NameCensus.

UK surname

Waker

An occupational surname referring to one who watched or guarded at night.

In the 1881 census there were 135 people recorded with the Waker surname, ranking it #16,515 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 159, ranked #22,798, down from #16,515 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, Manchester and Flitton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Basildon and Bournemouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Waker is 567 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.8%.

1881 census count

135

Ranked #16,515

Modern count

159

2016, ranked #22,798

Peak year

1861

567 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Waker had 135 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,515 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 159 in 2016, ranked #22,798.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 567 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Waker surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Waker surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Waker 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 221 #9,630
1861 historical 567 #4,640
1881 historical 135 #16,515
1891 historical 318 #10,583
1901 historical 280 #12,193
1911 historical 208 #14,594
1997 modern 202 #17,514
1998 modern 179 #19,372
1999 modern 178 #19,592
2000 modern 178 #19,570
2001 modern 152 #21,294
2002 modern 159 #21,086
2003 modern 158 #20,952
2004 modern 150 #21,830
2005 modern 146 #22,146
2006 modern 147 #22,221
2007 modern 151 #22,120
2008 modern 147 #22,720
2009 modern 153 #22,611
2010 modern 163 #22,205
2011 modern 155 #22,790
2012 modern 151 #23,166
2013 modern 156 #23,004
2014 modern 162 #22,624
2015 modern 160 #22,701
2016 modern 159 #22,798

Geography

Back to top

Where Wakers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, Manchester, Flitton, St Luke and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Basildon, Bournemouth, Uttlesford and West Oxfordshire. 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 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Flitton Bedfordshire
4 St Luke London (Central Districts)
5 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 040 Wiltshire
2 Basildon 021 Basildon
3 Bournemouth 020 Bournemouth
4 Uttlesford 005 Uttlesford
5 West Oxfordshire 011 West Oxfordshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Waker

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Waker

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Waker surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Waker household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Waker 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

Waker is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Waker falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Waker

The surname WAKER has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be an occupational name, derived from the Old English word "wacor," which means "watchman" or "guard." This suggests that the name was originally given to someone who worked as a watchman or a sentry, responsible for keeping watch over a particular area or property.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name WAKER can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1190, where a person named Walter le Waker was mentioned. This document provides valuable insight into the early use of the name and its association with the occupation of a watchman.

In the 13th century, the surname WAKER appeared in various forms, such as Waker, Wakere, and Wakour, reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. One notable figure from this period was Robert le Waker, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Northumberland in 1256.

During the 14th century, the name WAKER continued to be found in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a John le Waker was listed. This suggests that the name had spread across different regions of England by this time.

In the 15th century, the surname WAKER was sometimes associated with place names, such as Wakerhurst in Sussex, which may have been derived from the name itself or vice versa. One notable individual from this period was William Waker, who was born in Oxfordshire around 1420 and served as a member of the local gentry.

As the centuries passed, the surname WAKER continued to be prevalent in various parts of England, with individuals bearing the name making contributions in various fields. One notable figure was Sir John Waker (1545-1618), a prominent lawyer and member of the English Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Other notable individuals with the surname WAKER include: 1. Thomas Waker (1670-1744), an English clergyman and author. 2. Samuel Waker (1715-1792), a British artist known for his landscape paintings. 3. William Waker (1789-1867), a British industrialist and philanthropist. 4. Elizabeth Waker (1820-1898), a British novelist and poet. 5. Henry Waker (1865-1931), a British explorer and adventurer who led expeditions in Africa and Asia.

The surname WAKER has a rich history spanning several centuries, with its origins rooted in the occupation of watchmen or guards in medieval England. While the name has evolved over time, it continues to hold significance as a testament to the diverse occupations and contributions of those who bore it throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Waker families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Waker 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. Middlesex leads with 39 Wakers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.03x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 39 3.03x
Yorkshire 29 2.27x
Lancashire 9 0.59x
Durham 7 1.83x
Staffordshire 7 1.61x
Ayrshire 6 6.23x
Nottinghamshire 5 2.88x
Sussex 4 1.84x
Aberdeenshire 3 2.52x
Lanarkshire 3 0.72x
Leicestershire 3 2.10x
Northamptonshire 3 2.48x
Northumberland 3 1.57x
Angus 2 1.68x
Cornwall 2 1.37x
Essex 2 0.79x
Cumberland 1 0.90x
Derbyshire 1 0.50x
Fife 1 1.31x
Norfolk 1 0.51x
Surrey 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 21 Wakers recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.55x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 21 37.55x
Easington 7 1250.00x
Skircoat 7 139.17x
Tipton 7 52.59x
East Ardsley 6 545.45x
Edmonton 6 57.86x
Whitley Upper 6 3333.33x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 5 155.28x
Riccarton Hurlford 5 295.86x
Denton 4 1904.76x
Preston 4 9.79x
Basford 3 37.50x
Humberstone 3 256.41x
Keig 3 882.35x
Northampton All Sts 3 72.99x
York St Cuthbert 3 256.41x
Great Bolton 2 9.88x
Gwennap 2 72.73x
Hulme 2 6.27x
Mile End New Town 2 113.64x
Ovingham Whittle Spital 2 689.66x
Spitalfields London 2 20.66x
St Luke London 2 9.69x
St Marylebone London 2 2.91x
West Ham 2 3.56x
Brechin 1 21.32x
Camberwell 1 1.22x
Dalrymple 1 166.67x
Dalziel 1 22.32x
Dundee 1 2.25x
Dysart 1 19.49x
Elswick 1 6.54x
Glasgow 1 1.35x
Gorbals 1 40.49x
Granby Sutton 1 588.24x
Kirby Bedon 1 833.33x
Limehouse London 1 7.08x
North Frodingham 1 333.33x
Nottingham St Mary 1 2.23x
Ripley 1 40.16x
St Botolph Aldgate 1 56.82x
St Cuthbert W O 1 18.52x
St George Hanover 1 5.95x
St Michael Le Querne 1 3333.33x
Sutton 1 19.53x
Wakefield 1 10.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Sarah 7
Elizabeth 5
Rebecca 3
Annie 2
Emily 2
Jane 2
Alice 1
Betsy 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Emelina 1
Emma 1
Ernest 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Isoble 1
Janie 1
Katherine 1
Letty 1
Louisa 1
Lousia 1
Lucy 1
Martha 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
John 7
Joseph 6
Thomas 6
Charles 4
James 4
Edward 3
George 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Henry 2
Patrick 2
Walter 2
Andrew 1
Charls 1
Christopher 1
Emanuel 1
Francis 1
Geoge 1
Leonard 1
Nanno 1
Pat 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Wilson 1

FAQ

Waker surname: questions and answers

How common was the Waker surname in 1881?

In 1881, 135 people were recorded with the Waker surname. That placed it at #16,515 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Waker surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 159 in 2016. That gives Waker a modern rank of #22,798.

What does the Waker surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to one who watched or guarded at night.

What does the Waker map show?

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