NameCensus.

UK surname

Starke

A German occupational surname meaning "strong," referring to a person with great physical strength or a forceful personality.

In the 1881 census there were 254 people recorded with the Starke surname, ranking it #10,949 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 200, ranked #19,591, down from #10,949 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Ellingham, Little and Newchurch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Suffolk, Cardiff and Herefordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Starke is 329 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 21.3%.

1881 census count

254

Ranked #10,949

Modern count

200

2016, ranked #19,591

Peak year

1901

329 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Starke had 254 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,949 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 200 in 2016, ranked #19,591.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 329 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Starke surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Starke surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Starke 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 189 #10,896
1861 historical 189 #12,570
1881 historical 254 #10,949
1891 historical 267 #12,136
1901 historical 329 #10,927
1911 historical 281 #11,953
1997 modern 217 #16,761
1998 modern 225 #16,846
1999 modern 214 #17,494
2000 modern 209 #17,723
2001 modern 204 #17,736
2002 modern 203 #18,115
2003 modern 193 #18,501
2004 modern 192 #18,678
2005 modern 189 #18,807
2006 modern 187 #19,079
2007 modern 188 #19,204
2008 modern 199 #18,699
2009 modern 194 #19,398
2010 modern 194 #19,819
2011 modern 187 #20,132
2012 modern 183 #20,356
2013 modern 198 #19,657
2014 modern 200 #19,713
2015 modern 201 #19,494
2016 modern 200 #19,591

Geography

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Where Starkes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Ellingham, Little, Newchurch, London parishes and Broadhembury. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Suffolk, Cardiff, Herefordshire, Dingwall 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Ellingham, Little Norfolk
3 Newchurch Hampshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Broadhembury Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Suffolk 001 Mid Suffolk
2 Cardiff 006 Cardiff
3 Herefordshire 023 Herefordshire, County of
4 Dingwall Highland
5 Kensington and Chelsea 017 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Starke

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Starke

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Starke surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Starke household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Starke is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Starke 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

Starke falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Starke 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 Starke, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Starke

The surname Starke has its origins in Germany and dates back to the medieval era. It is derived from the Old High German word "starc," which means "strong" or "sturdy." This suggests that the name was likely originally given as a descriptive nickname to someone with a robust or powerful physique.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Starke can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of medieval documents from Saxony, dating back to the 13th century. The name appears in various forms, such as "Starke," "Starcke," and "Sterk," reflecting regional variations in spelling and pronunciation.

During the 14th century, the Starke name was associated with several notable individuals. For instance, Hans Starke (c. 1320-1390) was a renowned architect and stonemason who oversaw the construction of several churches and castles in the region of Saxony.

In the 15th century, the Starke family gained prominence in the city of Lübeck, a prominent member of the Hanseatic League. Johann Starke (c. 1425-1489) was a respected merchant and councillor who played a significant role in the city's trade and governance.

The 16th century saw the rise of Martin Starke (1522-1589), a Lutheran theologian and reformer who studied under Martin Luther and was influential in the spread of the Protestant Reformation in northern Germany.

Moving into the 17th century, the name Starke appears in various historical records, including the chronicles of the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). One notable figure from this period was General Friedrich Starke (1594-1656), a military commander who fought for the Swedish forces during the conflict.

In the 18th century, the Starke name gained literary prominence with the works of Johann Georg Starke (1721-1785), a German poet and author who wrote several plays and satires that were popular in his time.

As the centuries progressed, the Starke surname continued to be associated with individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, and statesmen. However, it is important to note that these historical references are not exhaustive, and the Starke name has likely been borne by numerous other notable individuals throughout its long history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Starke families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Starke 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 49 Starkes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.98x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 49 1.98x
Norfolk 35 9.19x
Hampshire 25 4.92x
Somerset 17 4.26x
Devon 15 2.91x
Yorkshire 15 0.61x
Essex 14 2.86x
Berkshire 13 6.99x
Ayrshire 8 4.31x
Gloucestershire 8 1.65x
Kent 8 0.95x
Glamorgan 6 1.39x
Kirkcudbrightshire 5 13.94x
Northamptonshire 5 2.15x
Warwickshire 5 0.80x
Angus 4 1.74x
Renfrewshire 3 1.56x
Staffordshire 3 0.36x
Surrey 3 0.25x
Cheshire 2 0.37x
Derbyshire 2 0.52x
Wigtownshire 2 6.08x
Argyllshire 1 1.45x
Lanarkshire 1 0.12x
Merionethshire 1 2.21x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.30x
Perthshire 1 0.90x
Suffolk 1 0.33x
Wiltshire 1 0.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 10 Starkes recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.20x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 10 7.20x
Islington London 9 3.75x
Easthampstead 8 800.00x
Hingham 8 606.06x
Great Baddow 7 402.30x
St Marylebone London 7 5.29x
St Peters 7 179.03x
Westbury On Trym 7 42.53x
Weston Super Mare 7 69.51x
Bethnal Green London 6 5.57x
Godshill 6 512.82x
Roath 6 30.63x
Woodford 6 108.30x
Sculcoates 5 12.84x
Sutton Coldfield 5 76.10x
Towcester 5 208.33x
Acle 4 512.82x
Bedminster 4 10.67x
Broadhembury 4 701.75x
East Harling 4 444.44x
Freshwater 4 172.41x
Great Yarmouth 4 12.67x
Hammersmith London 4 6.55x
Inverarity 4 540.54x
Loudoun 4 89.69x
Millbrook 4 31.27x
North Skirlaugh 4 1666.67x
St Pancras London 4 2.01x
Taunton St Mary 4 54.64x
Watlington 4 769.23x
Cathcart 3 28.87x
Little Ellingham 3 1111.11x
Minnigaff 3 222.22x
New Windsor 3 48.00x
Northwood 3 41.49x
Shanklin 3 198.68x
Sidbury 3 272.73x
Whimple 3 526.32x
Whitwood 3 85.96x
Bale 2 1000.00x
Cullompton 2 88.89x
Galston 2 39.45x
Great Ellingham 2 357.14x
Holy Trinity 2 3.39x
Hornsey 2 6.38x
Kilmarnock 2 9.06x
Lambeth 2 0.93x
Lower Bebington 2 61.54x
Penninghame 2 59.52x
Sculthorpe 2 400.00x
Southampton St Mary 2 6.26x
Troqueer 2 42.46x
Westminster St James 2 7.85x
Whittington 2 37.24x
Wombourn 2 129.03x
Arborfield 1 434.78x
Bathwick 1 22.68x
Beddgelert 1 88.50x
Besthorpe 1 243.90x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 6.17x
Burnham 1 32.89x
Chelsea London 1 1.34x
Christchurch 1 9.08x
Exeter Heavitree 1 25.97x
Exeter St Thomas The 1 19.01x
Holdenhurst 1 7.51x
Ipswich St Clement 1 13.04x
Kilmore Kilbride 1 22.83x
Newington 1 1.09x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.16x
Portsmouth 1 8.55x
Prittlewell 1 14.75x
Ramsgate 1 7.25x
Reading St Mary 1 6.71x
Seaton 1 50.25x
Shouldham 1 185.19x
Shrewton 1 175.44x
St George In East 1 5.93x
Walsall Foreign 1 2.31x
Westminster St John 1 3.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 13
William 12
James 9
Henry 7
Thomas 6
George 5
Arthur 4
Ezekiel 4
Herbert 4
Charles 3
Harry 3
Isaac 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
Ernest 2
Robert 2
Daniel 1
Edgar 1
Edward 1
Eli 1
Ernst 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Hermann 1
Horace 1
Hugh 1
Humphrey 1
Hy. 1
Joh.Ellard 1
Noah 1
Percy 1
Reginald 1
Richard 1
Theodore 1
Victor 1
W.H. 1
Willie 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Clarke 1

FAQ

Starke surname: questions and answers

How common was the Starke surname in 1881?

In 1881, 254 people were recorded with the Starke surname. That placed it at #10,949 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Starke surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 200 in 2016. That gives Starke a modern rank of #19,591.

What does the Starke surname mean?

A German occupational surname meaning "strong," referring to a person with great physical strength or a forceful personality.

What does the Starke map show?

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