NameCensus.

UK surname

Vokes

A possible occupational surname derived from the Old English word "foc" meaning a servant or bailiff.

In the 1881 census there were 531 people recorded with the Vokes surname, ranking it #6,470 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 660, ranked #8,078, down from #6,470 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wonston, Radstock and South Stoneham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caerphilly, Kirklees and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Vokes is 694 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.3%.

1881 census count

531

Ranked #6,470

Modern count

660

2016, ranked #8,078

Peak year

1911

694 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Vokes had 531 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,470 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 660 in 2016, ranked #8,078.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 694 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Vokes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Vokes surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Vokes 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 294 #7,758
1861 historical 242 #10,154
1881 historical 531 #6,470
1891 historical 544 #6,940
1901 historical 661 #6,556
1911 historical 694 #6,121
1997 modern 656 #7,617
1998 modern 670 #7,739
1999 modern 691 #7,594
2000 modern 667 #7,783
2001 modern 653 #7,772
2002 modern 664 #7,819
2003 modern 636 #7,954
2004 modern 657 #7,773
2005 modern 640 #7,855
2006 modern 631 #7,983
2007 modern 625 #8,093
2008 modern 647 #7,942
2009 modern 679 #7,828
2010 modern 694 #7,830
2011 modern 680 #7,863
2012 modern 664 #7,933
2013 modern 673 #7,985
2014 modern 669 #8,069
2015 modern 665 #8,044
2016 modern 660 #8,078

Geography

Back to top

Where Vokes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wonston, Radstock, South Stoneham, London parishes and Overton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caerphilly, Kirklees and Cornwall. 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 Wonston Hampshire
2 Radstock Somerset
3 South Stoneham Hampshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Overton Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caerphilly 003 Caerphilly
2 Caerphilly 007 Caerphilly
3 Kirklees 018 Kirklees
4 Cornwall 048 Cornwall
5 Caerphilly 005 Caerphilly

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Vokes

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Vokes

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Vokes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Vokes household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Vokes is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Vokes is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Vokes falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Vokes

The surname Vokes has its origins in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "foc," which means "a greedy or covetous person." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone who displayed traits of greed or covetousness.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it is listed as "Roger Vokes." This document was a census-like survey conducted by the English government to record landowners and their properties.

Another early reference can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327, which mentions a "John Vokes" among the taxpayers of the county. These records provide valuable insights into the geographical distribution of the name during the medieval period.

In the 15th century, the name Vokes appeared in the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence between members of the Paston family in Norfolk. One of the letters, dated around 1472, mentions a "William Vokes" who was involved in a legal dispute over land ownership.

The Vokes surname has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Vokes Hill in Kent and Vokes Green in Shropshire. These place names likely derived from individuals bearing the surname who lived or owned land in those areas.

Among notable individuals with the surname Vokes throughout history, we can mention:

1. Thomas Vokes (c. 1580-1661), an English clergyman and polemical writer who served as the rector of Whitchurch in Shropshire. 2. Richard Vokes (1628-1677), an English silversmith and engraver who worked in London during the mid-17th century. 3. Martha Vokes (1756-1824), an English actress and theatre manager who performed in various plays and managed theatres in London and the provinces. 4. Frederick Vokes (1848-1888), a British actor and theatrical manager who founded the Vokes Family, a popular family of actors known for their comedic performances. 5. Rosina Vokes (1854-1894), a member of the Vokes Family and a renowned actress who achieved success in both England and the United States.

The Vokes surname has a rich history spanning several centuries, with its roots firmly planted in England. While its origins may have been humble, the name has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including clergymen, artisans, actors, and theatrical managers, contributing to the cultural and social fabric of English society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Vokes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Vokes 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 146 Vokes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.73x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 146 13.73x
Yorkshire 89 1.73x
Middlesex 72 1.39x
Somerset 42 5.03x
Surrey 42 1.66x
Kent 35 1.98x
Glamorgan 22 2.43x
Lancashire 20 0.32x
Durham 17 1.10x
Sussex 14 1.60x
Monmouthshire 9 2.40x
Essex 5 0.49x
Leicestershire 5 0.87x
Northamptonshire 5 1.02x
Gloucestershire 3 0.29x
Suffolk 2 0.32x
Devon 1 0.09x
Royal Navy 1 1.62x
Warwickshire 1 0.08x
Wiltshire 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 22 Vokes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.56x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 22 7.56x
South Stoneham 22 95.36x
Radstock 19 346.08x
Islington London 18 3.58x
Holy Trinity 17 13.74x
Rochester St Nicholas 12 217.79x
Kings Worthy 11 1392.41x
St Mary Kalendar 11 495.50x
Lambeth 10 2.21x
Portsea 10 4.80x
Ropley 10 641.03x
Blacktoft Cheapsides 9 3333.33x
Overton 9 352.94x
Bossall Claxton 8 1600.00x
Kingston On Thames 8 13.17x
Sculcoates 8 9.81x
St Marylebone London 8 2.89x
Barton Stacey 7 707.07x
Bedminster 7 8.92x
Broadwater 7 34.88x
Cardiff St John 7 23.72x
Great Crosby 7 41.69x
Shitlington 7 131.58x
Spotland 7 10.22x
Upper Clatford 7 534.35x
Whitchurch 7 143.15x
Wonston 7 569.11x
Farnham 6 30.52x
Hammersmith London 6 4.69x
Lee 6 23.34x
Lyncombe Widcombe 6 27.43x
Stoke Newington London 6 14.84x
Auckland St Helen 5 308.64x
Bedwellty 5 7.55x
Brancepeth 5 178.57x
Cameley 5 531.91x
East Meon 5 179.86x
Eling 5 46.43x
Headbourne Worthy 5 1162.79x
Kirby Wiske 5 1282.05x
Leicester St Margaret 5 3.56x
Milton In Milton 5 66.40x
Sheriff Hutton W 5 342.47x
St Faith Winchester 5 100.81x
St Thomas Winchester 5 66.58x
Ystradyfodwg 5 6.31x
Camberwell 4 1.21x
Camerton 4 164.61x
Deptford St Nicholas 4 28.47x
Hoyland Nether 4 31.72x
Newington 4 2.09x
Northampton St Giles 4 21.52x
Rawdon 4 66.01x
South Hanningfield 4 952.38x
Stockton On Tees 4 5.37x
Walton On Thames 4 34.45x
Woolwich 4 6.11x
Castleton 3 4.88x
Clapham 3 4.62x
Ecclesall Bierlow 3 2.87x
Kensington London 3 1.04x
Scarborough 3 6.42x
Sheet 3 260.87x
Twyford 3 118.11x
West Auckland 3 53.10x
Whitechapel London 3 5.87x
Brighton 2 1.13x
Bristol Temple 2 29.85x
Caerleon 2 102.04x
Cardiff St Mary 2 4.02x
Fareham 2 15.65x
Farringdon 2 192.31x
Gillingham 2 5.48x
Ipswich St Margaret 2 9.32x
Leeds 2 0.69x
Rogate 2 114.29x
Shoreditch London 2 0.89x
Steep 2 186.92x
Birmingham 1 0.23x
Southcoates 1 3.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Sarah 18
Ann 12
Alice 11
Emily 11
Annie 10
Jane 10
Elizabeth 8
Eliza 6
Emma 6
Martha 6
Edith 5
Fanny 5
Harriet 5
Harriett 5
Kate 5
Caroline 4
Catherine 4
Florence 4
Ada 3
Clara 3
Elizth. 3
Hannah 3
Julia 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Margaret 3
Minnie 3
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Angelina 2
Anne 2
Bridget 2
Charlotte 2
Daisy 2
Ellen 2
Esther 2
Jessie 2
Laura 2
Lydia 2
Maria 2
Matilda 2
Rosina 2
Susanna 2
Theodoria 2
Vitula 2
Amanda 1
Ellenore 1
Kegia 1
Lilly 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 29
George 21
John 20
James 18
Henry 17
Charles 14
Thomas 14
Frederick 10
Alfred 8
Joseph 8
Edward 7
Edwin 7
Arthur 6
Albert 5
David 5
Frank 5
Herbert 5
Harry 4
Robert 4
Walter 4
Benjamin 3
Daniel 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Thos. 3
Percy 2
Sidney 2
Wm. 2
Cornelius 1
Dodsworth 1
Edgar 1
Eli 1
Elijah 1
Emmanuel 1
Fred.J. 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.W. 1
Fredr. 1
Henery 1
Jonathan 1
Lewis 1
Montagu 1
Stephen 1
Sydney 1
Tom 1
Valentine 1
Vernon 1
Wyndam 1

FAQ

Vokes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Vokes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 531 people were recorded with the Vokes surname. That placed it at #6,470 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Vokes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 660 in 2016. That gives Vokes a modern rank of #8,078.

What does the Vokes surname mean?

A possible occupational surname derived from the Old English word "foc" meaning a servant or bailiff.

What does the Vokes map show?

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