NameCensus.

UK surname

Stocks

An English occupational surname referring to a person who made or repaired stocks, a type of wooden restraint.

In the 1881 census there were 3,256 people recorded with the Stocks surname, ranking it #1,388 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,598, ranked #1,479, down from #1,388 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham, Kirklees and Bassetlaw.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stocks is 4,792 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.2%.

1881 census count

3,256

Ranked #1,388

Modern count

4,598

2016, ranked #1,479

Peak year

1999

4,792 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stocks had 3,256 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,388 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,598 in 2016, ranked #1,479.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,256 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Stocks surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stocks surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stocks 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 2,378 #1,254
1861 historical 2,158 #1,354
1881 historical 3,256 #1,388
1891 historical 3,662 #1,309
1901 historical 4,226 #1,331
1911 historical 4,256 #1,222
1997 modern 4,662 #1,403
1998 modern 4,755 #1,430
1999 modern 4,792 #1,429
2000 modern 4,748 #1,433
2001 modern 4,662 #1,425
2002 modern 4,779 #1,428
2003 modern 4,645 #1,431
2004 modern 4,628 #1,434
2005 modern 4,478 #1,460
2006 modern 4,446 #1,477
2007 modern 4,467 #1,480
2008 modern 4,500 #1,478
2009 modern 4,659 #1,465
2010 modern 4,710 #1,485
2011 modern 4,643 #1,484
2012 modern 4,590 #1,463
2013 modern 4,626 #1,491
2014 modern 4,649 #1,487
2015 modern 4,612 #1,484
2016 modern 4,598 #1,479

Geography

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Where Stocks' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, London parishes, Edinburgh, Almondbury and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rotherham, Kirklees, Bassetlaw, West Lindsey and Cornwall. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Almondbury Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rotherham 020 Rotherham
2 Kirklees 011 Kirklees
3 Bassetlaw 016 Bassetlaw
4 West Lindsey 004 West Lindsey
5 Cornwall 024 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stocks

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stocks

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Stocks surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Stocks household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Stocks 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

Stocks is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Stocks falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Stocks

The surname Stocks originated in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "stocc," meaning a tree trunk or a log. This suggests that the name may have been initially given as an occupational surname to a woodcutter or a forester.

One of the earliest documented mentions of the surname Stocks can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which record the name "William Stok" in Cambridgeshire. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 also list a "Richard del Stok."

The surname Stocks likely evolved from various place names that incorporated the word "stock" or its variants, such as Stockton or Stoke. For instance, in the Domesday Book of 1086, there are references to several locations with names like "Stochis" and "Stoche."

In the 14th century, the surname Stocks appeared in various spellings, including Stok, Stoke, and Stocke. One notable bearer of the name from this period was Sir John de Stoke, a prominent English judge who served as Lord Chancellor of England from 1340 to 1341.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Stocks continued to be well-represented in various parts of England. One renowned individual with this name was Thomas Stocks (c.1564-1615), an English poet and playwright who served as the rector of Stretham in Cambridgeshire.

Another notable figure was Eleazar Stocks (1594-1672), an English Puritan minister and religious writer. He published several works, including a treatise on baptism and a commentary on the Book of Malachi.

In the 18th century, the Stocks surname gained further prominence with individuals like John Stocks (1749-1828), an English Baptist minister and author who wrote extensively on theological subjects.

Towards the 19th century, one of the most famous bearers of the name was Samuel Stocks (1822-1892), a prominent English clergyman and biblical scholar. He served as the Dean of Worcester Cathedral and was widely recognized for his scholarly works on the Bible and theology.

Throughout its history, the surname Stocks has been associated with various professions, from foresters and woodcutters to judges, ministers, and scholars, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who have carried this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stocks families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stocks 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. Yorkshire leads with 1,464 Stocks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.65x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,464 4.65x
Lancashire 269 0.71x
Nottinghamshire 216 5.04x
Derbyshire 178 3.58x
Lincolnshire 158 3.11x
Middlesex 156 0.49x
Midlothian 92 2.16x
Fife 84 4.46x
Surrey 59 0.38x
Kent 37 0.34x
Leicestershire 37 1.05x
Northumberland 34 0.72x
Durham 32 0.34x
Hampshire 31 0.48x
Norfolk 30 0.61x
Warwickshire 30 0.37x
Essex 27 0.43x
Staffordshire 27 0.25x
Sussex 27 0.50x
Angus 26 0.88x
Northamptonshire 25 0.84x
Lanarkshire 24 0.23x
Suffolk 21 0.54x
Cheshire 20 0.29x
Hertfordshire 15 0.68x
Perthshire 14 0.98x
Shropshire 12 0.44x
Monmouthshire 11 0.48x
Cambridgeshire 10 0.50x
Renfrewshire 10 0.41x
Dorset 8 0.38x
Somerset 8 0.16x
Aberdeenshire 6 0.20x
Bedfordshire 6 0.36x
Cumberland 6 0.22x
Cornwall 5 0.14x
Devon 5 0.08x
Kinross-shire 5 6.22x
Gloucestershire 4 0.06x
Huntingdonshire 4 0.63x
Worcestershire 4 0.10x
Brecknockshire 3 0.47x
Dunbartonshire 3 0.35x
Royal Navy 3 0.79x
Argyllshire 2 0.23x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.10x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.15x
Rutland 2 0.86x
Berwickshire 1 0.26x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.08x
Herefordshire 1 0.08x
Oxfordshire 1 0.05x
Wiltshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Almondbury in Yorkshire leads with 73 Stocks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 47.92x.

Place Total Index
Almondbury 73 47.92x
Brightside Bierlow 72 11.65x
Leeds 70 3.94x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 48 2.80x
Huddersfield 47 10.24x
Soothill 45 39.54x
Ecclesall Bierlow 44 6.87x
Manningham 43 11.08x
Mansfield 43 29.00x
Oldham 43 3.53x
Halifax 41 8.86x
Sheffield 41 4.09x
Bowling 37 11.86x
Doncaster 37 16.08x
Northowram 36 16.30x
Horton In Bradford 34 6.91x
South Normanton 34 97.25x
Tickhill 32 159.28x
Sowerby In Halifax 30 29.12x
Linthwaite 29 43.80x
North Bierley 29 17.05x
Kirkheaton 27 52.85x
Bradford 26 3.41x
Pinxton 26 102.77x
Dysart 25 19.73x
Nether Hallam 24 5.63x
Islington London 23 0.75x
Ripley 23 37.38x
Wakefield 23 9.51x
Crich 22 67.73x
Holy Trinity 22 2.90x
Peterborough 22 10.16x
Skircoat 22 17.71x
Cullercoates 21 141.22x
Dewsbury 21 6.50x
Manchester 21 1.24x
Nottingham St Mary 21 1.89x
Tibshelf 21 86.00x
Lambeth 20 0.72x
Messingham 20 162.34x
Westminster St John 20 5.17x
Basford 18 9.11x
Aston 17 0.77x
Bethnal Green London 17 1.23x
Clayton 17 22.05x
Hipperholme Cum 17 12.28x
Kimberworth 17 9.72x
Rye 17 33.37x
Heckmondwike 16 15.79x
Hulme 16 2.03x
Inveresk 16 13.88x
Liversedge 16 11.41x
Lockwood 16 14.12x
Spotland 16 3.82x
Bentley Cum Arksey 15 91.19x
Chorlton On Medlock 15 2.50x
Dundee 15 1.36x
Gainsborough 14 11.68x
Great Grimsby 14 4.34x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 14 17.62x
Poplar London 14 2.33x
Preston 14 1.39x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 13 4.43x
Burntisland 13 24.71x
Clarborough 13 40.56x
Gildersome 13 34.33x
Hackney London 13 0.73x
West Ham 13 0.94x
Churwell 12 55.87x
Ecclesfield 12 5.20x
Hucknall Under 12 54.30x
Ilkeston 12 8.60x
Kinghorn 12 30.04x
Southowram 12 12.48x
Cleckheaton 11 9.48x
Liverpool 11 0.48x
Plumstead 11 3.04x
Rawmarsh 11 9.88x
St Swithin Lincoln 11 13.76x
Worksop 11 8.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 191
William 156
Joseph 107
George 106
James 79
Thomas 78
Henry 66
Charles 57
Samuel 50
Arthur 40
Frederick 27
Alfred 25
Walter 25
Albert 23
Herbert 22
Edward 20
Fred 20
Harry 20
Benjamin 18
Richard 18
Robert 14
Frank 13
David 11
Sam 10
Francis 8
Edwin 7
Percy 7
Willie 7
Ben 6
Mark 6
Ernest 5
Geo. 5
Michael 5
Stephen 5
Thos. 5
Wm. 5
Earnest 4
Jacob 4
Joshua 4
Luke 4
Reuben 4
Sydney 4
Allan 3
Daniel 3
Elijah 3
Fredk. 3
Fredrick 3
Isaac 3
Joe 3
Simeon 3

FAQ

Stocks surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stocks surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,256 people were recorded with the Stocks surname. That placed it at #1,388 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stocks surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,598 in 2016. That gives Stocks a modern rank of #1,479.

What does the Stocks surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person who made or repaired stocks, a type of wooden restraint.

What does the Stocks map show?

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