NameCensus.

UK surname

Trick

A surname derived from someone who engaged in trickery or deception.

In the 1881 census there were 346 people recorded with the Trick surname, ranking it #8,826 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 340, ranked #13,456, down from #8,826 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Giles and Bideford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mendip, Swansea and Torridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Trick is 393 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.7%.

1881 census count

346

Ranked #8,826

Modern count

340

2016, ranked #13,456

Peak year

1999

393 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Trick had 346 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,826 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 340 in 2016, ranked #13,456.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 382 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Trick surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Trick surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Trick 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 316 #7,323
1861 historical 247 #9,977
1881 historical 346 #8,826
1891 historical 373 #9,367
1901 historical 354 #10,347
1911 historical 382 #9,615
1997 modern 371 #11,645
1998 modern 388 #11,612
1999 modern 393 #11,602
2000 modern 379 #11,855
2001 modern 368 #11,952
2002 modern 370 #12,121
2003 modern 362 #12,114
2004 modern 364 #12,110
2005 modern 343 #12,546
2006 modern 351 #12,420
2007 modern 351 #12,571
2008 modern 359 #12,459
2009 modern 369 #12,447
2010 modern 363 #12,878
2011 modern 356 #12,943
2012 modern 359 #12,698
2013 modern 364 #12,790
2014 modern 359 #13,025
2015 modern 351 #13,135
2016 modern 340 #13,456

Geography

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Where Tricks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Giles, Bideford, Swansea and Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mendip, Swansea, Torridge and Mid Devon. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 St Giles Devon
3 Bideford Devon
4 Swansea Glamorganshire
5 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mendip 001 Mendip
2 Swansea 013 Swansea
3 Torridge 003 Torridge
4 Torridge 004 Torridge
5 Mid Devon 010 Mid Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Trick

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Trick

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Trick is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Trick is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Trick 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 Trick is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Trick

The surname Trick has its origins in Germany, with the earliest known records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "trecken," which means "to pull" or "to drag." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as an occupational surname to someone whose profession involved pulling or dragging objects, such as a carter or a hauler.

In the late 16th century, the name Trick can be found in various German records, including church registers and tax rolls. One of the earliest documented instances of the name is Johannes Trick, a merchant from the town of Nürnberg, who was born in 1572 and died in 1643.

As the name spread across German-speaking regions, it underwent various spelling variations, including Trick, Tricke, and Trikke. Some of these variations were also influenced by local dialects and pronunciation patterns.

By the 17th century, the Trick surname had made its way to other parts of Europe, including the Netherlands and England. In England, the name was sometimes anglicized as "Tricker" or "Trickster," reflecting the English pronunciation of the German surname.

One notable English bearer of the Trick surname was Sir John Trick, a prominent lawyer and politician who lived from 1637 to 1712. He served as the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland and played a significant role in the legal and political affairs of his time.

In the 18th century, the Trick surname continued to spread across Europe and beyond. Johann Trick, a German composer and organist born in 1753, achieved recognition for his contributions to church music. Another notable figure was Friedrich Trick, a German military officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars and was born in 1785.

As the Trick family branched out, some members established themselves in various parts of the world. One such individual was Heinrich Trick, a German immigrant who settled in the United States in the mid-19th century. He became a successful businessman and landowner in Pennsylvania.

Throughout history, the Trick surname has been associated with various professions and fields, including law, music, military service, and business. While the name may have originally denoted an occupation, it has since become a distinguished surname carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and accomplishments.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Trick families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Trick 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. Devon leads with 183 Tricks recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.97x.

County Total Index
Devon 183 25.97x
Glamorgan 80 13.57x
Gloucestershire 22 3.31x
Cornwall 16 4.18x
Essex 14 2.10x
Middlesex 13 0.38x
Lancashire 6 0.15x
Sussex 3 0.53x
Warwickshire 3 0.35x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.49x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.73x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.70x
Denbighshire 1 0.78x
Northamptonshire 1 0.31x
Royal Navy 1 2.48x
Somerset 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Swansea Town in Glamorgan leads with 37 Tricks recorded in 1881 and an index of 76.57x.

Place Total Index
Swansea Town 37 76.57x
Neath 20 166.81x
Stoke Damerel 14 28.39x
Bideford 13 172.19x
Hartland 10 456.62x
St Giles In The Wood 10 952.38x
Bristol St George 9 29.32x
Tamerton Foliott 9 661.76x
Inwardleigh 8 1333.33x
Oystermouth 8 175.44x
Woolfardisworthy 8 784.31x
Bradworthy 7 679.61x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 11.20x
Chadwell St Mary 7 1029.41x
Penarth 7 121.53x
Plymouth Charles The 7 22.55x
Westleigh 7 1228.07x
Alverdiscott 6 1875.00x
Chelmsford 6 52.36x
Clase 6 27.38x
Northam 6 116.96x
Roborough 6 1276.60x
Whitchurch 6 483.87x
Bradford 5 1136.36x
East Anstey 5 1851.85x
Tavistock 5 62.27x
Toxteth Park 5 3.68x
Ashwater 4 400.00x
Bristol St Paul In 4 22.62x
Chagford 4 236.69x
Clerkenwell London 4 5.01x
Falmouth 4 29.50x
Frithelstock 4 615.38x
Mariansleigh 4 1538.46x
Sidmouth 4 99.26x
Stoke Newington London 4 15.17x
Aston 3 1.28x
Brighton 3 2.61x
East Teignmouth 3 104.17x
Morwenstow 3 319.15x
Pancrasweek 3 789.47x
Stratton 3 144.23x
Welcombe 3 1250.00x
Winkleigh 3 212.77x
Beaford 2 294.12x
Berry Pomeroy 2 170.94x
Chawleigh 2 256.41x
Honiton 2 51.28x
Kensington London 2 1.06x
Launcells 2 312.50x
Poughill 2 425.53x
South Molton 2 51.68x
Westbury On Trym 2 8.89x
Bardsey Island 1 625.00x
Bishops Nympton 1 74.63x
Brixworth 1 73.53x
Exeter St Thomas The 1 13.93x
Great Marlow 1 18.12x
Hackney London 1 0.53x
Harberton 1 62.50x
Hatherleigh 1 57.14x
Huntshaw 1 454.55x
Islington London 1 0.30x
Kilkhampton 1 88.50x
Littleham 1 19.42x
Llanelidan 1 112.36x
Llanelly 1 3.11x
Merthyr Tydfil 1 1.77x
North Petherton 1 22.78x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 1.84x
Poundstock 1 166.67x
Roath 1 3.74x
Royal Navy 1 2.90x
St Marylebone London 1 0.55x
Warkleigh 1 370.37x
West Ham 1 0.68x
Wigan 1 1.78x
Wolborough 1 11.22x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 33
Elizabeth 19
Sarah 11
Fanny 10
Ann 8
Charlotte 7
Eliza 7
Ellen 6
Jane 5
Louisa 4
Margaret 4
Alice 3
Annie 3
Bessie 3
Edith 3
Susan 3
Cecilia 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Eva 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Margret 2
Maria 2
Minnie 2
Thirza 2
Agatha 1
Anna 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Cathrine 1
Cecil 1
Charity 1
Eda 1
Francies 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Irine 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Lilly 1
Lily 1
Lucy 1
Madeline 1
Madleanor 1
Marian 1
Matilda 1
Nelly 1
Thurza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 41
John 25
Thomas 18
Charles 10
James 10
George 5
Richard 5
Samuel 5
Frederick 4
Albert 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Henry 2
Joseph 2
Wilkins 2
Wm. 2
Archibold 1
Chas.H. 1
Christopher 1
Edward 1
Emanuel 1
Felix 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Griffith 1
Hugh 1
Ivor 1
Michell 1
Percy 1
Robert 1
Saml. 1
Sidney 1
Sl. 1
Theodore 1
Tom 1
Tommy 1
Willm. 1
Wm.Burrow 1
Wm.Hy. 1
Wm.John 1

FAQ

Trick surname: questions and answers

How common was the Trick surname in 1881?

In 1881, 346 people were recorded with the Trick surname. That placed it at #8,826 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Trick surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 340 in 2016. That gives Trick a modern rank of #13,456.

What does the Trick surname mean?

A surname derived from someone who engaged in trickery or deception.

What does the Trick map show?

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