NameCensus.

UK surname

Shuker

A surname derived from an occupational term for a shoe-maker or cobbler.

In the 1881 census there were 559 people recorded with the Shuker surname, ranking it #6,192 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 794, ranked #6,962, down from #6,192 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Kingswinford and Audlem. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include High Peak, St. Helens and Shropshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shuker is 936 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.0%.

1881 census count

559

Ranked #6,192

Modern count

794

2016, ranked #6,962

Peak year

1911

936 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shuker had 559 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,192 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 794 in 2016, ranked #6,962.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 936 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Shuker surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shuker surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shuker 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 362 #6,537
1861 historical 311 #8,151
1881 historical 559 #6,192
1891 historical 595 #6,431
1901 historical 818 #5,518
1911 historical 936 #4,799
1997 modern 795 #6,567
1998 modern 843 #6,478
1999 modern 853 #6,464
2000 modern 830 #6,581
2001 modern 823 #6,505
2002 modern 842 #6,510
2003 modern 824 #6,494
2004 modern 795 #6,703
2005 modern 774 #6,783
2006 modern 775 #6,801
2007 modern 779 #6,839
2008 modern 783 #6,875
2009 modern 816 #6,775
2010 modern 827 #6,838
2011 modern 829 #6,743
2012 modern 789 #6,917
2013 modern 808 #6,892
2014 modern 813 #6,892
2015 modern 793 #6,987
2016 modern 794 #6,962

Geography

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Where Shukers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Kingswinford, Audlem, Dudley and Shiffnal. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to High Peak, St. Helens, Shropshire and Sandwell. 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 Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors Shropshire
2 Kingswinford Worcestershire
3 Audlem Cheshire
4 Dudley Staffordshire
5 Shiffnal Shropshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 High Peak 008 High Peak
2 St. Helens 022 St. Helens
3 Shropshire 028 Shropshire
4 Sandwell 014 Sandwell
5 Shropshire 026 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shuker

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shuker

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Shuker is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Shuker is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Shuker falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Shuker

The surname Shuker has its roots in the Middle English era, originating in England during the 13th century. It is believed to be an occupational name derived from the Old English word "scoker," which referred to a maker or seller of footwear, particularly shoes. The name's earliest recorded appearance dates back to 1273 in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, where a Richard le Shuker was listed.

During the late medieval period, the name Shuker was prevalent in the counties of Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Gloucestershire. It appeared in various spellings, such as Shukker, Shukur, and Shucar, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in those times. The earliest known bearer of the name was John Shuker, born around 1420 in Oxfordshire, who was a shoemaker by trade.

In the 16th century, the Shuker surname gained prominence in the town of Burford, Oxfordshire, where several families bearing the name were recorded in the parish registers. One notable individual was William Shuker, born in 1565, who served as a churchwarden and was a respected member of the community.

The Shuker name also appeared in historical records related to land ownership and taxation. In the 1674 Hearth Tax Returns for Oxfordshire, a Thomas Shuker was listed as a householder in the village of Chadlington. Additionally, the Shuker surname was mentioned in the Enclosure Acts of the 18th century, which documented the division and redistribution of common lands in various parishes.

Throughout history, the Shuker surname has been associated with several notable individuals. One of the earliest was John Shuker, born in 1625 in Gloucestershire, who was a renowned clockmaker and is credited with creating some of the finest clocks of the 17th century. Another prominent figure was Sir William Shuker (1790-1867), a British naval officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became an influential member of Parliament.

In the literary world, the Shuker surname gained recognition through the works of author and naturalist Karl Shuker, born in 1959, who is best known for his research on cryptozoology and his books exploring the existence of undiscovered animal species. Additionally, the name has been carried by notable figures in various fields, such as Dr. Elizabeth Shuker (1907-1992), a pioneering medical researcher in the field of immunology, and Sir Robert Shuker (1925-2011), a distinguished British architect who designed numerous iconic buildings.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shuker families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shuker 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. Shropshire leads with 248 Shukers recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.64x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 248 52.64x
Staffordshire 85 4.62x
Cheshire 51 4.24x
Worcestershire 26 3.65x
Warwickshire 24 1.75x
Yorkshire 22 0.41x
Middlesex 16 0.29x
Herefordshire 14 6.26x
Lancashire 12 0.19x
Surrey 10 0.38x
Montgomeryshire 9 7.20x
Derbyshire 8 0.94x
Denbighshire 5 2.43x
Durham 5 0.31x
Glamorgan 5 0.53x
Lanarkshire 5 0.28x
Monmouthshire 4 1.01x
Suffolk 4 0.60x
Flintshire 2 1.36x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.45x
Gloucestershire 1 0.09x
Hampshire 1 0.09x
Kent 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Drayton In Hales in Shropshire leads with 42 Shukers recorded in 1881 and an index of 432.54x.

Place Total Index
Drayton In Hales 42 432.54x
Kingswinford 28 41.90x
Audlem 25 880.28x
Wrockwardine 22 212.36x
Chirbury 18 647.48x
Dawley 17 99.18x
Shifnal 16 125.10x
Hasbury 13 278.97x
Aston 11 2.91x
West Bromwich 11 10.44x
Kensington London 9 2.97x
Stoke Upon Tern 9 517.24x
Birmingham 8 1.75x
Burslem 8 15.17x
Church Pulverbach 8 1066.67x
Churchstoke 8 338.98x
Congleton 8 38.46x
Egton 8 337.55x
Norbury 8 1142.86x
Stoke Upon Trent 8 4.10x
Childs Ercall 7 853.66x
Halesowen 7 112.00x
Sheriff Hales 7 372.34x
Shoreditch London 7 2.96x
Whitwell 7 205.88x
Wolverhampton 7 4.95x
Edgmond 6 115.61x
Shobdon 6 845.07x
Wombridge 6 103.09x
Atcham 5 649.35x
Barony 5 1.12x
Berrington 5 270.27x
Brightside Bierlow 5 4.72x
Clapham 5 7.33x
Halford 5 1086.96x
Haslington 5 147.49x
Newington 5 2.48x
Roath 5 11.60x
Rodington 5 675.68x
Tudhoe 5 35.24x
Whitchurch 5 54.70x
Aberystruth 4 11.51x
Canon Pyon 4 305.34x
Ercall Magna 4 118.69x
Mucklestone 4 225.99x
Normanton 4 24.63x
Prees 4 69.69x
Ratlinghope 4 800.00x
Rotherham 4 13.13x
Sedgley 4 5.85x
Shavington Cum Gresty 4 201.01x
Sproughton 4 344.83x
Tottington Lower End 4 13.01x
Tupsley 4 210.53x
Wrexham Regis 4 26.14x
Bayton 3 379.75x
Bishops Castle In 3 109.09x
Coleshill 3 68.03x
Great Crosby 3 17.01x
Hodnet 3 81.52x
Lilleshall 3 41.67x
Mindtown 3 4285.71x
Monks Coppenhall 3 6.61x
N Lydbury 3 163.93x
Shrewsbury St Chad 3 18.15x
Shrewsbury St Julian 3 25.75x
Wellington 3 11.33x
Bolas Magna 2 350.88x
Bury 2 2.71x
Leek Lowe 2 8.17x
Lt Wenlock 2 192.31x
Middleton Scriven 2 1176.47x
Munslow 2 175.44x
Oswestry Town 2 13.25x
Rhuddlan 2 15.50x
Rugeley 2 15.14x
Shawbury 2 110.50x
Utkinton 2 206.19x
Wem 2 28.53x
Wolstanton Knutton 2 17.79x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 38
William 36
Thomas 28
George 22
Joseph 12
Samuel 11
Edward 10
Henry 9
James 8
Alfred 7
Frederick 6
Arthur 5
Charles 5
Edwin 5
Richard 5
Robert 4
Walter 4
Ebenezer 3
Ernest 3
Herbert 3
Langley 3
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Gorge 2
Isaac 2
J. 2
Moses 2
Noah 2
Reuben 2
Thos. 2
Auther 1
Chas. 1
Clemart 1
David 1
Donald 1
Elijah 1
Enoch 1
Fredrick 1
Laurie 1
Levi 1
Lourge 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Richd. 1
Samson 1
Sarah 1
Squire 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Shuker surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shuker surname in 1881?

In 1881, 559 people were recorded with the Shuker surname. That placed it at #6,192 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shuker surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 794 in 2016. That gives Shuker a modern rank of #6,962.

What does the Shuker surname mean?

A surname derived from an occupational term for a shoe-maker or cobbler.

What does the Shuker map show?

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