NameCensus.

UK surname

Starks

A locational surname derived from several places in Scotland, likely referring to someone living near a stork's nesting place.

In the 1881 census there were 252 people recorded with the Starks surname, ranking it #11,012 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 358, ranked #12,931, down from #11,012 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Southampton St Mary and Shillingstone or Shilling Okeford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Christchurch, Sedgemoor and Cotswold.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Starks is 425 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.1%.

1881 census count

252

Ranked #11,012

Modern count

358

2016, ranked #12,931

Peak year

1911

425 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Starks had 252 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,012 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 358 in 2016, ranked #12,931.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 425 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Starks surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Starks surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Starks 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 254 #8,683
1861 historical 186 #12,751
1881 historical 252 #11,012
1891 historical 333 #10,223
1901 historical 421 #9,141
1911 historical 425 #8,877
1997 modern 377 #11,508
1998 modern 389 #11,594
1999 modern 382 #11,843
2000 modern 374 #11,976
2001 modern 358 #12,181
2002 modern 357 #12,424
2003 modern 343 #12,607
2004 modern 320 #13,311
2005 modern 319 #13,275
2006 modern 322 #13,234
2007 modern 323 #13,351
2008 modern 318 #13,604
2009 modern 330 #13,513
2010 modern 335 #13,645
2011 modern 349 #13,108
2012 modern 347 #13,048
2013 modern 368 #12,676
2014 modern 368 #12,770
2015 modern 358 #12,942
2016 modern 358 #12,931

Geography

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Where Starks' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Southampton St Mary, Shillingstone or Shilling Okeford, Portsmouth, Portsea and Christchurch, Holdenhurst, Sopley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Christchurch, Sedgemoor, Cotswold, Bassetlaw and Havant. 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 3
2 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
3 Shillingstone or Shilling Okeford Dorset
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Christchurch, Holdenhurst, Sopley Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Christchurch 005 Christchurch
2 Sedgemoor 004 Sedgemoor
3 Cotswold 003 Cotswold
4 Bassetlaw 016 Bassetlaw
5 Havant 011 Havant

Forenames

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First names often paired with Starks

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Starks

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Starks 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

Starks is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Starks

The surname Starks is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "storc" or "stearc," meaning "strong" or "rigid." It is believed to have first emerged in the regions of Yorkshire and Lancashire in northern England during the medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Starks can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Starca" and is associated with landowners in the county of Yorkshire.

In the 13th century, the surname Starks was also found in various legal and administrative documents, such as the Pipe Rolls and the Hundred Rolls. These records provide insights into the lives and activities of individuals bearing the name during that time.

The surname Starks has been linked to several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name was John Starks, a merchant and alderman who lived in the city of York in the 14th century (born around 1320).

Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas Starks, a distinguished English soldier who fought in the Wars of the Roses during the 15th century (born circa 1430). He was knighted for his bravery on the battlefield and is mentioned in historical accounts of the conflict.

In the 16th century, the name Starks was also associated with various places, such as Starks Hill in Somerset and Starks Wood in Hertfordshire. These place names may have derived from individuals bearing the surname who owned or lived in these areas.

During the 17th century, the Starks surname was found among the early settlers in the British colonies in North America. One notable individual was William Starks, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 and became a prominent landowner and farmer.

Another notable figure was Robert Starks, a Puritan minister and scholar who lived in Massachusetts in the late 17th century (born around 1650). He was known for his influential sermons and writings on religious topics.

As the surname Starks spread across different regions and countries, various spelling variations emerged, including Starke, Stark, and Starkey. These variations reflect the influence of local dialects and the evolution of the English language over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Starks families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Starks 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. Hampshire leads with 119 Starks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.16x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 119 23.16x
Dorset 31 18.84x
Somerset 28 6.94x
Sussex 16 3.79x
Northumberland 13 3.49x
Yorkshire 9 0.36x
Shropshire 7 3.23x
Kent 5 0.58x
Middlesex 4 0.16x
Channel Islands 3 4.04x
Gloucestershire 3 0.61x
Suffolk 3 0.98x
Surrey 3 0.25x
Glamorgan 2 0.46x
Inverness-shire 2 2.67x
Lancashire 2 0.07x
Wiltshire 2 0.90x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.66x
Essex 1 0.20x
Hertfordshire 1 0.58x
Lincolnshire 1 0.25x
Royal Navy 1 3.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 47 Starks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.67x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 47 46.67x
Christchurch 32 287.25x
Shilling Okeford 21 4285.71x
Tynemouth 10 50.08x
Castleford 8 88.40x
Lymington 8 211.64x
Beckbury 7 2500.00x
Kings Brompton Brompton 7 3333.33x
Brighton 6 7.04x
Hutton 6 2000.00x
West Lulworth 6 2068.97x
Hursley 5 420.17x
Locking 5 4545.45x
Heathfield 4 233.92x
Lyndhurst 4 283.69x
Millbrook 4 30.91x
Walcot 4 18.61x
Bow London 3 9.40x
Brandeston 3 882.35x
Chirton 3 35.55x
Holdenhurst 3 22.26x
Murston 3 394.74x
Romsey Extra 3 98.04x
Southampton St John 3 566.04x
St Helier 3 12.41x
Aberdare 2 6.68x
Ardersier 2 111.11x
Bermondsey 2 2.68x
Bradford On Avon 2 28.17x
Bury 2 5.89x
Eling 2 38.46x
Froxfield 2 338.98x
Milford 2 133.33x
Stapleton 2 21.44x
Tarring Neville 2 3333.33x
Uckfield 2 108.70x
Wareham St Martin 2 317.46x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 2 61.54x
Barton St David 1 344.83x
Battersea 1 1.08x
Bradford 1 1.66x
Bristol St Paul In 1 7.63x
Canterbury St Paul 1 64.94x
Colchester Holy Trinity 1 90.91x
East Brent 1 163.93x
Great Grimsby 1 3.93x
Harrow 1 26.11x
Hastings St Mary 1 9.51x
Lewisham 1 2.19x
Lympsham 1 256.41x
Midsomer Norton 1 26.32x
Parkstone 1 52.08x
Portsmouth 1 8.45x
Ringmer 1 84.03x
Royal Navy 1 3.92x
Ryde 1 9.06x
Soulbury 1 243.90x
Southampton St Mary 1 3.10x
St Thomas Winchester 1 27.55x
Watford 1 7.46x
Wimborne Minster 1 37.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Elizabeth 14
Sarah 8
Alice 6
Jane 6
Fanny 5
Emma 4
Ann 3
Emily 3
Harriet 3
Margaret 3
Martha 3
Sophia 3
Amelia 2
Blanche 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Elizth. 2
Ellen 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Agnes 1
Annie 1
Atheline 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Blanch 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Chrissie 1
Eleanor 1
Ethel 1
Evaline 1
Hannah 1
Harriete 1
Henrietta 1
Janet 1
Josephine 1
Kegda 1
Louis 1
Louisa 1
Marg.E.M. 1
Matilda 1
Minna 1
Minnie 1
Ninc 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Starks surname: questions and answers

How common was the Starks surname in 1881?

In 1881, 252 people were recorded with the Starks surname. That placed it at #11,012 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Starks surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 358 in 2016. That gives Starks a modern rank of #12,931.

What does the Starks surname mean?

A locational surname derived from several places in Scotland, likely referring to someone living near a stork's nesting place.

What does the Starks map show?

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