NameCensus.

UK surname

Yorke

An English habitational surname derived from the Yorkshire region of England.

In the 1881 census there were 960 people recorded with the Yorke surname, ranking it #4,037 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,443, ranked #2,698, up from #4,037 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Eccles and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Hambleton and Plymouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Yorke is 2,514 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 154.5%.

1881 census count

960

Ranked #4,037

Modern count

2,443

2016, ranked #2,698

Peak year

2010

2,514 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Yorke had 960 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,037 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,443 in 2016, ranked #2,698.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,949 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Yorke surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Yorke surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Yorke 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 434 #5,651
1861 historical 512 #5,112
1881 historical 960 #4,037
1891 historical 1,167 #3,661
1901 historical 1,670 #3,085
1911 historical 1,949 #2,549
1997 modern 2,373 #2,633
1998 modern 2,475 #2,639
1999 modern 2,512 #2,625
2000 modern 2,435 #2,680
2001 modern 2,405 #2,652
2002 modern 2,457 #2,664
2003 modern 2,407 #2,648
2004 modern 2,392 #2,667
2005 modern 2,328 #2,696
2006 modern 2,349 #2,680
2007 modern 2,391 #2,665
2008 modern 2,400 #2,670
2009 modern 2,439 #2,699
2010 modern 2,514 #2,685
2011 modern 2,468 #2,702
2012 modern 2,444 #2,675
2013 modern 2,494 #2,671
2014 modern 2,497 #2,685
2015 modern 2,459 #2,700
2016 modern 2,443 #2,698

Geography

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Where Yorkes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Eccles, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory and Doddington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Hambleton, Plymouth and Cornwall. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Eccles Lancashire
4 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
5 Doddington Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 057 County Durham
2 Hambleton 010 Hambleton
3 County Durham 056 County Durham
4 Plymouth 009 Plymouth
5 Cornwall 024 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Yorke

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Yorke

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Yorke surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Yorke household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Yorke is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Yorke is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Yorke

The surname Yorke originated in England, dating back to the medieval period. It chiefly derives from the Old English word "Eoforwic," which evolved into "Eboracum" under Roman influence and eventually became known as "York." The name is regionally associated with the county of Yorkshire, which lies in Northeastern England. People bearing the surname Yorke were typically from this region or had roots in it.

The name Yorke appeared in historical manuscripts as early as the Domesday Book of 1086, recording it as "Eurewic." This early reference indicated its connection to the city of York. Variations in spelling were common during this time, and Yorke was frequently spelled as York or Yorck in different documents, showcasing the fluidity of medieval English orthography.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the surname was Sir Richard Yorke, born in 1430 and passed away in 1498. He served as Lord Mayor of the City of London in 1483. Sir Richard Yorke epitomized the prominence of the family in both local and national affairs during the late 15th century.

Another significant historical figure attached to this surname was Thomas Yorke, born in 1606 and known to have died in 1668. Thomas was an English merchant and politician who represented the city of Bristol in the House of Commons during the 17th century. His influence in commercial and political spheres further cemented the surname's association with significant socio-economic activities.

Elizabeth Yorke, born in 1725 and died in 1800, was yet another distinguished individual. She became known as Lady Elizabeth Anson after her marriage and was a notable figure in British social circles. Her prominence in elite society underpinned the continuation of the name's status across centuries.

Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke, born in 1690 and died in 1764, was an influential British lawyer and politician. As Lord Chancellor from 1737 to 1756, Philip Yorke's legal reforms were instrumental in shaping British jurisprudence. His achievements in law and governance highlighted the surname's association with public service and dedication to the legal profession.

Lastly, Nigel Yorke, born in the mid-20th century though specific birth and death dates are somewhat ambiguous, became a renowned figure in academic circles. His studies on medieval English history contributed significantly to the documentation and preservation of British heritage.

In summary, the history of the Yorke surname is rich with cultural and historical significance, rooted in the ancient city of York and closely tied to various distinguished individuals throughout centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Yorke families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Yorke 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 130 Yorkes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.39x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 130 1.39x
Yorkshire 119 1.29x
Northamptonshire 81 9.23x
Warwickshire 77 3.27x
Lancashire 60 0.54x
Cambridgeshire 49 8.29x
Surrey 44 0.97x
Staffordshire 35 1.11x
Lincolnshire 32 2.14x
Gloucestershire 29 1.58x
Worcestershire 27 2.21x
Nottinghamshire 26 2.07x
Kent 24 0.75x
Hampshire 23 1.20x
Sussex 21 1.33x
Leicestershire 18 1.74x
Durham 17 0.61x
Shropshire 17 2.11x
Hertfordshire 16 2.49x
Cheshire 15 0.73x
Essex 15 0.81x
Northumberland 13 0.94x
Glamorgan 9 0.55x
Denbighshire 6 1.70x
Huntingdonshire 6 3.24x
Suffolk 6 0.53x
Berkshire 5 0.71x
Pembrokeshire 5 1.69x
East Lothian 4 3.23x
Devon 3 0.15x
Midlothian 3 0.24x
Somerset 3 0.20x
Bedfordshire 2 0.41x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.35x
Derbyshire 2 0.14x
Lanarkshire 2 0.07x
Wiltshire 2 0.24x
Angus 1 0.12x
Ayrshire 1 0.14x
Channel Islands 1 0.36x
Cornwall 1 0.09x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.40x
Herefordshire 1 0.26x
Norfolk 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 0.90x
Selkirkshire 1 1.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 52 Yorkes recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.02x.

Place Total Index
Aston 52 8.02x
Doddington 30 691.24x
Islington London 22 2.43x
Deeping St James 18 340.91x
Hornsey 18 15.25x
Lambeth 17 2.09x
St Andrewthe Less 17 25.17x
Madeley 13 43.96x
Clapham 12 10.28x
Kensington London 12 2.31x
Norton In Malton 11 98.13x
St George Hanover 11 9.03x
Toxteth Park 11 2.93x
Battersea 10 2.91x
Thornaby 10 28.93x
Dudley 9 6.07x
Finedon 9 117.04x
Loughborough 9 19.16x
Northampton St Giles 9 26.91x
St Giles In Fields 9 27.95x
St Pancras London 9 1.20x
Stoke Upon Trent 9 2.69x
Birmingham 8 1.02x
Irthlingborough 8 92.92x
Long Buckby 8 98.52x
Nottingham St Mary 8 2.46x
Walgrave 8 414.51x
West Halton 8 1777.78x
Ansley 7 263.16x
Brightside Bierlow 7 3.86x
Cardiff St John 7 13.19x
Colchester St Peter 7 94.98x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 7 20.90x
Great Ayton 7 123.46x
Kettering 7 19.71x
Marton Cum Moxby 7 1521.74x
Monkseaton 7 448.72x
Newton 7 8.20x
Northampton All Sts 7 23.50x
Tuxford 7 226.54x
Yardley 7 22.44x
Berkeley 6 58.88x
East Retford 6 54.95x
Kidderminster Borough 6 8.41x
Leominster 6 118.34x
Little Stukeley 6 638.30x
Moulton 6 122.95x
Newport 6 57.80x
Portsea 6 1.60x
Rotherham 6 11.51x
Tanfield 6 18.17x
Watford 6 12.03x
Wolstanton 6 6.27x
York St Nicholas In 6 115.16x
Bethnal Green London 5 1.23x
Clerkenwell London 5 2.27x
Combrook 5 724.64x
Harrow On The Hill 5 26.81x
Littlehampton 5 39.81x
Liverpool 5 0.74x
Middlesbrough 5 4.15x
Paddington London 5 1.46x
Pembroke St Mary 5 13.09x
Rochester St Margaret 5 14.89x
St Marylebone London 5 1.00x
Tweedmouth 5 28.87x
Wednesbury 5 6.35x
Willesden 5 5.68x
Barton Upon Irwell 4 4.80x
Deptford St Paul 4 1.63x
Farnworth 4 6.03x
Gateshead 4 1.92x
Gedney 4 65.68x
Gresford 4 119.40x
Haddington 4 21.92x
Hawkhurst 4 40.40x
Heaton Norris 4 6.34x
North Meols 4 3.69x
Raunds 4 44.74x
Stanstead Abbots 4 102.56x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 58
John 52
George 38
Thomas 35
Charles 24
Henry 22
Joseph 18
James 16
Edward 15
Richard 12
Robert 11
Alfred 9
Arthur 9
Samuel 8
Walter 8
Albert 7
Frederick 7
Herbert 6
Harry 5
Ernest 4
Philip 4
Abraham 3
Blott 3
Edmund 3
Fredk. 3
Percy 3
David 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Joshua 2
Michael 2
Sidney 2
Southwell 2
Thos. 2
Alfd.G. 1
Asher 1
Atwill 1
Augustus 1
Christopher 1
Claud 1
Daniel 1
Danl.Vincent 1
Edgar 1
Fredrick 1
Geo.F. 1
Geof. 1
Harold 1
Wm.John 1

FAQ

Yorke surname: questions and answers

How common was the Yorke surname in 1881?

In 1881, 960 people were recorded with the Yorke surname. That placed it at #4,037 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Yorke surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,443 in 2016. That gives Yorke a modern rank of #2,698.

What does the Yorke surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from the Yorkshire region of England.

What does the Yorke map show?

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