NameCensus.

UK surname

Stack

An occupational surname referring to a person who lives near or works with haystacks or stacks of grain.

In the 1881 census there were 618 people recorded with the Stack surname, ranking it #5,698 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,320, ranked #4,547, up from #5,698 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chesterfield, Bradford and Comely Bank.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stack is 1,380 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 113.6%.

1881 census count

618

Ranked #5,698

Modern count

1,320

2016, ranked #4,547

Peak year

1999

1,380 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stack had 618 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,698 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,320 in 2016, ranked #4,547.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 651 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Stack surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stack surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stack 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 301 #7,626
1861 historical 465 #5,591
1881 historical 618 #5,698
1891 historical 651 #5,962
1901 historical 539 #7,632
1911 historical 579 #7,023
1997 modern 1,340 #4,293
1998 modern 1,367 #4,358
1999 modern 1,380 #4,354
2000 modern 1,362 #4,398
2001 modern 1,329 #4,404
2002 modern 1,355 #4,416
2003 modern 1,243 #4,660
2004 modern 1,258 #4,619
2005 modern 1,235 #4,647
2006 modern 1,219 #4,716
2007 modern 1,255 #4,639
2008 modern 1,260 #4,639
2009 modern 1,295 #4,623
2010 modern 1,317 #4,654
2011 modern 1,304 #4,628
2012 modern 1,312 #4,535
2013 modern 1,332 #4,553
2014 modern 1,338 #4,555
2015 modern 1,332 #4,536
2016 modern 1,320 #4,547

Geography

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Where Stacks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Liverpool and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chesterfield, Bradford, Comely Bank and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chesterfield 013 Chesterfield
2 Bradford 011 Bradford
3 Comely Bank City of Edinburgh
4 Kensington and Chelsea 007 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Kensington and Chelsea 004 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stack

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stack

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Stack, 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 Stack surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Stack 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Stack 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

Stack 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

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

Meaning and origin of Stack

The surname STACK is of English origin, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "stac", which means a stack or pile, referring to a person who lived near a prominent stack or pile of something, such as hay or wood.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname STACK can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire and the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, both from the late 12th century. These records include references to individuals with the surnames "de la Stache" and "atte Stake".

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname STACK was William atte Stake, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327. Another early bearer of the name was John del Stak, recorded in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332.

In the 15th century, the surname STACK appeared in various spellings, such as "Stacke", "Stacey", and "Stacye", reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling during that period. One notable individual from this time was John Stacye, who was born in Somerset around 1450 and served as a member of the English Parliament.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname STACK spread across England, and several notable individuals bore this name. One example is Richard Stack, a merchant and alderman who lived in London in the late 16th century. Another is Thomas Stacke, a prominent landowner and member of the gentry from Northamptonshire, who was born in 1567.

In the 18th century, the surname STACK continued to be prominent in various parts of England. One noteworthy individual was John Stack, a successful businessman and entrepreneur from Bristol, who was born in 1712 and became a prominent figure in the city's trade and commerce.

As the surname STACK spread to other parts of the world, it gained recognition in various fields. One notable bearer of the name was Sir Joseph Stack, an Irish-born British diplomat and military officer who served as the Governor of Bombay from 1799 to 1807. He played a significant role in the British East India Company's expansion in India.

Another prominent individual with the surname STACK was Sir Lee Stack, a British colonial administrator and diplomat who served in various roles in the Middle East in the early 20th century. He was assassinated in 1924 while serving as the Governor of British Somaliland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stack families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stack 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. Middlesex leads with 161 Stacks recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.68x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 161 2.68x
Lancashire 58 0.81x
Yorkshire 58 0.98x
Surrey 42 1.44x
Essex 36 3.04x
Kent 35 1.71x
Gloucestershire 26 2.21x
Nottinghamshire 24 2.97x
Glamorgan 21 2.01x
Derbyshire 16 1.70x
Warwickshire 16 1.06x
Durham 13 0.73x
Lanarkshire 12 0.62x
Midlothian 11 1.37x
Devon 9 0.72x
Cheshire 8 0.60x
Hampshire 8 0.65x
Sussex 7 0.69x
Anglesey 6 5.64x
Staffordshire 6 0.30x
Monmouthshire 5 1.15x
Fife 4 1.13x
Bedfordshire 3 0.97x
Lincolnshire 3 0.31x
Northumberland 3 0.34x
Somerset 3 0.31x
Clackmannanshire 2 4.04x
Hertfordshire 2 0.48x
Norfolk 2 0.22x
Wigtownshire 2 2.51x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.18x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.26x
Cornwall 1 0.15x
Cumberland 1 0.19x
Dorset 1 0.25x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.62x
Kincardineshire 1 1.37x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.52x
Renfrewshire 1 0.22x
Royal Navy 1 1.40x
Selkirkshire 1 1.84x
Shropshire 1 0.19x
West Lothian 1 1.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kensington London in Middlesex leads with 30 Stacks recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.99x.

Place Total Index
Kensington London 30 8.99x
St Pancras London 20 4.14x
West Ham 20 7.65x
Liverpool 19 4.39x
Aston 14 3.36x
Plumstead 12 17.59x
Islington London 11 1.89x
Bethnal Green London 10 3.84x
Govan 10 2.08x
Keighley 10 15.78x
Loughor 10 180.18x
Mortlake 10 76.75x
Warley 10 58.21x
Bestwood Park 9 629.37x
Merthyr Tydfil 9 8.96x
Newington 9 4.06x
Westminster St James 9 14.59x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 8 2.47x
Everton 8 3.53x
Moss Side 8 21.36x
Whittington 8 61.59x
Bradford 7 4.86x
Chelsea London 7 3.87x
Kemerton 7 700.00x
Lambeth 7 1.34x
Portsea 7 2.90x
Bardfield Saling 6 983.61x
Barnsley 6 9.78x
Battersea 6 2.72x
Lewisham 6 5.50x
Lydney 6 98.85x
Nottingham St Mary 6 2.87x
Ramsgate 6 17.96x
St Marylebone London 6 1.87x
Sutton In Ashfield 6 34.19x
Beckenham 5 18.68x
Berkeley 5 76.34x
Bishopwearmouth 5 3.26x
Hammersmith London 5 3.38x
Huntwick Cum Nostell 5 423.73x
Limehouse London 5 7.59x
Llanddyfnan 5 381.68x
Monks Coppenhall 5 10.01x
Westminster St John 5 6.84x
Whitechapel London 5 8.46x
Castleford 4 18.48x
Dunfermline 4 7.32x
Hulme 4 2.69x
Kirkdale 4 3.34x
Leyton Low 4 16.62x
Manchester 4 1.25x
Sculcoates 4 4.24x
St George In East 4 9.80x
Talaton 4 421.05x
Wolstanton Oldcott 4 54.50x
Bromley London 3 2.27x
Clerkenwell London 3 2.12x
Codnor Loscoe 3 40.32x
East Grinstead 3 20.95x
Finchingfield 3 80.86x
Heath Reach 3 135.75x
Holy Trinity Less 3 232.56x
Kingston On Thames 3 4.27x
Lasswade 3 16.33x
Llanover 3 20.26x
North Meols 3 4.31x
Paddington London 3 1.36x
Sheffield 3 1.59x
South Hamlet 3 41.21x
St Giles In Fields 3 14.50x
Wigan 3 3.02x
Willesden 3 5.31x
Wolviston 3 241.94x
Acton 2 5.69x
Brighton 2 0.98x
Great Amwell 2 48.19x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 2 2.59x
Lyncombe Widcombe 2 7.91x
St Martin In Fields 2 5.57x
Wolstanton 2 3.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 52
Elizabeth 18
Margaret 16
Sarah 13
Catherine 12
Annie 11
Emily 11
Alice 10
Eliza 9
Ellen 9
Ann 8
Emma 8
Jane 7
Maria 7
Julia 5
Kate 5
Anne 4
Charlotte 4
Clara 4
Florence 4
Bridget 3
Caroline 3
Esther 3
Fanny 3
Hannah 3
Harriet 3
Harriett 3
Martha 3
Rose 3
Susan 3
Amelia 2
Anna 2
Elizth. 2
Johanna 2
Laura 2
Matilda 2
Sophia 2
Catharine 1
Conelia 1
Emila 1
Ethel 1
Evangeline 1
Flora 1
Honora 1
Isabelle 1
Jessie 1
Leah 1
Lucy 1
Margret 1
Zillah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Stack surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stack surname in 1881?

In 1881, 618 people were recorded with the Stack surname. That placed it at #5,698 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stack surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,320 in 2016. That gives Stack a modern rank of #4,547.

What does the Stack surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person who lives near or works with haystacks or stacks of grain.

What does the Stack map show?

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