NameCensus.

UK surname

Silcock

A locative surname derived from a place name containing "silk" and "cock," likely referring to a silk-worker or merchant.

In the 1881 census there were 1,254 people recorded with the Silcock surname, ranking it #3,242 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,687, ranked #3,711, down from #3,242 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Brampton, Wigan and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Lancashire, Barnsley and Chesterfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Silcock is 1,934 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.5%.

1881 census count

1,254

Ranked #3,242

Modern count

1,687

2016, ranked #3,711

Peak year

1999

1,934 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Silcock had 1,254 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,242 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,687 in 2016, ranked #3,711.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,620 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Silcock surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Silcock surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Silcock 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 803 #3,334
1861 historical 822 #3,352
1881 historical 1,254 #3,242
1891 historical 1,354 #3,213
1901 historical 1,619 #3,192
1911 historical 1,620 #2,996
1997 modern 1,859 #3,243
1998 modern 1,917 #3,266
1999 modern 1,934 #3,264
2000 modern 1,930 #3,258
2001 modern 1,884 #3,258
2002 modern 1,874 #3,343
2003 modern 1,810 #3,378
2004 modern 1,812 #3,374
2005 modern 1,755 #3,445
2006 modern 1,765 #3,434
2007 modern 1,791 #3,421
2008 modern 1,782 #3,462
2009 modern 1,798 #3,511
2010 modern 1,838 #3,506
2011 modern 1,815 #3,510
2012 modern 1,716 #3,615
2013 modern 1,736 #3,637
2014 modern 1,736 #3,655
2015 modern 1,706 #3,668
2016 modern 1,687 #3,711

Geography

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Where Silcocks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Brampton, Wigan, Manchester, Chesterfield and West Kirby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Lancashire, Barnsley, Chesterfield, Chorley and Wigan. 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 Brampton Derbyshire
2 Wigan Lancashire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Chesterfield Derbyshire
5 West Kirby Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Lancashire 003 West Lancashire
2 Barnsley 020 Barnsley
3 Chesterfield 013 Chesterfield
4 Chorley 011 Chorley
5 Wigan 018 Wigan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Silcock

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Silcock

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Silcock, 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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Silcock surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Silcock 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Silcock 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

Silcock is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Silcock falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Silcock

The surname Silcock is of English origin, with its roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the village of Silksworth in County Durham, which was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Silceswrde."

This place name is derived from the Old English words "silk" and "worth," meaning a silkworker's farm or enclosure. The surname Silcock likely emerged as a habitational name for someone who hailed from Silksworth or a similar place.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1273, where it appears as "Selcok." This variation in spelling was common during the Middle Ages before standardized spelling became widespread.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as "Sylcok" and "Silcok," reflecting the regional dialects and scribal variations of the time. By the 15th century, the spelling had evolved closer to its modern form, with examples like "Sylcock" and "Silcok" appearing in historical records.

One notable bearer of the Silcock surname was John Silcock, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of York during the late 16th century. He was actively involved in the city's governance and served as Lord Mayor of York in 1592.

Another historical figure was Thomas Silcock, a clergyman who lived in the 17th century. Born in 1624, he served as the Rector of Sutton-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire and was known for his religious writings and sermons.

In the 18th century, the surname gained further recognition with the birth of Richard Silcock in 1737. He was a noted architect and surveyor who designed several significant buildings in Nottinghamshire, including the Nottingham Trent Bridge and the Nottingham Workhouse.

The Silcock name also has connections to the industrial revolution, with William Silcock (1790-1867) being a prominent industrialist and engineer. He was a pioneer in the development of steam engines and contributed significantly to the advancement of the textile industry in Lancashire.

Finally, one cannot overlook the literary significance of the surname, as it was borne by the acclaimed British author and poet, Arthur Silcock (1857-1923). He was widely recognized for his works exploring themes of nature and rural life in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Silcock families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Silcock 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 524 Silcocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.61x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 524 3.61x
Derbyshire 153 7.99x
Yorkshire 152 1.25x
Cheshire 56 2.07x
Middlesex 54 0.44x
Essex 51 2.11x
Stirlingshire 44 9.75x
Norfolk 24 1.28x
Nottinghamshire 24 1.46x
Surrey 24 0.40x
Durham 22 0.60x
Leicestershire 18 1.33x
Monmouthshire 17 1.92x
Suffolk 17 1.14x
Staffordshire 11 0.27x
Kent 10 0.24x
Hertfordshire 9 1.07x
Cambridgeshire 7 0.90x
Glamorgan 5 0.23x
Somerset 5 0.25x
Worcestershire 5 0.31x
Flintshire 4 1.22x
Cardiganshire 3 1.01x
Gloucestershire 3 0.13x
Berkshire 2 0.22x
Dorset 2 0.25x
Warwickshire 2 0.06x
Wiltshire 2 0.18x
Hampshire 1 0.04x
Isle of Man 1 0.44x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Shropshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hulme in Lancashire leads with 33 Silcocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.89x.

Place Total Index
Hulme 33 10.89x
Aspull 31 90.80x
Chesterfield 31 43.18x
Leeds 28 4.09x
Larbert 26 96.40x
Pemberton 25 43.19x
Ashton Under Lyne 24 7.57x
Hoose 23 454.55x
Croston 22 293.33x
Salford 22 5.15x
Barking 21 29.72x
Brampton 21 78.45x
Sheffield 21 5.44x
Billinge Higher End 19 323.13x
Everton 18 3.89x
Falkirk 18 17.04x
Hunslet 18 9.52x
Preston 17 4.38x
Wigan 16 7.89x
Dronfield 14 57.05x
Westhoughton 14 36.14x
West Derby 13 3.06x
Barlow 12 311.69x
Blackburn 12 3.11x
Gateshead 12 4.40x
Holbeck 12 14.94x
Leyland 12 47.52x
Upper Hallam 12 113.96x
Euxton 11 228.22x
Trevethin 11 13.17x
Whittington 11 41.51x
Coal Aston 10 303.03x
Disley Stanley 10 71.94x
Nether Hallam 10 6.10x
Newbold Dunston 10 54.95x
Orrell 10 55.40x
Royton 10 22.52x
Skelmersdale 10 41.34x
Speke 10 465.12x
Warrington 10 5.81x
Wimbledon 10 14.94x
Bromley London 9 3.34x
Doveridge 9 309.28x
Lambeth 9 0.84x
Leicester St Margaret 9 2.72x
Liverpool 9 1.02x
Marston Montgomery 9 559.01x
Ratby 9 132.35x
Spotland 9 5.58x
Tarleton 9 112.78x
Billinge Chapel End 8 98.28x
Eccleston In Prescot 8 10.98x
Ipswich St Clement 8 21.12x
Kensington London 8 1.18x
Martham 8 173.91x
Moss Side 8 10.47x
Staveley 8 23.53x
Barrow In Furness 7 3.55x
Barton Turf 7 476.19x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 7 20.72x
Golborne 7 37.00x
Holmesfield 7 339.81x
Liversedge 7 12.97x
Mansfield 7 12.27x
Nottingham St Mary 7 1.64x
Parr 7 13.48x
St Bartholomew Less 7 111.29x
Beckenham 6 11.00x
Bootle Cum Linacre 6 5.21x
Brereton Cum Smethwick 6 233.46x
Brightside Bierlow 6 2.52x
Chipping Ongar 6 144.58x
Chorley 6 7.37x
Gorleston 6 15.85x
Habergham Eaves 6 4.52x
Kirkham 6 31.27x
St Botolph Aldgate 6 35.93x
St Pancras London 6 0.61x
Thornton In Fylde 6 18.89x
West Ham 6 1.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 75
Elizabeth 48
Ellen 43
Sarah 40
Alice 33
Ann 24
Jane 24
Margaret 22
Annie 15
Eliza 14
Hannah 14
Emma 12
Martha 10
Catherine 9
Harriet 9
Ada 8
Anne 8
Caroline 8
Emily 8
Louisa 7
Florence 6
Charlotte 5
Elizth. 5
Esther 5
Isabella 5
Clara 4
Lucy 4
Lydia 4
Susan 4
Agnes 3
Amelia 3
Cicely 3
Harriett 3
Jessie 3
Julia 3
Minnie 3
Susannah 3
Anna 2
Barbara 2
Bertha 2
Betsy 2
Elizebeth 2
Eva 2
Fanny 2
Helen 2
Janet 2
Lettice 2
Maria 2
Nancy 2
Nanny 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 77
William 77
Thomas 48
Robert 37
James 34
George 30
Henry 28
Joseph 23
Charles 22
Edward 14
Arthur 12
Harry 11
Richard 11
Alfred 10
Samuel 9
Walter 8
David 6
Ernest 6
Frank 6
Frederick 6
Thos. 6
Benjamin 5
Geo. 5
Wm. 5
Albert 4
Fred 4
Nathan 4
Boardman 3
Chas. 3
Herbert 3
Lawrence 3
Peter 3
Reginald 3
Sam 3
Tom 3
Aaron 2
Abraham 2
Elijah 2
Hy. 2
Jacob 2
Jno. 2
Job 2
Joshua 2
Mark 2
Matthew 2
Philips 2
Sidney 2
Willm. 2
Caleb 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Silcock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Silcock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,254 people were recorded with the Silcock surname. That placed it at #3,242 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Silcock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,687 in 2016. That gives Silcock a modern rank of #3,711.

What does the Silcock surname mean?

A locative surname derived from a place name containing "silk" and "cock," likely referring to a silk-worker or merchant.

What does the Silcock map show?

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