NameCensus.

UK surname

Silke

Surname denoting one who dealt in silk or a silk worker.

In the 1881 census there were 92 people recorded with the Silke surname, ranking it #20,709 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 101, ranked #30,929, down from #20,709 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Loughborough and Bridgwater, Goathurst, Durleigh, Wembdon, Chilton Trinity. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Birmingham, Winchester and Merton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Silke is 115 in 2004. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.8%.

1881 census count

92

Ranked #20,709

Modern count

101

2016, ranked #30,929

Peak year

2004

115 bearers

Map years

5

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Silke had 92 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,709 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016, ranked #30,929.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 103 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Silke surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Silke surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Silke 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 72 #20,720
1861 historical 103 #20,650
1881 historical 92 #20,709
1891 historical 100 #24,045
1901 historical 84 #24,759
1911 historical 76 #25,221
1997 modern 104 #26,351
1998 modern 103 #27,141
1999 modern 111 #26,182
2000 modern 95 #28,441
2001 modern 94 #28,246
2002 modern 107 #26,849
2003 modern 111 #26,091
2004 modern 115 #25,740
2005 modern 101 #27,854
2006 modern 106 #27,332
2007 modern 103 #28,187
2008 modern 108 #27,684
2009 modern 108 #28,311
2010 modern 110 #28,666
2011 modern 99 #30,218
2012 modern 100 #30,258
2013 modern 105 #29,916
2014 modern 103 #30,539
2015 modern 108 #29,512
2016 modern 101 #30,929

Geography

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Where Silkes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Loughborough, Bridgwater, Goathurst, Durleigh, Wembdon, Chilton Trinity and Spaxton, Asholt, Over Stowey, Nether Stowey, Fiddington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Birmingham, Winchester, Merton, Carmarthenshire and Wandsworth. 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 Loughborough Leicestershire
3 Bridgwater, Goathurst, Durleigh, Wembdon, Chilton Trinity Somerset
4 Spaxton, Asholt, Over Stowey, Nether Stowey, Fiddington Somerset
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Birmingham 056 Birmingham
2 Winchester 006 Winchester
3 Merton 005 Merton
4 Carmarthenshire 017 Carmarthenshire
5 Wandsworth 034 Wandsworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Silke

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Silke

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Silke surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Silke 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Silke is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Silke is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Silke falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Silke is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Silke

The surname Silke has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged during the medieval period. The name is derived from the Old High German word "silc," meaning "silk," suggesting that the family's ancestors may have been involved in the silk trade or industry.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, where a certain "Henricus Silke" is mentioned in a document dated 1292.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various records from the region around the city of Aachen, near the border with the Netherlands. A notable figure from this time is Johannes Silke, a successful merchant and landowner who lived from circa 1330 to 1395.

As the Silke family spread throughout Germany, different regional variations of the spelling emerged, such asSilke, Silcke, and Sillke. In the 16th century, the name is found in records from the city of Magdeburg, where a certain Hans Silke (1512-1587) was a respected member of the local guild of weavers.

The name also gained prominence in the 18th century, with the birth of the philosopher and writer Johann Julius Silke (1721-1798), whose works on ethics and education were widely read in his time.

Another notable bearer of the name was Karl Friedrich Silke (1789-1861), a German military officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a respected military historian and author.

Throughout its history, the surname Silke has been associated with various professions, from merchants and artisans to scholars and military figures, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of those who have carried this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Silke families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Silke 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. Somerset leads with 46 Silkes recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.84x.

County Total Index
Somerset 46 31.84x
Devon 10 5.35x
Middlesex 10 1.11x
Leicestershire 9 9.05x
Glamorgan 4 2.56x
Gloucestershire 2 1.14x
Hampshire 2 1.09x
Lancashire 2 0.19x
Staffordshire 2 0.66x
Sussex 2 1.32x
Kent 1 0.33x
Wiltshire 1 1.26x
Yorkshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bridgewater in Somerset leads with 12 Silkes recorded in 1881 and an index of 306.12x.

Place Total Index
Bridgewater 12 306.12x
Otterhampton 11 15714.29x
Loughborough 9 199.12x
Cannington 8 1860.47x
Stoke Lane 7 3333.33x
Abbotsham 5 3571.43x
Merthyr Tydfil 4 26.63x
Bideford 3 150.00x
Chelsea London 3 11.09x
Islington London 3 3.45x
Stockland Bristol 3 5000.00x
Clifton 2 22.47x
Handsworth 2 26.77x
Nether Stowey 2 869.57x
Ringwood 2 169.49x
Axminster 1 113.64x
Brighton 1 3.28x
Broadwater 1 28.82x
Everton 1 2.95x
Fiddington 1 1428.57x
Honiton 1 97.09x
Lee 1 22.47x
Nether Hallam 1 8.31x
Salisbury St Martin 1 120.48x
Shepton Mallet 1 61.73x
St Botolph Aldersgate 1 97.09x
St George Bloomsbury 1 19.42x
St Marylebone London 1 2.09x
Stogursey 1 256.41x
West Derby 1 3.21x
Westminster St 1 30.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Sarah 4
Elizabeth 3
Ellen 3
Anne 2
Arabella 2
Emily 2
Harriet 2
Jane 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Catherine 1
Clarissa 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.J. 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Herminoy 1
Isabel 1
Julia 1
Lottie 1
Martha 1
Rosina 1
Salome 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Treasa 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Silke surname: questions and answers

How common was the Silke surname in 1881?

In 1881, 92 people were recorded with the Silke surname. That placed it at #20,709 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Silke surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016. That gives Silke a modern rank of #30,929.

What does the Silke surname mean?

Surname denoting one who dealt in silk or a silk worker.

What does the Silke map show?

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