UK surname

Tak

A Chinese surname meaning bamboo or forest.

In the 1881 census there were 4 people recorded with the Tak surname, ranking it #33,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 153, ranked #23,408, up from #33,288 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Haringey, Wolverhampton and Walsall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tak is 153 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 3725.0%.

1881 census count

Ranked #33,288

Modern count

153

2016, ranked #23,408

Peak year

2016

153 bearers

Map years

1998 to 2016

Key insights

• Tak had 4 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,288 surname in that year.
• The latest modern count shown here is 153 in 2016, ranked #23,408.
• Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1851.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Map

Tak surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tak surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Tak 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	4	#32,658
1881	historical	4	#33,288
1901	historical	4	#33,876
1997	modern	90	#28,360
1998	modern	101	#27,479
1999	modern	95	#28,465
2000	modern	96	#28,299
2001	modern	98	#27,672
2002	modern	104	#27,303
2003	modern	107	#26,617
2004	modern	116	#25,580
2005	modern	124	#24,529
2006	modern	129	#24,165
2007	modern	130	#24,389
2008	modern	137	#23,883
2009	modern	134	#24,711
2010	modern	144	#24,147
2011	modern	151	#23,204
2012	modern	140	#24,376
2013	modern	142	#24,547
2014	modern	142	#24,734
2015	modern	150	#23,718
2016	modern	153	#23,408

Geography

Where Taks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Haringey, Wolverhampton, Walsall and Slough. 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	No data	No data

Top modern areas

Rank	Area	District
1	Haringey 007	Haringey
2	Wolverhampton 032	Wolverhampton
3	Wolverhampton 020	Wolverhampton
4	Walsall 025	Walsall
5	Slough 004	Slough

Forenames

First names often paired with Tak

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Geeta Paramjeet Manjit Nakita Sukhvinder Sanam Aruna Neha Banita Balwinder

Recent male names

Inderjeet Ravinder Raj Mohinder Ashok Paul Manvinder Rajinder Pritpal Raymond

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Tak

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Tak surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Tak household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Tak is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tak 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tak falls in decile 4 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tak is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate: Asian - Indian

This describes the area pattern most associated with Tak, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Origin

Meaning and origin of Tak

The surname Tak has its origins in Poland, with the name emerging in the late 15th century. It is derived from the Slavic word "tak," meaning "yes" or "so." The name was likely given as a nickname or descriptive name to someone who frequently used the word "tak" in conversation or had a habit of agreeing to things.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Tak can be found in the records of the Polish town of Krakow, where a merchant named Jan Tak was registered in 1493. Another early record dates back to 1507, mentioning a landowner named Pawel Tak in the village of Bydgoszcz.

In the 16th century, the Tak surname appeared in various historical documents, including tax records and land deeds. For example, a farmer named Maciej Tak was listed as a landowner in the village of Poznan in 1532.

The Tak name also has connections to certain place names in Poland. The village of Taki, located in the Silesian region, is believed to have derived its name from the Tak surname. Additionally, the town of Takowice, near Krakow, may have originated from a similar source.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the Tak surname. One of the earliest was Jakub Tak, a Polish scholar and writer who lived in the late 16th century. He is known for his works on philosophy and theology.

In the 17th century, Andrzej Tak was a prominent Polish military leader who fought in the Polish-Swedish wars. He played a crucial role in the defense of the city of Gdansk during the Swedish invasion of 1655.

The 18th century saw the rise of Jan Tak, a Polish artist and painter renowned for his portraits and religious paintings. His works can be found in various churches and museums across Poland.

In the 19th century, Franciszek Tak was a Polish engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of early steam engines and railways in Poland.

Another notable figure was Maria Tak, a Polish writer and activist who lived in the early 20th century. She was known for her works promoting women's rights and education, as well as her involvement in the Polish independence movement.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Tak families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tak 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 4 Taks recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.39x.

County	Total	Frequency	Index
Yorkshire	4	0.00%	10.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 3 Taks recorded in 1881 and an index of 138.25x.

Place	Total	Frequency	Index
Leeds	3	0.00%	138.25x
Beverley St Nicholas	1	0.04%	3333.33x

Top female names

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

Name	Count
Jane	1

Top male names

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

Name	Count
AH	1
Emanuel	1
John	1
William	1

Top occupations

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 Tak households.

Occupation	Count
Carter	2
Carter Wife	1
Master (B)	1
Stoker	1

FAQ

Tak surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tak surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4 people were recorded with the Tak surname. That placed it at #33,288 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tak surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 153 in 2016. That gives Tak a modern rank of #23,408.

What does the Tak surname mean?