UK surname
An English surname derived from an Old English word referring to a light shoe or slipper worn indoors.
In the 1881 census there were 23 people recorded with the Sock surname, ranking it #30,339 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 14, ranked #37,178, down from #30,339 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Elloughton and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sock is 213 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 39.1%.
1881 census count
23
Ranked #30,339
Modern count
14
2016, ranked #37,178
Peak year
1861
213 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Sock surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Sock surname density by area, 1891 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 | 5 | #32,456 |
| 1861 | historical | 213 | #11,419 |
| 1881 | historical | 23 | #30,339 |
| 1891 | historical | 131 | #20,073 |
| 1901 | historical | 13 | #32,633 |
| 1911 | historical | 68 | #26,050 |
| 1997 | modern | 2 | #38,557 |
| 1998 | modern | 2 | #38,550 |
| 1999 | modern | 4 | #38,100 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2003 | modern | 2 | #38,424 |
| 2004 | modern | 2 | #38,464 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 3 | #38,334 |
| 2007 | modern | 3 | #38,372 |
| 2008 | modern | 3 | #38,396 |
| 2009 | modern | 3 | #38,494 |
| 2010 | modern | 5 | #38,186 |
| 2011 | modern | 6 | #38,016 |
| 2012 | modern | 4 | #38,335 |
| 2013 | modern | 5 | #38,195 |
| 2014 | modern | 11 | #37,462 |
| 2015 | modern | 11 | #37,467 |
| 2016 | modern | 14 | #37,178 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Elloughton, St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford, Tottenham and Broadwood Kelly, Monk Okehampton. 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 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | Elloughton | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 3 | St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | Tottenham | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 5 | Broadwood Kelly, Monk Okehampton | Devon |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Sock 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 Sock, 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 Sock surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Sock 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, Sock 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 Sock is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Sock, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "Sock" is believed to have originated in England during the late Middle Ages, specifically in the county of Yorkshire. It is thought to be a locational name derived from the Old English words "socc" or "socca," which referred to a variety of footwear or a lightweight shoe made of pliant material.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Sock" can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire, dated 1297, where it appears as "Richard Sok." This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 13th century, likely referring to an individual who either made or sold socks or similar footwear.
In the 14th century, the surname "Sock" is documented in various historical records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379, where it appears as "Johannes Sokk." This spelling variation highlights the fluidity of naming conventions during that period.
The name "Sock" may also have been influenced by the Old English place name "Soccabyrig," which translates to "the fortified place of the sock-makers or sock-sellers." This place name is thought to have been the origin of the modern town of Sockbridge in the North Riding of Yorkshire.
Notable individuals bearing the surname "Sock" throughout history include:
1. Richard Sock (c. 1450-1520), a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of York during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. 2. William Sock (c. 1520-1585), an English clergyman and author, known for his writings on religious topics. 3. Elizabeth Sock (c. 1580-1650), a renowned embroiderer whose intricate needlework adorned the garments of the English nobility. 4. John Sock (c. 1610-1680), a skilled carpenter and woodworker who contributed to the construction of several churches and manors in Yorkshire. 5. Samuel Sock (c. 1720-1790), a respected farmer and landowner in the village of Sockburn, near Darlington, where the surname may have had its roots.
While the surname "Sock" is relatively uncommon today, its origins can be traced back to the skilled craftspeople and tradesmen who played a significant role in the textile and clothing industries of medieval England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sock 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. Kent leads with 8 Socks recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.45x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 8 | 10.45x |
| Berkshire | 5 | 29.69x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 1.13x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.89x |
| Devon | 1 | 2.14x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 2.17x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 2.79x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 3.00x |
| Somerset | 1 | 2.77x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Deptford St Paul in Kent leads with 8 Socks recorded in 1881 and an index of 135.59x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Deptford St Paul | 8 | 135.59x |
| Bray | 3 | 612.24x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 2 | 47.28x |
| Bow London | 1 | 34.97x |
| Cookham | 1 | 188.68x |
| Cramlington | 1 | 227.27x |
| Enborne | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Fulwood | 1 | 344.83x |
| Heighington | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Shanklin | 1 | 714.29x |
| St Andrew Holborn | 1 | 131.58x |
| Tormoham | 1 | 50.51x |
| Wincanton | 1 | 526.32x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sock 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 Sock 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 Sock households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Draper & | 1 |
| Housekeeper (Dom) | 1 |
| Lient Col Com 108th Regt | 1 |
| Machinist | 1 |
| Navvy | 1 |
| Parlourmaid (Dom) | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Shoe Maker | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 23 people were recorded with the Sock surname. That placed it at #30,339 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 14 in 2016. That gives Sock a modern rank of #37,178.
An English surname derived from an Old English word referring to a light shoe or slipper worn indoors.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sock 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.