NameCensus.

UK surname

Voke

A variation of the surname Vaux, derived from a Norman French place name.

In the 1881 census there were 103 people recorded with the Voke surname, ranking it #19,410 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 150, ranked #23,724, down from #19,410 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Preston and Birdham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset and Havant.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Voke is 162 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 45.6%.

1881 census count

103

Ranked #19,410

Modern count

150

2016, ranked #23,724

Peak year

2000

162 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Voke had 103 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,410 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 150 in 2016, ranked #23,724.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 154 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Voke surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Voke surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Voke 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 52 #23,915
1861 historical 70 #24,911
1881 historical 103 #19,410
1891 historical 101 #23,870
1901 historical 119 #20,624
1911 historical 154 #17,553
1997 modern 134 #22,608
1998 modern 147 #21,935
1999 modern 158 #21,102
2000 modern 162 #20,735
2001 modern 154 #21,122
2002 modern 158 #21,178
2003 modern 157 #21,026
2004 modern 157 #21,168
2005 modern 157 #21,128
2006 modern 153 #21,643
2007 modern 145 #22,693
2008 modern 141 #23,383
2009 modern 150 #22,937
2010 modern 154 #23,082
2011 modern 151 #23,204
2012 modern 152 #23,069
2013 modern 154 #23,210
2014 modern 158 #23,022
2015 modern 154 #23,306
2016 modern 150 #23,724

Geography

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Where Vokes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Preston, Birdham, Wells St Cuthbert In and Out and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Havant, Leeds and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 Preston Sussex
3 Birdham Sussex
4 Wells St Cuthbert In and Out Somerset
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bristol 048 Bristol, City of
2 Bath and North East Somerset 021 Bath and North East Somerset
3 Havant 008 Havant
4 Leeds 087 Leeds
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 012 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Voke

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Voke

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Voke, 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 Voke surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Voke 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Voke is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Voke 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

Voke falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Voke is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Voke

The surname VOKE originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "foc," which meant "folk" or "people." This suggests that the name may have initially been used to refer to someone who was part of a particular community or group.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name VOKE can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and populations in England and parts of Wales, commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Foc" and "Foke," indicating its evolution over time.

During the 13th century, the name VOKE was particularly prevalent in the counties of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. Records from this period include entries for individuals such as John Voke, who was documented in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275.

The name VOKE is also associated with several place names in England, including Vokes Hill in Gloucestershire and Vokes Green in Worcestershire. These locations likely derived their names from individuals bearing the surname VOKE who had settled or owned land in those areas.

Throughout history, there have been notable figures who have borne the surname VOKE. One example is Sir Henry Voke (1589-1661), an English judge and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire during the reign of King Charles I. Another prominent individual was Thomas Voke (1740-1819), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.

Other individuals of note include: 1. William Voke (1612-1678), an English clergyman and author. 2. Samuel Voke (1675-1740), a British merchant and philanthropist. 3. Mary Voke (1768-1842), a British author and educator. 4. John Voke (1820-1892), a British architect known for his work in the Gothic Revival style. 5. Edward Voke (1857-1935), a British artist and illustrator.

The surname VOKE has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval England, and it has been associated with various regions, places, and notable individuals over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Voke families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Voke 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. Hampshire leads with 46 Vokes recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.13x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 46 22.13x
Sussex 30 17.54x
Somerset 11 6.74x
Gloucestershire 9 4.52x
Middlesex 3 0.30x
Surrey 2 0.40x
Derbyshire 1 0.63x
Royal Navy 1 8.27x
Wiltshire 1 1.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 27 Vokes recorded in 1881 and an index of 66.26x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 27 66.26x
Havant 18 1714.29x
Bristol St James In 8 273.04x
Oving 7 1206.90x
Wells St Cuthbert 7 630.63x
Hastings St Clement 5 310.56x
Preston 5 167.22x
Priddy 4 5000.00x
Cuckfield 2 115.61x
Hastings St Mary In The 2 54.79x
Newington 2 5.34x
Selsey 2 645.16x
St George In East 2 28.99x
Subdeanary 2 434.78x
Birdham 1 625.00x
Bradford On Avon 1 34.84x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 5.34x
Buriton 1 250.00x
Chichester St Olave 1 1250.00x
Chichester St Pancras 1 196.08x
Derby St Alkmund 1 21.01x
East Grinstead 1 41.32x
East Lavant 1 714.29x
Royal Navy 1 9.68x
St Botolph Aldgate 1 72.46x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Voke surname: questions and answers

How common was the Voke surname in 1881?

In 1881, 103 people were recorded with the Voke surname. That placed it at #19,410 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Voke surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 150 in 2016. That gives Voke a modern rank of #23,724.

What does the Voke surname mean?

A variation of the surname Vaux, derived from a Norman French place name.

What does the Voke map show?

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