UK surname
An occupational surname derived from someone who was a thatcher, someone who thatched roofs.
In the 1881 census there were 15 people recorded with the Shake surname, ranking it #31,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 27, ranked #36,189, down from #31,451 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Tipton otherwise Tibington, London parishes and Haverhill, Little Wratting. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shake is 103 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 80.0%.
1881 census count
15
Ranked #31,451
Modern count
27
2016, ranked #36,189
Peak year
1861
103 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Shake surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Shake 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 | 26 | #28,667 |
| 1861 | historical | 103 | #20,650 |
| 1881 | historical | 15 | #31,451 |
| 1891 | historical | 74 | #27,538 |
| 1901 | historical | 27 | #31,057 |
| 1911 | historical | 39 | #29,025 |
| 1997 | modern | 1 | #38,839 |
| 1998 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 1999 | modern | 2 | #38,551 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 2 | #38,335 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2003 | modern | 4 | #37,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 8 | #37,346 |
| 2005 | modern | 8 | #37,422 |
| 2006 | modern | 6 | #37,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 7 | #37,687 |
| 2008 | modern | 7 | #37,735 |
| 2009 | modern | 12 | #37,230 |
| 2010 | modern | 13 | #37,215 |
| 2011 | modern | 12 | #37,287 |
| 2012 | modern | 18 | #36,723 |
| 2013 | modern | 24 | #36,344 |
| 2014 | modern | 24 | #36,358 |
| 2015 | modern | 23 | #36,424 |
| 2016 | modern | 27 | #36,189 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Tipton otherwise Tibington, London parishes, Haverhill, Little Wratting, St Dunstan Stepney and St Leonard Bromley. 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 | Tipton otherwise Tibington | Staffordshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Haverhill, Little Wratting | Suffolk |
| 4 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | St Leonard Bromley | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Shake 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 Shake, 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 Shake surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Shake 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, Shake 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 Shake is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Shake, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "SHAKE" is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period, likely derived from the Old English word "sceacere," which meant "to shake" or "to brandish." This name was likely initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone who had a shaking or trembling habit, or potentially to a person who wielded a weapon or tool in a shaking or brandishing manner.
In its earliest recorded forms, the name appeared with various spellings, such as "Shak," "Schak," and "Schakk," reflecting the regional dialects and variations in phonetic spelling common in those times. The earliest known record of the surname dates back to the 13th century, when a Robert Schak was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1219.
The Shake surname has been found in various historical records and manuscripts throughout the centuries. One notable example is the Domesday Book, which recorded a Radulfus Scache in Worcestershire in 1086. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296 mentioned a John Shak.
Some of the earliest recorded individuals with the Shake surname include John Shake, a landowner in Warwickshire mentioned in the Feet of Fines records in 1386, and William Shake, a resident of Stratford-upon-Avon, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of 1524. The name may also have been influenced by or derived from place names, such as Shackerstone in Leicestershire or Shackleford in Surrey.
One of the most famous individuals to bear the Shake surname was the renowned English playwright and poet William Shakespeare (1564-1616), whose name was originally spelled "Shake" or "Shackspere" in various contemporary records. Other notable historical figures with this surname include Robert Shake (1592-1678), an English clergyman and author, and John Shake (1725-1792), an English portrait painter.
The Shake surname has also been found in other parts of Europe, such as Germany and the Netherlands, where it may have originated from similar linguistic roots or been adopted by English immigrants. Examples include Johann Shake (1600-1668), a German theologian and writer, and Pieter Shake (1651-1710), a Dutch painter.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shake 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. Middlesex leads with 9 Shakes recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.16x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 9 | 6.16x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 4.06x |
| Surrey | 2 | 2.81x |
| Essex | 1 | 3.47x |
| Kent | 1 | 2.01x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kensington London in Middlesex leads with 3 Shakes recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.95x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kensington London | 3 | 36.95x |
| Bermondsey | 2 | 45.98x |
| Mile End Old Town | 2 | 86.58x |
| Tipton | 2 | 132.45x |
| Bow London | 1 | 53.76x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 22.73x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 12.21x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 18.62x |
| Tonbridge | 1 | 55.56x |
| West Ham | 1 | 15.70x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Shake 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 Shake 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 Shake households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Assistant (Uphol) | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Dom Servant | 1 |
| Dyers Servant | 1 |
| Gen Dom Serv | 1 |
| Gen Labourer | 1 |
| Gen Servant | 1 |
| Kitchenmaid Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Lab (Gas Works) | 1 |
| Mat Maker | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 15 people were recorded with the Shake surname. That placed it at #31,451 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 27 in 2016. That gives Shake a modern rank of #36,189.
An occupational surname derived from someone who was a thatcher, someone who thatched roofs.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Shake 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.