UK surname
An English surname referring to a person either from a place called Stoke or living near a stoke or stock of trees.
In the 1881 census there were 180 people recorded with the Stoke surname, ranking it #13,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 51, ranked #34,838, down from #13,735 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stoke is 501 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 71.7%.
1881 census count
180
Ranked #13,735
Modern count
51
2016, ranked #34,838
Peak year
1861
501 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Stoke surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Stoke surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 125 | #14,700 |
| 1861 | historical | 501 | #5,220 |
| 1881 | historical | 180 | #13,735 |
| 1891 | historical | 429 | #8,359 |
| 1901 | historical | 123 | #20,248 |
| 1911 | historical | 274 | #12,150 |
| 1997 | modern | 82 | #29,325 |
| 1998 | modern | 68 | #31,181 |
| 1999 | modern | 73 | #30,856 |
| 2000 | modern | 40 | #33,976 |
| 2001 | modern | 23 | #35,451 |
| 2002 | modern | 26 | #35,338 |
| 2003 | modern | 24 | #35,552 |
| 2004 | modern | 21 | #35,969 |
| 2005 | modern | 25 | #35,752 |
| 2006 | modern | 31 | #35,467 |
| 2007 | modern | 29 | #35,725 |
| 2008 | modern | 35 | #35,441 |
| 2009 | modern | 39 | #35,321 |
| 2010 | modern | 41 | #35,358 |
| 2011 | modern | 42 | #35,283 |
| 2012 | modern | 43 | #35,224 |
| 2013 | modern | 43 | #35,271 |
| 2014 | modern | 44 | #35,241 |
| 2015 | modern | 46 | #35,109 |
| 2016 | modern | 51 | #34,838 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Paddington 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 No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 3 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 4 | Paddington | London (West Districts) |
| 5 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Stoke surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Stoke, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Stoke surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Stoke household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Stoke is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Stoke is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Stoke, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Stoke has its roots in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is a locational surname derived from the Old English word "stoc," meaning a place or an outlying farm or hamlet. The name likely originated from one of the numerous places in England called Stoke, such as Stoke-on-Trent, Stoke Mandeville, or Stoke Newington.
The earliest recorded mention of the surname Stoke can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive record of landholdings and wealth in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, including Stoc, Stoche, and Stok, reflecting the phonetic nature of early surname adoption.
One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was William de Stoke, who lived in the 13th century and was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1230. Another notable individual was Sir John Stoke, who was born around 1324 and served as the Lord Chief Justice of England from 1387 to 1389.
During the 14th and 15th centuries, the surname Stoke was particularly prevalent in the counties of Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Oxfordshire, where many of the places bearing the name Stoke were located. The surname also appeared in various spellings, such as Stokes, Stoakes, and Stokys, reflecting regional variations and the evolving nature of English orthography.
One of the most famous historical figures bearing the surname Stoke was Maurice Stoke, who lived from approximately 1270 to 1350 and was a renowned medieval chronicler and author of the "Flores Historiarum," a chronicle of English history from the creation of the world to 1326.
Another notable bearer of the surname was John Stoke, a 16th-century English poet and dramatist who lived from around 1525 to 1605. He is best known for his satirical play "The Vicious Courtier," which criticized the excesses of the court of Queen Elizabeth I.
In the 17th century, Richard Stoke, born around 1620, was a prominent English clergyman and author who wrote several theological works, including "The Doctrine of Repentance" and "The Savour of Life and Death."
The surname Stoke has been carried by many distinguished individuals throughout history, reflecting its deep roots in English culture and society. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over time, its locational origins and association with various places called Stoke remain a significant part of its rich heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stoke surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 53 Stokes recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.00x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 53 | 3.00x |
| Lancashire | 13 | 0.62x |
| Wiltshire | 13 | 8.33x |
| Northumberland | 11 | 4.19x |
| Surrey | 11 | 1.28x |
| Staffordshire | 8 | 1.34x |
| Yorkshire | 8 | 0.46x |
| Kent | 7 | 1.16x |
| Lincolnshire | 6 | 2.13x |
| Lanarkshire | 5 | 0.88x |
| Warwickshire | 5 | 1.12x |
| Durham | 4 | 0.76x |
| Hampshire | 4 | 1.11x |
| Essex | 3 | 0.86x |
| Gloucestershire | 3 | 0.87x |
| Northamptonshire | 3 | 1.81x |
| Shropshire | 3 | 1.97x |
| Somerset | 3 | 1.06x |
| Channel Islands | 2 | 3.82x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 0.51x |
| Cornwall | 2 | 1.00x |
| Devon | 2 | 0.54x |
| Hertfordshire | 2 | 1.64x |
| Leicestershire | 2 | 1.02x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 0.75x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 0.94x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.33x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 1.38x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.42x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.34x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bradford On Avon in Wiltshire leads with 9 Stokes recorded in 1881 and an index of 180.00x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Stoke surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 8 |
| Elizabeth | 7 |
| Sarah | 7 |
| Eliza | 5 |
| Ellen | 4 |
| Alice | 3 |
| Ann | 3 |
| Emily | 3 |
| Emma | 3 |
| Louisa | 3 |
| Maria | 3 |
| Anna | 2 |
| Annie | 2 |
| Caroline | 2 |
| Fanny | 2 |
| Frances | 2 |
| Matilda | 2 |
| Rosa | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Beattie | 1 |
| Bertha | 1 |
| Betty | 1 |
| Biscilla | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Elisabeth | 1 |
| Elizbth. | 1 |
| Ereminta | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Ethel | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Gertrude | 1 |
| Grace | 1 |
| Henrietta | 1 |
| Hester | 1 |
| I.May | 1 |
| Isable | 1 |
| Jerononny | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Kezia | 1 |
| Louise | 1 |
| Margeret | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Nancy | 1 |
| Rachael | 1 |
| Rachel | 1 |
| Rosanna | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Stoke surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Stoke households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 20 |
| General Servant | 3 |
| Labourer | 3 |
| Butcher | 2 |
| Carpenter | 2 |
| Collier | 2 |
| Domestic Servant | 2 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Gardener | 2 |
| General Serv | 2 |
| House Keeper | 2 |
| Housekeeper | 2 |
| Housemaid | 2 |
| No Occupation | 2 |
| Nurse | 2 |
| School | 2 |
| Bootmaker | 1 |
| Brick Maker | 1 |
| Buffer & Glaizer Other 21/8 | 1 |
| C. Teacher In St Stephens School (Mistress) | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Cattle Drover | 1 |
| Charwm | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Companion To Wife | 1 |
| Compositor | 1 |
| Confectioner Shop | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Svt | 1 |
| Daur Of A Gentn | 1 |
| Daur Of Shepherd | 1 |
| Dealer In Fish | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Domestic Servt | 1 |
| Dyer Velvet | 1 |
| Farmer 205 A 5 Men & 2 Boys | 1 |
| Farmer Wife | 1 |
| Foreman Tailor | 1 |
| General Lab | 1 |
| Glazier | 1 |
| Greengrocer | 1 |
| Hackney Carriage Driver | 1 |
| Hame Make Sadler | 1 |
| House Painter | 1 |
| Housekeeper (Dom) | 1 |
| Inspector Of Coal | 1 |
| Iron Dresser | 1 |
| Iron Labourer | 1 |
| Iron Miner | 1 |
| Woodcutter | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 180 people were recorded with the Stoke surname. That placed it at #13,735 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 51 in 2016. That gives Stoke a modern rank of #34,838.
An English surname referring to a person either from a place called Stoke or living near a stoke or stock of trees.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Stoke bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.