NameCensus.

UK surname

Stock

An occupational surname referring to a person who managed a livestock farm or worked with timber.

In the 1881 census there were 3,724 people recorded with the Stock surname, ranking it #1,228 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,802, ranked #1,415, down from #1,228 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Uttlesford, Charnwood and Braintree.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stock is 5,428 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.9%.

1881 census count

3,724

Ranked #1,228

Modern count

4,802

2016, ranked #1,415

Peak year

1911

5,428 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stock had 3,724 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,228 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,802 in 2016, ranked #1,415.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,428 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Stock surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stock surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stock 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 2,454 #1,212
1861 historical 2,897 #999
1881 historical 3,724 #1,228
1891 historical 4,429 #1,067
1901 historical 4,999 #1,125
1911 historical 5,428 #962
1997 modern 5,085 #1,285
1998 modern 5,157 #1,314
1999 modern 5,180 #1,321
2000 modern 5,116 #1,328
2001 modern 5,012 #1,323
2002 modern 5,073 #1,338
2003 modern 4,963 #1,329
2004 modern 4,907 #1,346
2005 modern 4,781 #1,362
2006 modern 4,805 #1,360
2007 modern 4,820 #1,371
2008 modern 4,858 #1,365
2009 modern 4,936 #1,379
2010 modern 4,973 #1,401
2011 modern 4,962 #1,382
2012 modern 4,853 #1,382
2013 modern 4,906 #1,396
2014 modern 4,923 #1,396
2015 modern 4,818 #1,412
2016 modern 4,802 #1,415

Geography

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Where Stocks are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Uttlesford, Charnwood and Braintree. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 1
4 Finchingfield Essex
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Uttlesford 005 Uttlesford
2 Charnwood 005 Charnwood
3 Uttlesford 006 Uttlesford
4 Charnwood 006 Charnwood
5 Braintree 004 Braintree

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stock

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stock

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Stock is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Stock is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Stock falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Stock

The surname "STOCK" has its origins tracing back to ancient Germany and the Low Countries regions of Europe during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old German word "stoc" or "stok", meaning a tree trunk or log. This name was likely originally given as a descriptive surname to someone who lived near a prominent tree stump or log.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "STOCK" appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a medieval census commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry lists a landowner named Radulfus de Stoc in the county of Essex, England. This suggests that the name had already been established and was in use by the 11th century.

In the 13th century, a notable bearer of the name was Johannes Stock, a German friar and theologian who lived from around 1260 to 1349. He was a prominent figure in the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) and authored several theological works.

The name "STOCK" was also found in various place names and toponyms throughout Europe, such as Stockbridge in Hampshire, England, and Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham, England. These place names likely contributed to the spread and establishment of the surname in different regions.

Another prominent individual with the surname "STOCK" was Sir Matthew Stock (c. 1520-1598), an English merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1570. He was a wealthy textile trader and played a significant role in the growth of the city's mercantile activities.

During the 17th century, Simon Stock (c. 1165-1265) was a notable English Catholic saint and Carmelite friar. He is credited with receiving the Carmelite habit and the Scapular of Our Lady from the Blessed Virgin Mary, which became a significant devotion in the Catholic Church.

In the 18th century, Christian Stock (1672-1738) was a German engraver and publisher known for his intricate copperplate engravings and illustrations. His work significantly contributed to the development of printmaking and book illustration during the Baroque period.

Throughout the centuries, the surname "STOCK" has been carried by numerous individuals across various fields, including academics, artists, clergymen, and merchants. Its enduring presence in historical records and its widespread distribution across Europe attest to its longstanding legacy and cultural significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stock families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stock 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. Essex leads with 703 Stocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.80x.

County Total Index
Essex 703 9.80x
Middlesex 529 1.46x
Somerset 513 8.77x
Lancashire 404 0.94x
Surrey 223 1.26x
Gloucestershire 199 2.79x
Bedfordshire 150 7.97x
Kent 131 1.06x
Yorkshire 109 0.30x
Glamorgan 89 1.41x
Warwickshire 64 0.70x
Northamptonshire 57 1.67x
Monmouthshire 52 1.98x
Hertfordshire 50 2.00x
Cambridgeshire 46 2.00x
Hampshire 46 0.62x
Cheshire 37 0.46x
Suffolk 30 0.68x
Derbyshire 26 0.46x
Worcestershire 25 0.53x
Durham 20 0.19x
Nottinghamshire 19 0.39x
Lincolnshire 18 0.31x
Berkshire 15 0.55x
Herefordshire 15 1.01x
Oxfordshire 15 0.67x
Norfolk 14 0.25x
Wiltshire 14 0.44x
Northumberland 13 0.24x
Staffordshire 12 0.10x
Sussex 11 0.18x
Buckinghamshire 10 0.46x
Dorset 10 0.42x
Leicestershire 9 0.22x
Royal Navy 8 1.85x
Devon 7 0.09x
Channel Islands 6 0.56x
Huntingdonshire 5 0.69x
Stirlingshire 5 0.37x
Westmorland 4 0.50x
Angus 3 0.09x
Brecknockshire 1 0.14x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.07x
Clackmannanshire 1 0.33x
Cornwall 1 0.02x
Cumberland 1 0.03x
Flintshire 1 0.10x
Lanarkshire 1 0.01x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.09x
Renfrewshire 1 0.04x
Shropshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Weston Super Mare in Somerset leads with 100 Stocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 67.69x.

Place Total Index
Weston Super Mare 100 67.69x
St Pancras London 73 2.50x
West Ham 73 4.61x
Lambeth 56 1.77x
Stoke Lane 50 597.37x
Hackney London 47 2.31x
Finchingfield 44 195.73x
Shoreditch London 44 2.79x
Bedminster 41 7.46x
Camberwell 40 1.72x
Islington London 38 1.08x
Spotland 37 7.72x
Bromley London 32 4.00x
Carlton 32 542.37x
Castleton 31 7.20x
Westbury On Trym 30 12.42x
Liverpool 28 1.07x
Bury 27 5.48x
Great Dunmow 27 72.21x
Ramsgate 27 13.34x
Bedford St Paul 26 20.14x
Clifton 25 6.94x
Great Canfield 24 560.75x
Bishop Stortford 23 27.49x
Bocking 23 53.30x
Shepton Mallet 23 35.04x
Aston 22 0.87x
Chorley 22 9.09x
Farnham 22 15.97x
Wardleworth 22 8.93x
Stoke Newington London 21 7.42x
Banwell 20 93.68x
Great Bardfield 20 169.64x
Radwinter 20 190.48x
Bristol St James St Paul 19 7.99x
Middleton In Oldham 19 14.69x
Bristol St James In 18 17.17x
Mile End Old Town 18 3.14x
Little Sampford 17 398.13x
Royton 17 12.89x
Toxteth Park 17 1.16x
Clerkenwell London 16 1.86x
Great Baddow 16 62.70x
Bedford St Mary 15 30.95x
Camerton 15 88.08x
Cheddar 15 50.95x
Croydon 15 1.53x
Bermondsey 14 1.29x
Clevedon 14 23.01x
Eglwysilan 14 12.75x
Gosfield 14 183.49x
Loughton 14 39.47x
Rotherham 14 6.89x
St Woollos 14 4.77x
Swansea Town 14 2.70x
Tonbridge 14 3.13x
Tottenham 14 2.42x
Wanstead 14 11.14x
Wellingborough 14 8.14x
Winscombe 14 88.61x
Ashwick 13 137.42x
Mells 13 107.53x
Newport 13 104.25x
Bedwellty 12 2.59x
Linton 12 54.84x
Orston 12 199.01x
St George Hanover 12 2.53x
Wells St Cuthbert 12 30.05x
Wennington 12 489.80x
Wethersfield 12 66.34x
Birmingham 11 0.36x
Butterworth 11 10.47x
Cameley 11 167.68x
Chatham 11 3.22x
Chiswick 11 5.54x
Holy Trinity 11 1.27x
Plumstead 11 2.66x
St George In East 11 4.45x
St Luke London 11 1.89x
Clowne 10 44.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 233
Elizabeth 159
Sarah 147
Alice 68
Eliza 67
Emily 64
Ellen 62
Jane 61
Ann 59
Annie 56
Emma 55
Florence 38
Caroline 35
Louisa 35
Martha 35
Ada 26
Charlotte 23
Harriet 23
Edith 20
Maria 20
Susan 20
Fanny 19
Kate 19
Margaret 19
Amelia 18
Hannah 17
Rebecca 15
Anne 14
Frances 13
Sophia 13
Clara 12
Esther 12
Ethel 12
Lucy 12
Rose 12
Agnes 11
Catherine 11
Elizth. 10
Harriett 9
Julia 9
Minnie 9
Amy 8
Jessie 8
Lydia 8
Lizzie 7
Selina 7
Susannah 7
Anna 6
Laura 6
Mabel 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 197
John 187
George 134
James 107
Thomas 95
Henry 83
Charles 75
Frederick 57
Joseph 48
Alfred 47
Albert 45
Walter 45
Edward 42
Arthur 39
Samuel 39
Harry 28
Robert 24
Ernest 23
Benjamin 22
Frank 22
Richard 17
Edwin 14
Herbert 14
David 12
Francis 12
Peter 10
Chas. 8
Edmund 8
Fredrick 8
Geo. 8
Isaac 8
Wm. 8
Fred 7
Sidney 7
Aaron 6
Frederic 6
Fredk. 6
Stephen 6
Sydney 6
Reginald 5
Eli 4
Gilbert 4
Harold 4
Levi 4
Ralph 4
Bernard 3
Bertie 3
Daniel 3
Hugh 3
Phillip 3

FAQ

Stock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,724 people were recorded with the Stock surname. That placed it at #1,228 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,802 in 2016. That gives Stock a modern rank of #1,415.

What does the Stock surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person who managed a livestock farm or worked with timber.

What does the Stock map show?

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