UK surname
A surname derived from the Polish word "waks," meaning a type of wax or tallow.
In the 1881 census there were 4 people recorded with the Waks surname, ranking it #33,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2, ranked #38,825, down from #33,288 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Pluckley with Pevington, Brading and Exbourne. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Waks is 225 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 50.0%.
1881 census count
4
Ranked #33,288
Modern count
2
2016, ranked #38,825
Peak year
1861
225 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Waks surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Waks surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 16 | #30,441 |
| 1861 | historical | 225 | #10,843 |
| 1881 | historical | 4 | #33,288 |
| 1891 | historical | 56 | #29,638 |
| 1901 | historical | 6 | #33,591 |
| 1911 | historical | 2 | #34,020 |
| 2004 | modern | 2 | #38,464 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2008 | modern | 1 | #38,949 |
| 2009 | modern | 2 | #38,725 |
| 2010 | modern | 5 | #38,186 |
| 2011 | modern | 2 | #38,745 |
| 2012 | modern | 4 | #38,335 |
| 2013 | modern | 3 | #38,526 |
| 2014 | modern | 2 | #38,791 |
| 2015 | modern | 2 | #38,793 |
| 2016 | modern | 2 | #38,825 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Pluckley with Pevington, Brading, Exbourne, Lambeth and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pluckley with Pevington | Kent |
| 2 | Brading | Hampshire |
| 3 | Exbourne | Devon |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Waks surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Waks, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Waks surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Waks household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Waks is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Waks is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Waks, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname WAKS is believed to have originated in Poland, dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Polish word "wąski," meaning "narrow" or "slim," possibly referring to a person's physical appearance or a narrow geographical location.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the WAKS surname can be found in the parish records of Krakow, Poland, where a certain Jan WAKS was mentioned in 1587. The name was also present in other historical documents from the region, such as land deeds and tax records from the 17th and 18th centuries.
During the 19th century, the WAKS surname began to spread beyond Poland due to migration and immigration patterns. Some notable individuals bearing this surname include Jakub WAKS (1812-1879), a Polish writer and poet known for his satirical works, and Szymon WAKS (1856-1924), a prominent Polish-Jewish businessman and philanthropist who supported various charitable causes in Warsaw.
In the early 20th century, the WAKS surname gained recognition with the birth of Natan WAKS (1901-1983), a Polish-born Israeli politician and Zionist activist who served as a member of the Knesset (Israeli parliament) in the 1950s and 1960s. Another notable figure was Chaim WAKS (1910-1986), a Polish-American artist and sculptor whose works were exhibited in various galleries across the United States.
Another interesting individual was Yitzhak WAKS (1924-2018), a Holocaust survivor from Krakow who later became a renowned author and educator, sharing his experiences and promoting tolerance and understanding through his writings and lectures. His memoir, "The Narrow Path," recounted his harrowing journey during World War II and shed light on the resilience of the human spirit.
While the WAKS surname may have originated in Poland, it has since spread to various corners of the world, carried by generations of individuals who have left their mark in various fields, from politics and literature to art and education.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
FAQ
In 1881, 4 people were recorded with the Waks surname. That placed it at #33,288 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 2 in 2016. That gives Waks a modern rank of #38,825.
A surname derived from the Polish word "waks," meaning a type of wax or tallow.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Waks bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.