NameCensus.

UK surname

Tasker

An occupational surname referring to a person who performed a specific task or job, such as a reaper or thresher.

In the 1881 census there were 3,152 people recorded with the Tasker surname, ranking it #1,430 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,372, ranked #1,562, down from #1,430 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Halifax and North Meols. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bassetlaw, County Durham and Barnsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tasker is 4,529 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.7%.

1881 census count

3,152

Ranked #1,430

Modern count

4,372

2016, ranked #1,562

Peak year

2000

4,529 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tasker had 3,152 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,430 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,372 in 2016, ranked #1,562.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,945 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tasker surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tasker surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tasker 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 2,060 #1,409
1861 historical 1,795 #1,613
1881 historical 3,152 #1,430
1891 historical 3,056 #1,538
1901 historical 3,945 #1,431
1911 historical 3,919 #1,314
1997 modern 4,320 #1,510
1998 modern 4,454 #1,519
1999 modern 4,492 #1,519
2000 modern 4,529 #1,502
2001 modern 4,442 #1,497
2002 modern 4,512 #1,501
2003 modern 4,405 #1,504
2004 modern 4,335 #1,524
2005 modern 4,286 #1,525
2006 modern 4,241 #1,541
2007 modern 4,263 #1,550
2008 modern 4,292 #1,546
2009 modern 4,374 #1,561
2010 modern 4,437 #1,565
2011 modern 4,381 #1,564
2012 modern 4,345 #1,554
2013 modern 4,424 #1,549
2014 modern 4,455 #1,551
2015 modern 4,392 #1,558
2016 modern 4,372 #1,562

Geography

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Where Taskers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Halifax, North Meols and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bassetlaw, County Durham, Barnsley and North East Lincolnshire. 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 1
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 North Meols Lancashire
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bassetlaw 002 Bassetlaw
2 County Durham 018 County Durham
3 Barnsley 010 Barnsley
4 Barnsley 015 Barnsley
5 North East Lincolnshire 019 North East Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tasker

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tasker

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Tasker is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Tasker 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

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

Meaning and origin of Tasker

The surname Tasker originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the Old English words "tasceran" or "tascian," which referred to the occupation of a laborer or worker. This name was initially given to individuals who performed various tasks or manual labor.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Tasker can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appeared as "Taschere." This suggests that the surname was already in use by the 11th century in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Nottinghamshire.

In the 13th century, the name Tasker was often associated with individuals who worked as tax collectors or assessors, as the word "tasker" also held the meaning of someone who imposed or collected taxes. This connection can be found in historical records from towns such as Ipswich and Norwich.

One notable individual with the surname Tasker was William Tasker, a prominent merchant and alderman who lived in the city of York during the late 14th century. He played a significant role in the city's affairs and is mentioned in various municipal records from that time period.

Another early example is John Tasker, a landowner and farmer from the village of Stoke Golding in Leicestershire. Records from the 15th century indicate that he owned substantial agricultural holdings in the area and contributed to the local community.

In the 16th century, the Tasker family had established itself in the county of Somerset, where they held land and estates. One member of this branch was Sir Thomas Tasker (1545-1612), a knight and landowner who served as a justice of the peace and was involved in local governance.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, a notable figure was Captain Richard Tasker (1620-1678), who fought on the side of the Parliamentarians and played a role in the siege of Bristol in 1645.

The name Tasker has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Tasker's Lane in Yorkshire, Tasker's Hill in Gloucestershire, and Tasker's Field in Somerset. These locations likely derived their names from individuals or families bearing the surname Tasker who once resided or owned property in those areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tasker families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tasker 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 776 Taskers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.52x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 776 2.52x
Lancashire 470 1.28x
Middlesex 245 0.79x
Lincolnshire 201 4.05x
Angus 138 4.80x
Sussex 126 2.41x
Surrey 110 0.73x
Cheshire 109 1.59x
Kent 89 0.84x
Glamorgan 73 1.35x
Warwickshire 67 0.86x
Wiltshire 62 2.26x
Perthshire 57 4.09x
Pembrokeshire 55 5.57x
Buckinghamshire 45 2.40x
Durham 37 0.40x
Derbyshire 35 0.72x
Staffordshire 34 0.32x
Isle of Man 32 5.55x
Oxfordshire 30 1.56x
Gloucestershire 29 0.48x
Northamptonshire 28 0.96x
Essex 25 0.41x
Stirlingshire 25 2.18x
Lanarkshire 23 0.23x
Monmouthshire 22 0.98x
Somerset 22 0.44x
Hampshire 19 0.30x
Worcestershire 17 0.42x
Nottinghamshire 16 0.38x
Bedfordshire 15 0.93x
Midlothian 15 0.36x
Northumberland 15 0.32x
Brecknockshire 14 2.25x
Shropshire 14 0.52x
Dorset 13 0.64x
Hertfordshire 12 0.56x
Herefordshire 11 0.86x
Huntingdonshire 11 1.78x
Devon 10 0.15x
Denbighshire 8 0.68x
Fife 7 0.38x
Norfolk 7 0.15x
Berkshire 4 0.17x
Cornwall 3 0.09x
Cumberland 3 0.11x
Royal Navy 2 0.54x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.05x
Kincardineshire 1 0.26x
Leicestershire 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. Dundee in Angus leads with 63 Taskers recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.86x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 63 5.86x
Leeds 60 3.45x
North Meols 60 16.63x
Halifax 52 11.51x
Islington London 51 1.69x
St Pancras London 51 2.04x
Accrington 42 12.53x
Hook 39 57.61x
Liff Benvie 36 8.24x
Brighton 35 3.31x
Chester St John Baptist 35 28.40x
Meigle 34 327.87x
Ecclesall Bierlow 31 4.95x
Salford 29 2.68x
Great Grimsby 25 7.93x
Northowram 25 11.58x
Preston Bisset 23 628.42x
Toxteth Park 21 1.68x
Battersea 20 1.75x
Larbert 20 29.21x
Manchester 20 1.21x
Lambeth 19 0.70x
Walmersley Cum 19 32.26x
Hackney London 18 1.03x
Michaelstone Super Avon 18 30.74x
Nether Hallam 18 4.32x
Ringmer 18 121.95x
Ecclesfield 17 7.53x
Kensington London 17 0.98x
Mavis Enderby 17 1140.94x
Sculcoates 17 3.48x
Tattershall Thorpe 17 516.72x
Aston 16 0.74x
Bootle Cum Linacre 16 5.47x
Bromley 16 9.91x
Cleckheaton 16 14.11x
New Malton 16 43.48x
Oldham 16 1.35x
Wellingborough 16 10.89x
Bradford 15 2.01x
Hendon 15 13.42x
Rotherfield 15 32.53x
Ashton Under Lyne 14 1.74x
Bedminster 14 2.98x
Camberwell 14 0.71x
Dawdon 14 12.32x
Merthyr Tydfil 14 2.69x
Pembroke St Mary 14 11.01x
Shitlington 14 43.97x
West Derby 14 1.30x
Barnsley 13 4.09x
Bethnal Green London 13 0.96x
Corringham 13 164.35x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 13 0.78x
Hoole 13 50.15x
Hunslet 13 2.71x
Broughton In Salford 12 3.56x
Burntwood Edial 12 17.92x
German Peel 12 36.13x
Hessle In Sculcoates 12 44.17x
Malew 12 23.82x
Manningham 12 3.16x
Bishopstone 11 83.97x
Buckingham 11 28.80x
Clerkenwell London 11 1.50x
Glasgow 11 0.62x
Gomersal 11 7.66x
Richmond 11 5.19x
Wakefield 11 4.66x
Warrington 11 2.52x
Withyam 11 49.09x
All Cannings 10 187.27x
Bowling 10 3.28x
Crickhowell 10 69.64x
Everton 10 0.85x
Kettins 10 103.73x
St Marylebone London 10 0.60x
St Woollos 10 3.99x
Tonbridge 10 2.62x
Upton In Chester 10 130.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 198
Sarah 114
Elizabeth 106
Ann 68
Jane 59
Annie 49
Alice 43
Eliza 42
Hannah 37
Ellen 36
Emma 31
Margaret 30
Martha 28
Emily 24
Fanny 22
Edith 20
Catherine 18
Clara 18
Ada 17
Charlotte 17
Harriet 17
Florence 16
Isabella 16
Lucy 15
Maria 15
Louisa 14
Frances 13
Kate 13
Amelia 10
Esther 10
Susan 10
Amy 9
Anne 9
Anna 8
Elizth. 8
Ethel 8
Grace 8
Harriett 8
Sophia 8
Agnes 7
Beatrice 7
Rose 7
Caroline 6
Lydia 6
Minnie 6
Betsy 5
Julia 5
Lizzie 5
Matilda 5
Selina 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 200
John 191
Thomas 115
James 98
George 97
Henry 60
Joseph 40
Robert 40
Edward 39
Charles 38
Arthur 32
Richard 24
Samuel 24
Harry 23
Albert 21
Alfred 19
Herbert 19
Frank 18
David 16
Frederick 16
Walter 15
Tom 12
Ernest 10
Fred 10
Daniel 9
Peter 9
Francis 8
Benjamin 6
Stephen 6
Wm. 6
Christopher 5
Percy 5
Sidney 5
Andrew 4
Edwin 4
Joe 4
Leonard 4
Matthew 4
Amos 3
Chas. 3
Edmund 3
Harold 3
Joshua 3
Lancaster 3
Lewis 3
Mark 3
Owen 3
Sam 3
Sydney 3
Willm. 3

FAQ

Tasker surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tasker surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,152 people were recorded with the Tasker surname. That placed it at #1,430 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tasker surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,372 in 2016. That gives Tasker a modern rank of #1,562.

What does the Tasker surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person who performed a specific task or job, such as a reaper or thresher.

What does the Tasker map show?

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