NameCensus.

UK surname

Spokes

An English surname derived from the occupation of making spokes for wheels.

In the 1881 census there were 388 people recorded with the Spokes surname, ranking it #8,141 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 762, ranked #7,197, up from #8,141 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Philip and Jacob. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wellingborough, South Tyneside and Ashford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Spokes is 855 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 96.4%.

1881 census count

388

Ranked #8,141

Modern count

762

2016, ranked #7,197

Peak year

2010

855 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Spokes had 388 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,141 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 762 in 2016, ranked #7,197.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 610 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Spokes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Spokes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Spokes 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 232 #9,296
1861 historical 199 #12,062
1881 historical 388 #8,141
1891 historical 446 #8,123
1901 historical 553 #7,500
1911 historical 610 #6,749
1997 modern 795 #6,567
1998 modern 838 #6,510
1999 modern 826 #6,633
2000 modern 825 #6,617
2001 modern 798 #6,662
2002 modern 818 #6,648
2003 modern 784 #6,764
2004 modern 799 #6,680
2005 modern 788 #6,681
2006 modern 784 #6,733
2007 modern 789 #6,765
2008 modern 790 #6,822
2009 modern 817 #6,762
2010 modern 855 #6,657
2011 modern 825 #6,773
2012 modern 767 #7,115
2013 modern 758 #7,282
2014 modern 766 #7,238
2015 modern 776 #7,111
2016 modern 762 #7,197

Geography

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Where Spokes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Philip and Jacob, St Pancras and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wellingborough, South Tyneside, Ashford, Torfaen and Daventry. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wellingborough 008 Wellingborough
2 South Tyneside 015 South Tyneside
3 Ashford 010 Ashford
4 Torfaen 010 Torfaen
5 Daventry 009 Daventry

Forenames

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First names often paired with Spokes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Spokes

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Spokes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Spokes household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Spokes is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Spokes is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Spokes falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Spokes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Spokes

The surname Spokes is believed to have originated in England, likely in the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "spaca," which referred to the spoke of a wheel or a bar used in the construction of objects such as ladders or gates. This suggests that the name may have originated as an occupational surname, given to someone who worked as a wheelwright or carpenter.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Spokes can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a John Spoke is mentioned. This indicates that variations of the name were in use as early as the 14th century. Another early reference is found in the Feet of Fines for Essex from 1428, which includes a record of a William Spokes.

The Spokes surname is also associated with various place names in England, such as Spoke Hill in Derbyshire and Spoke House in Yorkshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and distribution of the surname over time.

Among notable historical figures with the surname Spokes is John Spokes (c.1600-1665), an English silversmith and goldsmith who worked in London during the 17th century. His pieces can be found in various museums and collections around the world. Another individual of note is Thomas Spokes (1763-1842), a British soldier who served in the Napoleonic Wars and was present at the Battle of Waterloo.

In the literary world, Robert Spokes (1835-1895) was an English poet and writer who published several volumes of poetry and prose works in the late 19th century. His most notable work is considered to be "The Younger Son," a collection of poems published in 1887.

Other historical figures with the surname Spokes include William Spokes (1803-1881), a successful businessman and philanthropist in Yorkshire, and Elizabeth Spokes (1788-1856), a British artist known for her landscape paintings and portraits.

While the Spokes surname may not be among the most common in English-speaking countries, it has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval times, with connections to various occupations, places, and notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Spokes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Spokes 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. Northamptonshire leads with 89 Spokes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.94x.

County Total Index
Northamptonshire 89 24.94x
Berkshire 49 17.20x
Middlesex 42 1.11x
Warwickshire 41 4.28x
Oxfordshire 40 17.07x
Cheshire 21 2.51x
Gloucestershire 19 2.55x
Kent 12 0.93x
Yorkshire 11 0.29x
Hertfordshire 9 3.44x
Buckinghamshire 7 3.05x
Midlothian 7 1.38x
Suffolk 6 1.30x
Durham 5 0.44x
Bedfordshire 4 2.04x
Essex 4 0.53x
Surrey 4 0.22x
Derbyshire 3 0.51x
Dorset 3 1.20x
Lincolnshire 3 0.49x
Lancashire 2 0.04x
Leicestershire 2 0.48x
Staffordshire 2 0.16x
Devon 1 0.13x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.33x
Royal Navy 1 2.21x
Wiltshire 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Goring in Oxfordshire leads with 27 Spokes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2014.93x.

Place Total Index
Goring 27 2014.93x
Birmingham 20 6.27x
Northampton St Sepulchre 19 104.63x
Monks Coppenhall 17 53.78x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 15 21.41x
St Pancras London 15 4.91x
Kings Sutton 11 691.82x
White Waltham 11 1028.04x
Reading St Giles 10 35.79x
Deptford St Paul 9 9.01x
Shoreditch London 9 5.47x
Aston 8 3.04x
St Albans St Stephen 8 349.35x
Abingdon St Nicholas 7 886.08x
Oxford St Thomas 7 63.99x
Ratcliffe London 7 33.40x
South Leith 7 12.24x
Wellingborough 7 39.00x
Brington 6 560.75x
Easenhall 6 1818.18x
Hammersmith London 6 6.42x
Ipswich St Clement 6 51.06x
Moulton 6 303.03x
Northampton St Giles 6 44.12x
Abingdon St Helen 5 60.02x
Linthorpe 5 22.28x
Newbury 5 54.82x
Upton 5 531.91x
Weedon Beck 5 195.31x
Barthomley 4 833.33x
Bristol St George 4 11.62x
Ecton 4 500.00x
Floore 4 298.51x
Woodmansey Cum Beverley 4 563.38x
Bilton 3 135.75x
Child Okeford 3 272.73x
Derby St Peter 3 15.86x
Dunstable 3 49.67x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 3 6.14x
Heybridge 3 137.61x
Long Buckby 3 90.91x
Northampton All Sts 3 24.77x
Northampton St Peter 3 138.25x
Brownsover 2 1666.67x
Caversham 2 42.64x
Cholsey 2 88.89x
Cookham 2 22.52x
Cosford 2 3333.33x
East Swallowfield 2 487.80x
Henley On Thames 2 41.67x
Lambeth 2 0.60x
Little Billing 2 2000.00x
Mile End Old Town 2 3.34x
Overstone 2 833.33x
Reading St Mary 2 8.77x
South Shields 2 19.88x
St Maryle Wigford 2 42.46x
Taplow 2 144.93x
Upton Cum Chalvey 2 21.88x
Abington 1 666.67x
Banbury 1 21.32x
Barnsley 1 2.58x
Camberwell 1 0.41x
Canterbury St Mary 1 11.51x
Cheshunt 1 10.94x
Chieveley 1 66.23x
Chiswick 1 4.82x
Devonport 1 11.01x
Duston 1 30.86x
Gilmorton 1 119.05x
Hambleden 1 51.02x
Honley 1 15.20x
Horton 1 89.29x
Huntingdon St John 1 45.87x
Lewisham 1 1.45x
Lichfield St Michael 1 24.88x
Manchester 1 0.49x
Paddington London 1 0.72x
Salisbury The Close 1 121.95x
West Bromwich 1 1.36x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 26
John 24
George 17
Thomas 13
Arthur 7
Henry 7
James 7
Charles 6
Joseph 6
Samuel 5
Peter 4
Stephen 4
Thos. 4
Daniel 3
David 3
Harry 3
Isaac 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Nicholas 2
Wm. 2
Auther 1
Earnest 1
Elliot 1
Enoch 1
Eustie 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Jabez 1
Jessie 1
Leonard 1
Olwen 1
R. 1
Russell 1
Stuart 1
Wilfred 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Spokes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Spokes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 388 people were recorded with the Spokes surname. That placed it at #8,141 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Spokes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 762 in 2016. That gives Spokes a modern rank of #7,197.

What does the Spokes surname mean?

An English surname derived from the occupation of making spokes for wheels.

What does the Spokes map show?

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