NameCensus.

UK surname

Speake

An English surname derived from a Middle English word meaning a spokesman or orator.

In the 1881 census there were 455 people recorded with the Speake surname, ranking it #7,268 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 789, ranked #6,999, up from #7,268 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace, Worthen and Pontesbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Birmingham and Wakefield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Speake is 874 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 73.4%.

1881 census count

455

Ranked #7,268

Modern count

789

2016, ranked #6,999

Peak year

1999

874 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Speake had 455 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,268 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 789 in 2016, ranked #6,999.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 717 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Speake surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Speake surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Speake 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 221 #9,630
1861 historical 209 #11,596
1881 historical 455 #7,268
1891 historical 494 #7,504
1901 historical 616 #6,930
1911 historical 717 #5,963
1997 modern 819 #6,417
1998 modern 843 #6,478
1999 modern 874 #6,351
2000 modern 851 #6,446
2001 modern 833 #6,445
2002 modern 830 #6,581
2003 modern 820 #6,521
2004 modern 820 #6,531
2005 modern 807 #6,572
2006 modern 798 #6,644
2007 modern 799 #6,699
2008 modern 809 #6,681
2009 modern 811 #6,810
2010 modern 812 #6,930
2011 modern 797 #6,974
2012 modern 780 #7,002
2013 modern 781 #7,110
2014 modern 789 #7,086
2015 modern 790 #7,007
2016 modern 789 #6,999

Geography

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Where Speakes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace, Worthen, Pontesbury, Madeley and Baschurch. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Birmingham, Wakefield and Gwynedd. 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 Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace Shropshire
2 Worthen Montgomeryshire
3 Pontesbury Shropshire
4 Madeley Shropshire
5 Baschurch Shropshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 026 Shropshire
2 Shropshire 032 Shropshire
3 Birmingham 126 Birmingham
4 Wakefield 003 Wakefield
5 Gwynedd 016 Gwynedd

Forenames

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First names often paired with Speake

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Speake

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Speake is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Speake 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

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

Meaning and origin of Speake

The surname "SPEAKE" originates from England and dates back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "specan," meaning "to speak" or "to talk." The name was likely initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone who was known for their oratory skills or perhaps a town crier.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "SPEAKE" can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1200, which mention a Robert le Speakere. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 12th or early 13th century.

The surname "SPEAKE" may have also been influenced by various place names in England, such as Speak in Lancashire or Speake in Derbyshire. These place names could have contributed to the formation of the surname or been adopted by individuals who hailed from those locations.

In the 14th century, records show a Henry Speake residing in Gloucestershire, while the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379 mention a John Speke. The variation in spelling was common during this period, as standardized spellings were not yet widely adopted.

One notable figure associated with the surname "SPEAKE" was Sir John Speke (1827-1864), a renowned English explorer who is best known for his extensive travels in Africa. He is credited with being the first European to discover Lake Victoria and the source of the Nile River.

Other historical figures bearing the surname "SPEAKE" include:

1. Thomas Speake (1552-1597), an English churchman and theologian. 2. George Speake (1742-1805), a British watchmaker and inventor known for developing the lever escapement in watches. 3. William Speake (1856-1930), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London. 4. Emily Speake-Lewis (1904-1992), a British artist and illustrator known for her book illustrations and botanical drawings.

While the surname "SPEAKE" is not among the most common surnames in England, it has a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages, with connections to various regions and notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Speake families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Speake 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 243 Speakes recorded in 1881 and an index of 63.23x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 243 63.23x
Lancashire 60 1.14x
Warwickshire 35 3.12x
Middlesex 23 0.52x
Nottinghamshire 15 2.50x
Staffordshire 12 0.80x
Radnorshire 10 27.86x
Yorkshire 10 0.23x
Worcestershire 8 1.38x
Cheshire 7 0.71x
Surrey 7 0.32x
Dorset 6 2.06x
Brecknockshire 3 3.37x
Montgomeryshire 3 2.94x
Flintshire 2 1.67x
Gloucestershire 2 0.23x
Hampshire 2 0.22x
Herefordshire 2 1.10x
Berkshire 1 0.30x
Denbighshire 1 0.60x
Devon 1 0.11x
Hertfordshire 1 0.33x
Merionethshire 1 1.23x
Wiltshire 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Church Stretton in Shropshire leads with 33 Speakes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1279.07x.

Place Total Index
Church Stretton 33 1279.07x
Worthen 24 588.24x
Birmingham 19 5.08x
Baschurch 17 646.39x
St Marylebone London 17 7.16x
Nottingham St Mary 15 9.67x
Shrewsbury St Chad 15 111.19x
Madeley 13 92.26x
Shrewsbury St Mary 12 79.16x
Much Wenlock 11 310.73x
Aston 10 3.24x
Salford 10 6.44x
Welsh Hampton 10 1265.82x
Barrow In Furness 9 12.54x
Bridgnorth St Mary 9 240.00x
Llanbadarnfynydd 9 978.26x
Rushbury 9 1184.21x
Alberbury 8 888.89x
Broseley 8 117.13x
Harpurhey 8 109.14x
The Hill 8 214.48x
Cardington 7 795.45x
Stanton Lacy 7 210.84x
Barrowford Booth 6 102.74x
Leighton 6 1333.33x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 5.96x
Dawley 5 35.77x
Wimborne St Giles 5 724.64x
Worthen Hope 5 617.28x
Accrington 4 8.34x
Battersea 4 2.44x
Bishops Castle Out 4 506.33x
Cheadle 4 21.33x
Clun 4 146.52x
Ellesmere 4 60.61x
Leintwardine 4 215.05x
Little Lever 4 59.26x
N Lydbury 4 268.46x
Wednesbury 4 10.66x
Addingham 3 91.19x
Baddesley Clinton 3 1428.57x
Butterworth 3 23.33x
Harborne 3 6.23x
Hopesay 3 306.12x
Llangattock 3 41.44x
Newton In Makerfield 3 18.56x
Pontesbury 3 64.24x
Wednesfield 3 13.57x
Wellington 3 13.89x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 2 12.49x
Atcham 2 317.46x
Bromborough 2 98.04x
Carisbrooke 2 15.80x
Huyton With Roby 2 32.36x
Lambeth 2 0.52x
Lapworth 2 190.48x
Pontefract 2 21.07x
Spotland 2 3.41x
St George Hanover 2 3.44x
Stottesdon 2 114.94x
Thornbury 2 555.56x
Wistanstow Cheney 2 909.09x
Bennington 1 113.64x
Berrington 1 66.23x
Bersham 1 13.95x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 3.44x
Chirbury 1 44.25x
Clifton 1 2.27x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 4.71x
Hackney London 1 0.40x
Hale 1 29.50x
Hope Bowdler 1 400.00x
Hulme 1 0.91x
Laycock 1 56.18x
Llanycil 1 22.83x
Morden 1 80.65x
Pennant 1 87.72x
Pitchford 1 303.03x
Sedgley 1 1.79x
Stretford 1 3.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 46
Elizabeth 16
Ann 13
Sarah 13
Emma 12
Alice 9
Ellen 9
Hannah 8
Martha 8
Eliza 7
Emily 7
Jane 7
Rose 6
Margaret 5
Annie 4
Maria 4
Agnes 3
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Charlotte 3
Harriet 3
Louisa 3
Fanny 2
Harriett 2
Helen 2
Adeline 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Betrice 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Edna 1
Eleanor 1
Elenor 1
Elizh. 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Harriot 1
Isabella 1
Kate 1
Lillie 1
Lybey 1
Margrate 1
Margt.Eliz. 1
Naomi 1
Patience 1
Rachael 1
Rosina 1
Selina 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 33
Thomas 30
William 30
Edward 15
James 15
Henry 13
George 10
Joseph 8
Samuel 8
Alfred 6
Charles 5
Edwin 5
Richard 5
Arthur 4
Job 4
Francis 3
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
Frank 2
Geo. 2
Humphrey 2
Robert 2
Saml. 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Albert 1
Alfd. 1
Charle 1
Eliza 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Harbert 1
Harry 1
Hezekiah 1
Hill 1
Johnson 1
Jonas 1
Luke 1
Matthew 1
Nathan 1
Reuben 1
Solomon 1
Stephen 1
Thos.Bradford 1
Wilson 1

FAQ

Speake surname: questions and answers

How common was the Speake surname in 1881?

In 1881, 455 people were recorded with the Speake surname. That placed it at #7,268 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Speake surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 789 in 2016. That gives Speake a modern rank of #6,999.

What does the Speake surname mean?

An English surname derived from a Middle English word meaning a spokesman or orator.

What does the Speake map show?

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