NameCensus.

UK surname

Thackrah

A locational surname derived from a place name in West Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 265 people recorded with the Thackrah surname, ranking it #10,612 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 186, ranked #20,575, down from #10,612 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Batley, Sheffield and Dewsbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, Doncaster and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Thackrah is 310 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 29.8%.

1881 census count

265

Ranked #10,612

Modern count

186

2016, ranked #20,575

Peak year

1911

310 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Thackrah had 265 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,612 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 186 in 2016, ranked #20,575.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 310 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Thackrah surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Thackrah surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Thackrah 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 201 #10,364
1861 historical 158 #14,644
1881 historical 265 #10,612
1891 historical 265 #12,208
1901 historical 305 #11,525
1911 historical 310 #11,180
1997 modern 193 #18,035
1998 modern 194 #18,451
1999 modern 203 #18,081
2000 modern 192 #18,683
2001 modern 185 #18,840
2002 modern 190 #18,889
2003 modern 178 #19,489
2004 modern 175 #19,805
2005 modern 164 #20,552
2006 modern 170 #20,214
2007 modern 166 #20,811
2008 modern 172 #20,523
2009 modern 179 #20,418
2010 modern 174 #21,259
2011 modern 181 #20,579
2012 modern 182 #20,440
2013 modern 187 #20,436
2014 modern 189 #20,441
2015 modern 191 #20,205
2016 modern 186 #20,575

Geography

Back to top

Where Thackrahs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Batley, Sheffield, Dewsbury, Rothwell and Leeds. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, Doncaster and Leeds. 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 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Dewsbury Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Rothwell Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 030 Wakefield
2 Doncaster 013 Doncaster
3 Leeds 098 Leeds
4 Wakefield 006 Wakefield
5 Wakefield 022 Wakefield

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Thackrah

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Thackrah

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Thackrah surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Thackrah household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Thackrah is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Thackrah is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Thackrah falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Thackrah

The surname Thackrah has its origins in England, specifically in the northern regions such as Yorkshire. Thackrah is a variant of the surname Thackray or Thackeray, which itself dates back to Middle English. The name is derived from the Old Norse word "þak," meaning "thatch" or "roof," combined with the Old English "ræge" or "ra," meaning "dweller." This would have indicated someone who lived near a thatched area or was a thatcher by trade.

The earliest references to the surname Thackrah can be traced back to medieval England, though it does not appear in the Domesday Book of 1086. One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname is from the Yorkshire Poll Tax rolls of 1379, where a Richard Thackerey is listed. Over time, the name has seen various spellings including Thackeray, Thackray, Thackery, and ultimately Thackrah.

From historical texts and local records, it is evident that the name was primarily clustered around the rural parts of Northern England. In these communities, thatching would have been a common occupation, thereby making the surname descriptive of the individual's work or residence. The name evolved with changes in languages and regional dialects, though it retained its primary association with thatching.

One prominent bearer of the surname was William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863), the famous author of "Vanity Fair." Although the spelling differs slightly, it shares the same etymological roots. Another notable individual is Edward Thackrah (1781-1833), a pioneering surgeon and public health advocate from Yorkshire who authored several works on occupational health.

Another early bearer of the name was Thomas Thackrah, recorded in the late 16th century in parish registers from Yorkshire. He is noted in historical documents for his involvement in local civic duties. In the 17th century, a John Thackrah appears in various legal documents related to land disputes and ownership titles in the village of Northallerton.

By the 19th century, the name was carried by individuals such as Joseph Thackrah (1820-1885), who was noted in industrial records as a mill worker and later a supervisor, reflecting the common occupational backgrounds of those with this surname. Ann Thackrah, born in 1845 in Leeds, became well-known locally for her contributions to textile industry reforms, advocating for better working conditions.

The surname Thackrah, with its rich history rooted in the agricultural and industrial landscapes of Northern England, provides an insightful window into the lives and occupations of those who bore it through the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Thackrah families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Thackrah 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 232 Thackrahs recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.06x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 232 9.06x
Surrey 16 1.27x
Hampshire 5 0.94x
Midlothian 4 1.16x
Cheshire 3 0.53x
Middlesex 3 0.12x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.61x
Sussex 1 0.23x

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 27 Thackrahs recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.67x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 27 18.67x
Dewsbury 23 87.55x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 21 673.08x
Headingley Cum Burley 18 109.16x
Holbeck 15 88.39x
Hunslet 15 37.56x
Mirfield 13 92.46x
Croydon 12 17.16x
Batley 10 41.08x
Rawmarsh 7 77.35x
Castleford 6 64.31x
Gomersal 6 50.17x
Halifax 6 15.96x
Morley 6 45.05x
Nether Hallam 6 17.32x
West Ardsley 6 194.81x
Petersfield 5 342.47x
Rothwell 5 96.71x
Sheffield 5 6.13x
Clifton In York 4 74.63x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 2.87x
Horton In Bradford 4 10.00x
Armley 3 26.55x
Bowling 3 11.83x
Bradford 3 4.84x
Cottingham 3 54.35x
Macclesfield 3 11.83x
Soothill 3 32.43x
Egham 2 25.87x
Heckmondwike 2 24.27x
Hipperholme Cum 2 17.78x
Lambeth 2 0.89x
Tong 2 40.40x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 1 10.75x
Brighton 1 1.14x
Cleckheaton 1 10.59x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.64x
Hampstead London 1 2.48x
Ovenden 1 8.77x
Potter Newton 1 22.12x
Shadwell 1 102.04x
Shipley 1 7.52x
Skelmanthorpe 1 36.10x
St Marylebone London 1 0.72x
Thrybergh 1 555.56x
Wisbech St Peter 1 12.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Sarah 12
Elizabeth 9
Alice 7
Jane 7
Eliza 6
Emma 6
Annie 5
Ann 4
Clara 4
Hannah 4
Emily 3
Ada 2
Eva 2
Frances 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Eleanor 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizh. 1
Emiley 1
Ethel 1
Flo.Gert. 1
Florance 1
Harriet 1
Hephzebah 1
Honor 1
Ida 1
Isabel 1
Kate 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Luisa 1
Lydia 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Minney 1
Myra 1
Rebecca 1
Rhoad 1
Sabina 1
Winnie 1
Zillah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 13
James 11
William 10
George 7
Joseph 7
Thomas 7
Walter 7
Charles 6
Harry 4
Henry 4
Tom 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Robert 3
Wm. 3
Benjamin 2
Edwin 2
Frederick 2
Geo. 2
Ralph 2
Saml. 2
Samuel 2
Abram 1
Arnold 1
Ben. 1
Bernard 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Eli 1
Ernest 1
Ewart 1
Federick 1
Frank 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Horatio 1
Isaac 1
Jesse 1
Leonard 1
Levi 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Percy 1
Robinson 1
Sidney 1
Thos.J. 1
W.K. 1

FAQ

Thackrah surname: questions and answers

How common was the Thackrah surname in 1881?

In 1881, 265 people were recorded with the Thackrah surname. That placed it at #10,612 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Thackrah surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 186 in 2016. That gives Thackrah a modern rank of #20,575.

What does the Thackrah surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in West Yorkshire, England.

What does the Thackrah map show?

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