NameCensus.

UK surname

Wark

A locational surname referring to someone from a place called Wark.

In the 1881 census there were 362 people recorded with the Wark surname, ranking it #8,561 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 621, ranked #8,487, up from #8,561 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Govan Combination and St. Ninians. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Parkhead East and Braidfauld North, Kilbirnie North and Bathgate West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wark is 641 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 71.5%.

1881 census count

362

Ranked #8,561

Modern count

621

2016, ranked #8,487

Peak year

2014

641 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wark had 362 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,561 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 621 in 2016, ranked #8,487.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 531 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Wark surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wark surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wark 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 323 #7,198
1861 historical 531 #4,945
1881 historical 362 #8,561
1891 historical 490 #7,550
1901 historical 476 #8,356
1911 historical 134 #19,131
1997 modern 521 #9,026
1998 modern 550 #8,937
1999 modern 546 #9,038
2000 modern 536 #9,133
2001 modern 531 #9,039
2002 modern 529 #9,255
2003 modern 521 #9,217
2004 modern 549 #8,878
2005 modern 576 #8,512
2006 modern 572 #8,587
2007 modern 584 #8,534
2008 modern 598 #8,437
2009 modern 607 #8,517
2010 modern 616 #8,611
2011 modern 624 #8,425
2012 modern 611 #8,486
2013 modern 626 #8,448
2014 modern 641 #8,356
2015 modern 625 #8,449
2016 modern 621 #8,487

Geography

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Where Warks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Govan Combination, St. Ninians, Greenock and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Parkhead East and Braidfauld North, Kilbirnie North, Bathgate West, Upper Nithsdale and Drumoyne and Shieldhall. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 New Monkland Lanark
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 St. Ninians Stirling
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Parkhead East and Braidfauld North Glasgow City
2 Kilbirnie North North Ayrshire
3 Bathgate West West Lothian
4 Upper Nithsdale Dumfries and Galloway
5 Drumoyne and Shieldhall Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wark

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wark

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Wark surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Wark household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Wark is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wark is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wark 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 Wark 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 Wark, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Wark

The surname Wark is of Scottish origin, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "wærc," meaning "a fortified place" or "enclosure." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a fortified settlement or enclosure.

The Wark surname is particularly concentrated in the Scottish Borders region, including areas like Roxburghshire and Berwickshire. This is where some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found. For example, a charter from the reign of King William the Lion (1165-1214) mentions a landowner named William de Wark.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners and tenants in England compiled by order of William the Conqueror, there are several references to places with similar names, such as "Werc" and "Werche." While these may not directly relate to the Wark surname, they provide evidence of the word's existence in early medieval times.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Wark surname was Sir William de Wark, a Scottish knight who fought alongside Sir William Wallace during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. Another notable bearer of the name was John Wark, a 15th-century Scottish merchant and burgess of Edinburgh, who served as the city's provost in 1455.

In the 16th century, a branch of the Wark family settled in Northumberland, England, where they became prominent landowners. Sir Walter Wark (1565-1634) was a Member of Parliament for Morpeth and a respected figure in the region.

During the Scottish Reformation in the 16th century, a prominent Protestant reformer named John Wark played a significant role in the spread of Protestantism in Scotland. He was a close associate of John Knox and participated in the famous Protestant riots of 1559.

In more recent times, one of the most well-known bearers of the Wark surname was Gordon Wark (1903-1982), a Scottish footballer who played for Glasgow Rangers and the Scottish national team in the 1920s and 1930s.

Overall, the Wark surname has a long and rich history, with its roots firmly planted in the Scottish Borders region. While it may have originally referred to those living near fortified enclosures, the name has since been carried by notable figures from various walks of life, including knights, merchants, politicians, and even a renowned footballer.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wark families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wark 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. Lanarkshire leads with 156 Warks recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.70x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 156 13.70x
Ayrshire 53 20.11x
Renfrewshire 46 16.86x
Lancashire 13 0.31x
Stirlingshire 12 9.24x
Berkshire 7 2.65x
Surrey 6 0.35x
Warwickshire 6 0.68x
West Lothian 6 11.31x
Yorkshire 6 0.17x
Suffolk 5 1.17x
Sussex 5 0.84x
Dunbartonshire 4 4.23x
Northumberland 4 0.76x
Aberdeenshire 3 0.92x
Middlesex 3 0.09x
Midlothian 3 0.64x
Norfolk 3 0.55x
Buteshire 2 9.37x
Devon 2 0.27x
Durham 2 0.19x
Huntingdonshire 2 2.86x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 3.92x
Lincolnshire 2 0.36x
Argyllshire 1 1.02x
Berwickshire 1 2.35x
Cornwall 1 0.25x
Cumberland 1 0.33x
Essex 1 0.14x
Kent 1 0.08x
Perthshire 1 0.63x
Roxburghshire 1 1.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 41 Warks recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.23x.

Place Total Index
Barony 41 14.23x
Govan 26 9.23x
Maryhill 26 116.64x
Glasgow 23 11.37x
Coylton 17 454.55x
Eastwood 16 95.18x
Irvine 12 163.93x
Gorton 10 25.46x
New Monkland 10 29.71x
St Ninians 10 77.70x
East Greenock 9 34.92x
West Greenock 9 18.37x
Kilmarnock 8 25.50x
Bothwell 7 22.67x
Cadder 7 83.23x
Shotts 7 51.36x
South Hinksey 7 608.70x
Sheffield 6 5.40x
Abbey 5 12.01x
Birmingham 5 1.69x
Ipswich St Mathew 5 41.60x
Mauchline 5 165.02x
Old Monkland 5 11.06x
Paisley Middle Church 5 31.47x
Bathgate 4 34.75x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 3 4.92x
Beith 3 38.17x
Chirton 3 25.30x
Largs 3 48.31x
Mileham 3 508.47x
New Kilpatrick 3 33.33x
Brighton 2 1.67x
Bute North 2 138.89x
Crowhurst 2 392.16x
Croydon 2 2.10x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 2 17.92x
Falkirk 2 6.58x
Gateshead 2 2.55x
Hamilton 2 6.30x
Hulme 2 2.29x
Huntingdon St John 2 98.52x
Kirkliston 2 64.72x
Lambeth 2 0.65x
Mearns 2 41.84x
Rerrick 2 91.32x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 2 25.25x
Ardrossan 1 10.96x
Aston 1 0.41x
Ayton 1 40.49x
Blair Athole 1 47.39x
Camberwell 1 0.44x
Carmunnock 1 114.94x
Colchester St Botolph 1 16.92x
Dalry 1 8.06x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.53x
Enfield 1 4.33x
Jedburgh 1 16.00x
Kilbirnie 1 15.80x
Kilmallie 1 19.84x
Kingston On Thames 1 2.43x
Kirkintilloch 1 7.78x
Manchester 1 0.53x
Newton On Ayr 1 12.67x
Penrith 1 8.93x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 1.77x
Preston 1 9.64x
Saltash 1 32.36x
Shettleston 1 9.80x
St Botolph Aldgate 1 20.79x
St George Hanover 1 2.18x
Stair 1 89.29x
Stoke Damerel 1 1.95x
Walmer 1 19.16x
Westgate 1 3.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Eliza 3
Jane 2
Janet 2
Maggie 2
Sarah 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Anna 1
Elizabeth 1
Emily 1
Flora 1
Hannah 1
Henrietta 1
Jeanie 1
Knight 1
Margaret 1
Marion 1
Marth 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Meria 1
Nelly 1
Rosey 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3
Robert 3
Thomas 3
Alfred 2
David 2
George 2
Henry 2
James 2
William 2
Alexander 1
Andrew 1
D.S. 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Gilbert 1
Joseph 1
Preston 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1

FAQ

Wark surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wark surname in 1881?

In 1881, 362 people were recorded with the Wark surname. That placed it at #8,561 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wark surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 621 in 2016. That gives Wark a modern rank of #8,487.

What does the Wark surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a place called Wark.

What does the Wark map show?

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