,166

Modern count

1,102

2016, ranked #5,336

Peak year

1998

1,169 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Secker had 704 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,166 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,102 in 2016, ranked #5,336.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,161 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Secker surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Secker surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Secker 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 554 #4,574
1861 historical 329 #7,748
1881 historical 704 #5,166
1891 historical 740 #5,376
1901 historical 1,027 #4,649
1911 historical 1,161 #4,023
1997 modern 1,122 #4,986
1998 modern 1,169 #4,988
1999 modern 1,148 #5,119
2000 modern 1,120 #5,194
2001 modern 1,105 #5,150
2002 modern 1,120 #5,211
2003 modern 1,095 #5,202
2004 modern 1,123 #5,095
2005 modern 1,086 #5,177
2006 modern 1,071 #5,242
2007 modern 1,062 #5,336
2008 modern 1,060 #5,378
2009 modern 1,096 #5,338
2010 modern 1,123 #5,343
2011 modern 1,110 #5,331
2012 modern 1,100 #5,290
2013 modern 1,121 #5,290
2014 modern 1,123 #5,309
2015 modern 1,091 #5,383
2016 modern 1,102 #5,336

Geography

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Where Seckers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Batley, East Dereham, Harling, East and St Giles Camberwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to King's Lynn and West Norfolk, South Norfolk and Newport. 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 3
2 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
3 East Dereham Norfolk
4 Harling, East Norfolk
5 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 016 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
2 South Norfolk 001 South Norfolk
3 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 015 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
4 Newport 002 Newport
5 South Norfolk 006 South Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Secker

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Secker

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Secker is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Secker is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Secker falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Secker

The surname SECKER is an English occupational name derived from the Old English word 'secor', meaning 'sacristan' or 'sexton'. This refers to an individual who was responsible for the maintenance and care of a church, its furnishings, and the ringing of bells. The name is believed to have originated in the early medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century.

SECKER was primarily concentrated in southern England, particularly in the counties of Sussex, Surrey, and Kent. The earliest recorded instance of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex in 1230, where a William Secker is mentioned. This indicates that the name was already well-established by the 13th century.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a Thomas le Secher is listed in Oxfordshire, suggesting variations in spelling and pronunciation. The name is also found in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1332, which record a John Secker in Sussex.

One noteworthy individual bearing the SECKER surname was John Secker, who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was a renowned engraver and printer, known for his work on maps and mathematical instruments during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another notable figure was Thomas Secker, who was born in 1693 and served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1758 until his death in 1768. He played a significant role in the Church of England and was a respected theologian and author.

In the 18th century, a family of SECKERs resided in Buckinghamshire, where John Secker (1716-1795) was a prominent landowner and Member of Parliament. His son, also named John Secker (1742-1818), continued the family's political legacy and served as a Member of Parliament as well.

The name SECKER can also be traced back to place names in England, such as Secker's Farm in Kent and Secker's Hill in Sussex. These locations may have been named after individuals bearing the surname, further solidifying its connection to the region.

Throughout history, the SECKER surname has been associated with various occupations, including clergymen, engravers, landowners, and politicians. While its origins lie in the church, the name has evolved and spread across different parts of England, reflecting the diverse paths taken by those who bore it.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Secker families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Secker 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. Norfolk leads with 229 Seckers recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.32x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 229 22.32x
Yorkshire 191 2.89x
Middlesex 86 1.29x
Surrey 40 1.23x
Kent 21 0.92x
Lancashire 21 0.27x
Cambridgeshire 18 4.26x
Northamptonshire 18 2.87x
Suffolk 11 1.35x
Essex 8 0.61x
Warwickshire 7 0.42x
Buckinghamshire 5 1.24x
Oxfordshire 5 1.21x
Devon 4 0.29x
Lincolnshire 4 0.37x
Hampshire 3 0.22x
Northumberland 3 0.30x
Durham 2 0.10x
Hertfordshire 2 0.43x
Sussex 2 0.18x
Derbyshire 1 0.10x
Staffordshire 1 0.04x
West Lothian 1 1.00x
Wiltshire 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dewsbury in Yorkshire leads with 60 Seckers recorded in 1881 and an index of 88.48x.

Place Total Index
Dewsbury 60 88.48x
East Dereham 29 223.77x
East Harling 24 987.65x
Leeds 17 4.55x
Littleport 17 210.66x
Peterborough 17 37.41x
Lepton 16 231.55x
Hackford In Aylsham 14 760.87x
Mirfield 14 38.57x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 14 210.21x
Ringland 14 1891.89x
Camberwell 13 3.05x
Lambeth 13 2.23x
Wells Next Sea 12 200.67x
Armley 10 34.29x
Chadderton 10 25.83x
Holbeck 10 22.83x
Mile End Old Town 10 9.49x
Swaffham 10 119.76x
Bermondsey 9 4.53x
Brandon 9 163.34x
Shoreditch London 9 3.11x
Thursford 9 1200.00x
Hackney London 8 2.14x
St Marylebone London 8 2.25x
Batley 7 11.14x
Exning 7 170.73x
Hammersmith London 7 4.26x
Hornsey 7 8.30x
Knaresborough 7 67.44x
Lower Whitley 7 786.52x
Morley 7 20.37x
Wymondham 7 66.73x
Deptford St Paul 6 3.42x
Feltwell 6 301.51x
Hunslet 6 5.82x
Islington London 6 0.93x
Kensington London 6 1.62x
Litcham 6 326.09x
Scarning 6 394.74x
St Luke London 6 5.61x
West Derby 6 2.59x
Bromley London 5 3.41x
Catton 5 290.70x
Eston 5 34.72x
Newington 5 2.03x
Norwich St Giles 5 152.44x
Sutton Coldfield 5 28.26x
Upton Cum Chalvey 5 31.11x
Wereham 5 357.14x
Wiggenhall St Mary 5 314.47x
Bramley In Bramley 4 15.80x
Burford 4 112.04x
Edmonton 4 7.44x
Exeter St Sidwell 4 12.57x
Great Grimsby 4 5.91x
Honingham 4 512.82x
Minster In Sheppey 4 10.61x
Reepham With Kerdiston 4 330.58x
St George In East 4 8.81x
Wakefield 4 7.88x
East Rudham 3 165.75x
Folkestone 3 6.79x
Garforth 3 59.29x
Greenwich 3 2.82x
Heigham 3 5.45x
Lakenheath 3 69.93x
North Runcton 3 545.45x
Northrepps 3 229.01x
St Pancras London 3 0.56x
Beverley St Martin 2 18.12x
Chipping Ongar 2 88.11x
Great Cressingham 2 185.19x
Lewisham 2 1.65x
Minskip 2 400.00x
Norwich St Stephen 2 21.23x
Oldham 2 0.78x
Seal 2 54.50x
Shalfleet 2 75.76x
Shipdham 2 57.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 35
Sarah 33
Elizabeth 21
Hannah 14
Ann 13
Ellen 12
Emma 12
Eliza 9
Alice 8
Martha 8
Emily 7
Jane 7
Sophia 7
Annie 6
Fanny 6
Charlotte 5
Frances 5
Maria 5
Amelia 4
Harriet 4
Louisa 4
Susan 4
Ada 3
Agnes 3
Anna 3
Esther 3
Grace 3
Lydia 3
Minnie 3
Bertha 2
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Georgina 2
Harriett 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Louise 2
Lucy 2
M. 2
Mabel 2
Margaret 2
Matilda 2
Maude 2
Rebecca 2
Selina 2
Burdett 1
Emelia 1
Emlia 1
Winnifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 38
William 34
George 28
James 27
Robert 20
Alfred 13
Charles 13
Henry 13
Thomas 10
Edward 8
Walter 8
Albert 7
Arthur 6
Harry 6
Joseph 6
Frederick 5
Fred 4
Richard 4
David 3
Edmund 3
Herbert 3
Samuel 3
Stephen 3
Abraham 2
Ben 2
Edgar 2
Frank 2
Fredrick 2
Horace 2
Jeremiah 2
Joe 2
Joshua 2
Lorenzo 2
Matthew 2
Newton 2
Percy 2
Sam 2
Sydney 2
Wm. 2
Augustus 1
Berthram 1
Bertie 1
Chas. 1
E. 1
Earnest 1
Edwd. 1
Ellis 1
Ernest 1
J.Thra 1
Jane 1

FAQ

Secker surname: questions and answers

How common was the Secker surname in 1881?

In 1881, 704 people were recorded with the Secker surname. That placed it at #5,166 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Secker surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,102 in 2016. That gives Secker a modern rank of #5,336.

What does the Secker surname mean?

An English surname derived from the occupational word for someone who investigated or examined.

What does the Secker map show?

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