NameCensus.

UK surname

Warke

A topographic surname denoting someone who lived near an earthen rampart or fortification.

In the 1881 census there were 16 people recorded with the Warke surname, ranking it #31,301 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 181, ranked #20,955, up from #31,301 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Walsall, Leeds and Lichfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Warke is 219 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1031.3%.

1881 census count

16

Ranked #31,301

Modern count

181

2016, ranked #20,955

Peak year

2010

219 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Warke had 16 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,301 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 181 in 2016, ranked #20,955.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 34 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Warke surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Warke surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Warke 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 11 #31,309
1861 historical 34 #29,685
1881 historical 16 #31,301
1891 historical 31 #31,820
1901 historical 17 #32,146
1911 historical 7 #33,083
1997 modern 163 #20,038
1998 modern 180 #19,298
1999 modern 187 #18,999
2000 modern 187 #18,990
2001 modern 183 #18,980
2002 modern 198 #18,410
2003 modern 192 #18,568
2004 modern 203 #18,061
2005 modern 198 #18,279
2006 modern 195 #18,564
2007 modern 199 #18,542
2008 modern 198 #18,753
2009 modern 201 #18,965
2010 modern 219 #18,319
2011 modern 207 #18,841
2012 modern 197 #19,408
2013 modern 193 #19,997
2014 modern 192 #20,230
2015 modern 185 #20,641
2016 modern 181 #20,955

Geography

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Where Warkes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Walsall, Leeds, Lichfield, Bolton and Salford. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Walsall 009 Walsall
2 Leeds 098 Leeds
3 Lichfield 001 Lichfield
4 Bolton 012 Bolton
5 Salford 019 Salford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Warke

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Warke

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Warke, 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 Warke surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Warke 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Warke is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Warke is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Warke falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Warke 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 - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Warke, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Warke

The surname WARKE is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English word "weorc", meaning "work" or "something worked". It is believed to have originated in England during the 7th or 8th century AD as an occupational surname, given to those who worked in various trades or professions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Worca" and "Worcha". This suggests that the name was already well-established in England by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as "Werk", "Werke", and "Wurke". These variations reflect the different dialects and regional pronunciations of the time.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname was Sir John Warke (c. 1450-1521), a prominent merchant and Lord Mayor of London in 1515. He played a significant role in the economic and political life of the city during the early Tudor period.

Another individual of note was William Warke (1609-1683), an English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Chichester from 1678 until his death. He was known for his theological writings and sermons.

In the 18th century, John Warke (1725-1801) was a renowned English engraver and printmaker. His works were highly sought after and can be found in many art collections around the world.

During the 19th century, the surname gained recognition through the achievements of Charles Warke (1818-1891), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall.

Another notable figure was Sir William Warke (1837-1914), a British politician and industrialist who served as a Member of Parliament and played a significant role in the development of the coal mining industry in the north of England.

Throughout its history, the surname WARKE has been associated with various occupations, from skilled tradesmen and merchants to professionals and industrialists. Despite its humble origins, the name has left an indelible mark on the annals of British history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Warke families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Warke 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. Surrey leads with 5 Warkes recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.09x.

County Total Index
Surrey 5 8.09x
Lancashire 3 1.99x
Aberdeenshire 2 17.04x
Devon 1 3.79x
Inverness-shire 1 26.39x
Middlesex 1 0.79x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Battersea in Surrey leads with 4 Warkes recorded in 1881 and an index of 85.65x.

Place Total Index
Battersea 4 85.65x
Liverpool 3 32.82x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 2 90.91x
Epsom 1 333.33x
Inverness 1 105.26x
Plymouth Charles The 1 86.21x
St George Hanover 1 60.61x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Annie 1
Elizabeth 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Marianne 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 2
George 1
John 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Warke households.

FAQ

Warke surname: questions and answers

How common was the Warke surname in 1881?

In 1881, 16 people were recorded with the Warke surname. That placed it at #31,301 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Warke surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 181 in 2016. That gives Warke a modern rank of #20,955.

What does the Warke surname mean?

A topographic surname denoting someone who lived near an earthen rampart or fortification.

What does the Warke map show?

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