NameCensus.

UK surname

Wake

An occupational surname referring to a watchman, derived from the Old English word "wacu" meaning "watching" or "wakefulness."

In the 1881 census there were 2,425 people recorded with the Wake surname, ranking it #1,831 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,363, ranked #2,017, down from #1,831 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Sunderland and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hambleton, South Somerset and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wake is 3,483 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.7%.

1881 census count

2,425

Ranked #1,831

Modern count

3,363

2016, ranked #2,017

Peak year

1999

3,483 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wake had 2,425 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,831 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,363 in 2016, ranked #2,017.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,356 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Wake surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wake surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wake 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 1,645 #1,749
1861 historical 1,827 #1,585
1881 historical 2,425 #1,831
1891 historical 2,563 #1,856
1901 historical 2,953 #1,895
1911 historical 3,356 #1,556
1997 modern 3,359 #1,921
1998 modern 3,468 #1,934
1999 modern 3,483 #1,950
2000 modern 3,447 #1,960
2001 modern 3,375 #1,956
2002 modern 3,439 #1,965
2003 modern 3,368 #1,964
2004 modern 3,363 #1,967
2005 modern 3,278 #1,988
2006 modern 3,286 #1,997
2007 modern 3,285 #2,021
2008 modern 3,304 #2,024
2009 modern 3,349 #2,043
2010 modern 3,450 #2,022
2011 modern 3,457 #1,991
2012 modern 3,378 #1,993
2013 modern 3,393 #2,022
2014 modern 3,419 #2,022
2015 modern 3,359 #2,034
2016 modern 3,363 #2,017

Geography

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Where Wakes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Sunderland, London parishes, Gateshead and Monkwearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hambleton, South Somerset, Sunderland, Northumberland and Rotherham. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Sunderland Durham
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Monkwearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hambleton 004 Hambleton
2 South Somerset 002 South Somerset
3 Sunderland 022 Sunderland
4 Northumberland 006 Northumberland
5 Rotherham 002 Rotherham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wake

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wake

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

London Fringe

Within London, Wake is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Wake 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

Wake falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wake

The surname Wake is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "wacu," meaning a watch or vigil, or from the Old English personal name "Waca," derived from the same root.

The name Wake was initially associated with areas in the counties of Dorset, Somerset, and Wiltshire in southwestern England. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Wache" and "Wake."

One of the earliest prominent individuals with this surname was Hugh Wake, a Norman knight who accompanied William the Conqueror during the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. He was granted lands in Dorset and Somerset, and his descendants took on the surname Wake.

In the 13th century, Baldwin Wake, who lived from around 1238 to 1282, was a notable English nobleman and Lord of Liddell. He was a prominent figure during the Barons' War against King Henry III and played a significant role in the negotiations that led to the Provisions of Oxford in 1258.

Another notable figure was Thomas Wake, who lived from around 1297 to 1349. He was a English nobleman and military commander who fought in the Scottish Wars of Independence and the Hundred Years' War against France. He was also a member of the Council of Regency during the minority of King Edward III.

Sir Isaac Wake, who lived from around 1575 to 1632, was an English diplomat and politician. He served as Ambassador to Venice and Savoy and was also a Member of Parliament for several constituencies.

Lastly, William Wake, born in 1657 and died in 1737, was an English prelate who served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1716 until his death. He was a prominent figure in the Church of England and played a significant role in the religious and political affairs of his time.

The surname Wake has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Wake's Colne in Essex, Wakefield in Yorkshire, and Wakering in Essex. The name has also undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, including Wache, Wak, Wak, and Wayke.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wake families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wake 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. Durham leads with 452 Wakes recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.46x.

County Total Index
Durham 452 6.46x
Yorkshire 434 1.86x
Northumberland 264 7.54x
Middlesex 184 0.78x
Hampshire 155 3.22x
Surrey 117 1.02x
Somerset 110 2.91x
Lancashire 82 0.29x
Berkshire 68 3.85x
Norfolk 55 1.52x
Kent 37 0.46x
Cambridgeshire 36 2.42x
Derbyshire 33 0.90x
Northamptonshire 33 1.49x
Glamorgan 30 0.73x
Warwickshire 30 0.51x
Suffolk 29 1.01x
Worcestershire 26 0.85x
Hertfordshire 25 1.54x
Gloucestershire 23 0.50x
Nottinghamshire 23 0.73x
Dorset 22 1.43x
Oxfordshire 19 1.31x
Wiltshire 18 0.87x
Sussex 13 0.33x
Essex 12 0.26x
Cheshire 11 0.21x
Cornwall 11 0.41x
Devon 11 0.22x
Buckinghamshire 9 0.63x
Staffordshire 9 0.11x
Lincolnshire 8 0.21x
Brecknockshire 6 1.28x
Midlothian 4 0.13x
Cardiganshire 3 0.52x
Royal Navy 3 1.07x
Cumberland 2 0.10x
Bedfordshire 1 0.08x
Berwickshire 1 0.35x
Leicestershire 1 0.04x
Shropshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 76 Wakes recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.65x.

Place Total Index
Bishopwearmouth 76 12.65x
Monkwearmouth Shore 42 30.75x
Sunderland 42 33.99x
Gateshead 35 6.68x
Middlesbrough 32 10.54x
South Stoneham 32 30.60x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 23 11.00x
Lambeth 21 1.02x
Abingdon St Helen 20 38.75x
Ardsley 20 74.46x
Hetton Le Hole 20 22.56x
Westoe 20 5.04x
Kings Norton 19 6.90x
St Pancras London 19 1.00x
Darlington 18 6.66x
Overton 18 155.98x
Portsea 18 1.91x
Soham 18 56.14x
Staveley 18 27.54x
Aston 17 1.04x
Camberwell 17 1.13x
Kensington London 17 1.30x
Kimberworth 17 13.14x
South Barrow 17 1734.69x
Longbenton 16 10.80x
Battersea 15 1.73x
Brightside Bierlow 15 3.28x
Islington London 15 0.66x
Ashwell 14 109.98x
Chirton 14 17.68x
Clarborough 13 54.83x
Eryholme 13 872.48x
Lanchester 13 101.17x
Lowick 13 106.73x
Silverstone 13 139.34x
St Marylebone London 13 1.04x
Sutton Stoneferry 13 19.50x
Bedale 12 141.34x
Bedlington 12 10.27x
Cardiff St Mary 12 5.32x
Carlton In Stokesley 12 588.24x
Clifton In York 12 24.62x
Lewisham 12 2.80x
Southampton St Mary 12 3.96x
St George Hanover 12 3.91x
Sunninghill 12 49.00x
Tynemouth 12 6.40x
Mile End Old Town 11 2.96x
Newmarket St Mary 11 50.02x
Scarborough 11 5.19x
St Luke London 11 2.92x
Whickham 11 17.09x
Wortley In Bramley 11 5.96x
Banham 10 108.46x
Camborne 10 9.11x
Cowpen 10 12.41x
Hunslet 10 2.75x
Newington 10 1.15x
West Auckland 10 39.08x
West Derby 10 1.22x
Westgate 10 4.61x
Bolam Harnham Bradford 9 459.18x
Bootle Cum Linacre 9 4.06x
Dorchester Holy Trinity 9 72.00x
Elswick 9 3.22x
Godalming 9 12.48x
Great Aycliffe 9 133.14x
Hart 9 52.82x
Knottingley 9 21.97x
Lofthouse 9 25.86x
Newcastle On Tyne St 9 4.96x
Paddington London 9 1.04x
Shalfleet 9 96.77x
Staindrop 9 84.75x
Stonehouse 9 34.34x
West Rainham 9 332.10x
Weston 9 30.92x
Weymouth 9 30.78x
Yeovilton 9 463.92x
Alnwick 8 13.30x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 178
Elizabeth 98
Jane 64
Sarah 63
Ann 53
Margaret 47
Ellen 38
Annie 37
Alice 35
Eliza 30
Hannah 27
Isabella 24
Emma 23
Emily 21
Maria 17
Ada 15
Louisa 15
Frances 14
Edith 13
Anne 12
Catherine 12
Florence 12
Caroline 11
Charlotte 11
Fanny 11
Dorothy 10
Susan 10
Esther 9
Harriet 9
Kate 9
Matilda 9
Eleanor 8
Harriett 7
Lucy 7
Amelia 6
Martha 6
Minnie 6
Rosa 6
Agnes 5
Clara 5
Elizth. 5
Georgina 5
Isabel 5
Lydia 5
Beatrice 4
Bessie 4
Ethel 4
Gertrude 4
Julia 4
Rebecca 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 154
William 149
George 100
Thomas 92
James 69
Charles 61
Henry 60
Robert 57
Joseph 31
Richard 22
Arthur 21
Edward 20
Walter 20
Alfred 18
Albert 16
Frederick 13
Harry 11
Thos. 11
Edwin 10
Benjamin 8
Francis 8
Ernest 7
Matthew 7
Stephen 7
Christopher 6
Frank 6
Fredrick 5
Geo. 5
Wm. 5
Fred 4
Joshua 4
Peter 4
Samuel 4
Bernard 3
Chas. 3
Herbert 3
Horace 3
Tom 3
Fenton 2
Fred. 2
Herwald 2
Israel 2
Jeremiah 2
Mathew 2
Michael 2
Oswald 2
Owen 2
Percy 2
Ralph 2
Robt. 2

FAQ

Wake surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wake surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,425 people were recorded with the Wake surname. That placed it at #1,831 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wake surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,363 in 2016. That gives Wake a modern rank of #2,017.

What does the Wake surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a watchman, derived from the Old English word "wacu" meaning "watching" or "wakefulness."

What does the Wake map show?

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