NameCensus.

UK surname

Speak

An English surname derived from the verb "to speak", possibly referring to an orator or spokesperson.

In the 1881 census there were 1,040 people recorded with the Speak surname, ranking it #3,776 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 874, ranked #6,431, down from #3,776 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Bradford and Keighley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hyndburn, Calderdale and Chorley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Speak is 1,285 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 16.0%.

1881 census count

1,040

Ranked #3,776

Modern count

874

2016, ranked #6,431

Peak year

1911

1,285 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Speak had 1,040 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,776 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 874 in 2016, ranked #6,431.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,285 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Speak surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Speak surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Speak 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 811 #3,310
1861 historical 922 #3,010
1881 historical 1,040 #3,776
1891 historical 1,126 #3,770
1901 historical 1,195 #4,117
1911 historical 1,285 #3,707
1997 modern 942 #5,755
1998 modern 945 #5,932
1999 modern 960 #5,906
2000 modern 939 #5,983
2001 modern 935 #5,890
2002 modern 944 #5,958
2003 modern 934 #5,916
2004 modern 911 #6,034
2005 modern 880 #6,123
2006 modern 887 #6,106
2007 modern 888 #6,146
2008 modern 893 #6,158
2009 modern 925 #6,128
2010 modern 937 #6,183
2011 modern 924 #6,199
2012 modern 895 #6,274
2013 modern 913 #6,284
2014 modern 893 #6,408
2015 modern 878 #6,430
2016 modern 874 #6,431

Geography

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Where Speaks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Bradford, Keighley, Bolton-le-Moors and Whalley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hyndburn, Calderdale, Chorley, Bolton and Ribble Valley. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Keighley Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
5 Whalley Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hyndburn 001 Hyndburn
2 Calderdale 007 Calderdale
3 Chorley 014 Chorley
4 Bolton 009 Bolton
5 Ribble Valley 002 Ribble Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Speak

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Speak

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Speak surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Speak household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Speak 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

Speak is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Speak 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 Speak 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 Speak, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Speak

The surname "Speak" is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "specan," which means "to speak" or "to utter words." This surname likely originated as a descriptive nickname for someone known for their eloquence, verbal skills, or profession involving public speaking.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273, where it was spelled as "le Specke." This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296, where a certain William le Speek is mentioned. This document provides valuable insight into the geographic distribution of the name during that period.

The Speak surname has also been linked to several place names in England, such as Speakhill in Gloucestershire and Speakland in Lancashire. These place names may have influenced the surname's development or served as a source for its adoption by individuals residing in those areas.

Among notable individuals with the Speak surname, one can mention John Speak (1621-1699), an English Puritan minister known for his nonconformist beliefs and writings. Another prominent figure was William Speak (1825-1890), a British politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the South Derbyshire constituency.

In the literary realm, the surname is associated with Mary Speak (1836-1898), an English novelist and writer of children's books, whose works include "The Story of Wandering Willie" and "The Last of the Bredalbanes."

The Speak surname has also been carried by individuals in various fields, such as Thomas Speak (1798-1871), a British architect known for his work on several churches in Derbyshire, and Sir John Speak (1880-1957), a British businessman and philanthropist who served as the Lord Mayor of London from 1938 to 1939.

While these examples illustrate the historical presence and significance of the Speak surname, it is important to note that the name's origins and evolution may have varied across different regions and time periods, reflecting the rich tapestry of linguistic and cultural influences that have shaped surnames over centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Speak families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Speak 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. Yorkshire leads with 491 Speaks recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.87x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 491 4.87x
Lancashire 380 3.15x
Shropshire 40 4.55x
Staffordshire 35 1.02x
Warwickshire 22 0.86x
Worcestershire 16 1.21x
Middlesex 14 0.14x
Cheshire 12 0.53x
Cumberland 6 0.69x
Kent 4 0.12x
Northumberland 4 0.26x
Wiltshire 4 0.45x
Durham 3 0.10x
Lanarkshire 2 0.06x
Midlothian 2 0.15x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.24x
Flintshire 1 0.37x
Glamorgan 1 0.06x
Gloucestershire 1 0.05x
Herefordshire 1 0.24x
Royal Navy 1 0.83x
Surrey 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blackrod in Lancashire leads with 48 Speaks recorded in 1881 and an index of 320.21x.

Place Total Index
Blackrod 48 320.21x
Keighley 45 41.92x
Clitheroe 40 112.68x
Sowerby In Halifax 38 115.36x
Habergham Eaves 35 31.75x
Halifax 30 20.29x
Stansfield 28 75.53x
Great Little Marsden 26 47.06x
Ovenden 24 53.54x
Heptonstall 23 162.77x
Barrowford Booth 22 164.79x
Hipperholme Cum 21 47.45x
Accrington 19 17.33x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 17 138.44x
Thornton In Craven 16 198.02x
Haworth 15 62.66x
Todmorden Walsden 15 46.43x
Manningham 14 11.28x
Lower Booths 13 60.16x
Manchester 13 2.40x
Wiswell 13 505.84x
Birmingham 12 1.40x
Wolverhampton 12 4.55x
Burnley 11 10.83x
Ecclesall Bierlow 11 5.37x
Erringden 11 168.97x
Higham With West Close 11 421.46x
Darlaston 10 21.09x
Great Bolton 10 6.26x
Northowram 10 14.16x
Padiham 10 34.32x
Skircoat 10 25.18x
Aldfield 9 2045.45x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 9 24.60x
Barnoldswick 9 64.01x
Bradford 9 3.69x
Brinnington 9 42.94x
Elton 9 21.60x
Warley 9 30.92x
Wednesfield 9 17.83x
Colne 8 22.27x
Rothwell 8 39.33x
Aston 7 0.99x
Chorley 7 10.34x
Elland Cum Greetland 7 15.43x
Ellesmere 7 46.42x
Hackney London 7 1.23x
Kirkdale 7 3.45x
Langfield 7 39.73x
Shipley 7 13.39x
Shrewsbury St Julian 7 32.21x
Worthen 7 75.03x
Blackburn 6 1.87x
Bretforton 6 304.57x
Farnley In Bramley 6 47.73x
Glusburn 6 105.45x
Horton In Bradford 6 3.81x
Little Bolton 6 3.87x
Middleton In Oldham 6 16.59x
Penrith 6 18.56x
Wakefield 6 7.76x
West Ardsley 6 49.51x
Brogden With Admirgill 5 1315.79x
Clayton Le Moors 5 21.37x
Holy Trinity 5 2.06x
Hook 5 22.56x
Moston 5 41.32x
Newchurch 5 5.07x
Norland 5 72.36x
Roystone 5 126.90x
Westbury 5 110.38x
Withnell 5 67.57x
Beeston 4 39.25x
Elswick 4 3.31x
Heaton Norris 4 5.83x
Huddersfield 4 2.73x
Lytham 4 21.73x
Madeley 4 12.42x
Rishton 4 28.27x
Worcester St Nicholas 4 63.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 81
Sarah 61
Elizabeth 35
Ellen 30
Ann 26
Alice 25
Emma 18
Jane 17
Hannah 15
Margaret 14
Annie 13
Martha 13
Emily 8
Eliza 7
Harriet 7
Nancy 7
Ada 6
Betty 6
Catherine 6
Grace 6
Ruth 6
Clara 5
Edith 5
Fanny 4
Margt. 4
Maria 4
Betsy 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Susan 3
Susannah 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Bertha 2
Caroline 2
Isabella 2
Laura 2
Leah 2
Lizzie 2
Lucy 2
Margt.A. 2
Minnie 2
Nelly 2
Catharine 1
Elizebth 1
Emiley 1
Emmerline 1
Esther 1
Joanna 1
Julia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 99
William 73
Thomas 43
James 35
Joseph 21
Henry 17
Samuel 14
Arthur 13
Robert 13
Richard 12
George 9
Edwin 8
Walter 8
Harry 7
Herbert 7
David 6
Mark 6
Jonathan 5
Abraham 4
Charles 4
Fred 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Ellis 3
Wilson 3
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
Edward 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Joe 2
Jonas 2
Paul 2
Savannah 2
Shadrach 2
Simeon 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Allen 1
Cephas 1
Eli 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Jabez 1
Jas. 1
Jas.L. 1
Jeremiah 1
Jno. 1
Young 1

FAQ

Speak surname: questions and answers

How common was the Speak surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,040 people were recorded with the Speak surname. That placed it at #3,776 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Speak surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 874 in 2016. That gives Speak a modern rank of #6,431.

What does the Speak surname mean?

An English surname derived from the verb "to speak", possibly referring to an orator or spokesperson.

What does the Speak map show?

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