Find out how popular the last name Caulker is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Caulker.

Caulker, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Caulker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Caulker in America

Caulker is the 144141st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Caulker surname appeared 115 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Caulker.

The history of the last name Caulker

The surname Caulker originated in England during the medieval period. It is an occupational surname derived from the Old English word "caulkere," which referred to someone who waterproofed wooden ships or barrels by sealing the joints with caulking material, such as oakum or pitch.

Caulkers were essential tradesmen in coastal regions and port cities where shipbuilding and maritime activities were prevalent. The earliest recorded instances of the surname date back to the 13th century in various regions of England, including Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Roger le Caulkere, who was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273. Another early reference can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1301, which recorded a payment made to Walter le Caulkere for his services.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as Cauker, Cawker, and Cawkere, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation during that period. For instance, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 mentioned a Robert le Cauker.

The surname Caulker can also be traced to certain place names in England, such as Caulker's Green in Hertfordshire, which likely derived its name from a resident caulker or a location where caulking activities took place.

One notable figure in history bearing the surname Caulker was Sir William Caulker (1554-1621), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire. He served as the High Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1609 and was knighted by King James I in 1618.

Another prominent individual was John Caulker (c. 1670-1744), a British naval officer and explorer who participated in several expeditions to the West Indies and the Pacific Ocean. He is credited with charting and naming several islands in the Pacific.

In the 18th century, the Caulker surname gained prominence in the West Indies, particularly in the British colony of Jamaica. Thomas Caulker (1722-1792) was a influential planter and slaveholder in Jamaica, owning several sugar plantations and serving as a member of the island's colonial assembly.

The Caulker family also had a presence in the Caribbean island of Antigua, where John Caulker (1790-1868) was a prominent merchant and landowner. He played a significant role in the island's economy and served as a member of the Antiguan legislative council.

In more recent times, the surname Caulker has been associated with notable figures such as Sir Learie Caulker (1923-2005), a Belizean politician and diplomat who served as the first Governor-General of Belize from 1981 to 1993.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Caulker

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Caulker.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Caulker was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Caulker was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Caulker, please contact us.

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