UK surname
A surname derived from a place name in England meaning "thatcher's island or village".
In the 1881 census there were 105 people recorded with the Thackrey surname, ranking it #19,183 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 33, ranked #35,829, down from #19,183 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Kirkby Malzeard, Masham and St Denis in Walmgate, St George. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Thackrey is 139 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 68.6%.
1881 census count
105
Ranked #19,183
Modern count
33
2016, ranked #35,829
Peak year
1861
139 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Thackrey surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Thackrey 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 | 107 | #16,402 |
| 1861 | historical | 139 | #16,263 |
| 1881 | historical | 105 | #19,183 |
| 1891 | historical | 103 | #23,558 |
| 1901 | historical | 110 | #21,604 |
| 1911 | historical | 66 | #26,249 |
| 1997 | modern | 30 | #34,701 |
| 1998 | modern | 34 | #34,433 |
| 1999 | modern | 35 | #34,418 |
| 2000 | modern | 35 | #34,420 |
| 2001 | modern | 35 | #34,261 |
| 2002 | modern | 34 | #34,634 |
| 2003 | modern | 35 | #34,609 |
| 2004 | modern | 35 | #34,783 |
| 2005 | modern | 35 | #34,982 |
| 2006 | modern | 30 | #35,526 |
| 2007 | modern | 31 | #35,592 |
| 2008 | modern | 29 | #35,808 |
| 2009 | modern | 32 | #35,730 |
| 2010 | modern | 31 | #35,906 |
| 2011 | modern | 32 | #35,831 |
| 2012 | modern | 37 | #35,531 |
| 2013 | modern | 33 | #35,808 |
| 2014 | modern | 33 | #35,843 |
| 2015 | modern | 31 | #35,939 |
| 2016 | modern | 33 | #35,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Kirkby Malzeard, Masham, St Denis in Walmgate, St George, Doncaster and Thornhill. 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 | Kirkby Malzeard | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 2 | Masham | Yorkshire, North Riding |
| 3 | St Denis in Walmgate, St George | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 4 | Doncaster | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Thornhill | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Thackrey 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 Thackrey, 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 Thackrey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Thackrey 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, Thackrey 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 Thackrey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Thackrey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Thackrey originates from England, with its roots traceable back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words 'thaec' meaning thatch and 'craew' meaning croft or small enclosed field, indicating that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a thatched cottage or a small thatched field.
Early recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical documents, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1297, where a Robert de Thakker was mentioned. The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, also contains references to places with similar names, like Thaccher and Thaccherwrth, which could be related to the surname's origins.
One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Thackrey was John Thackrey, born around 1550 in Yorkshire, England. Another notable figure was William Thackrey, a member of the English Parliament who represented Beverley in 1628.
In the 17th century, the name appeared in various spellings, including Thackray, Thackray, and Thackrey, reflecting the variations common in that era. One of the more prominent individuals with this surname was Rev. Thomas Thackrey (1678-1753), an English clergyman and author who served as the Vicar of Harthill in Yorkshire.
During the 18th century, the name continued to be associated with influential individuals, such as John Thackrey (1719-1788), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings in Yorkshire, including the Mansion House in Doncaster.
One of the most famous bearers of the Thackrey surname was William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863), a celebrated English novelist and satirist. Although his surname was spelled slightly differently, it is believed to have originated from the same root as Thackrey.
Throughout history, the surname Thackrey has been well-represented in various fields, including literature, architecture, religion, and politics, reflecting its longstanding presence in English society.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Thackrey 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. Yorkshire leads with 96 Thackreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.55x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 96 | 9.55x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.25x |
| Northumberland | 2 | 1.33x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.33x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.62x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.73x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. High Low Bishopside in Yorkshire leads with 24 Thackreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2696.63x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| High Low Bishopside | 24 | 2696.63x |
| Brawby | 12 | 20000.00x |
| Fountains Earth | 9 | 8181.82x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 6 | 29.35x |
| Eccleshill | 6 | 244.90x |
| Wortley In Bramley | 6 | 75.38x |
| Altofts | 4 | 360.36x |
| Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe | 4 | 85.65x |
| Yafforth | 4 | 5714.29x |
| Beverley St Martin | 3 | 178.57x |
| Leeds | 3 | 5.29x |
| Bramley In Rotherham | 2 | 1428.57x |
| Knottingley | 2 | 112.99x |
| Naburn | 2 | 1000.00x |
| Newall Cum Clifton | 2 | 1538.46x |
| Westgate | 2 | 21.39x |
| Barton Upon Irwell | 1 | 11.04x |
| Castleford | 1 | 27.32x |
| Evenwood Barony | 1 | 97.09x |
| Gainsborough | 1 | 26.18x |
| Gorton | 1 | 8.84x |
| Kirby Wiske | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Leyburn | 1 | 294.12x |
| Manningham | 1 | 8.08x |
| Newark Upon Trent | 1 | 20.37x |
| Otley | 1 | 40.98x |
| Ulverston | 1 | 28.49x |
| Warley | 1 | 34.36x |
| York St Cuthbert | 1 | 108.70x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Thackrey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Thackrey 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 Thackrey households.
FAQ
In 1881, 105 people were recorded with the Thackrey surname. That placed it at #19,183 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 33 in 2016. That gives Thackrey a modern rank of #35,829.
A surname derived from a place name in England meaning "thatcher's island or village".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Thackrey 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.