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

Nokes, 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 Nokes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nokes in America

Nokes is the 15303rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nokes surname appeared 1,918 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Nokes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nokes to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Nokes

The surname Nokes originated in England during the Middle Ages, derived from the Middle English word 'nok', meaning a nook or corner of land. It likely emerged as a descriptive name referring to someone who lived in a secluded or remote area.

The earliest known record of the Nokes surname dates back to 1273, when William de la Noke was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire. This suggests that the name was initially associated with specific locations or landmarks before evolving into a hereditary surname.

In the 14th century, the Nokes surname appeared in various documents, such as tax rolls and court records. For instance, John atte Noke was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327, indicating his residence in a particular 'nook' or corner.

The Nokes surname has also been linked to place names, including Noak Hill in Romford, Essex, and Noak Bridge in Chigwell, Essex. These locations may have contributed to the surname's development and spread throughout the region.

Notable individuals with the Nokes surname include Robert Nokes (1628-1692), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Coventry during the 17th century. Another prominent figure was James Nokes (1670-1753), an English actor and playwright renowned for his comedic performances on the London stage.

In the 18th century, Elizabeth Nokes (1733-1781) gained recognition as a British actress and writer, known for her work in various theatrical productions. Additionally, Thomas Nokes (1767-1837) was a prominent English artist and engraver, whose works were exhibited at the Royal Academy.

Moving into the 19th century, George Nokes (1812-1868) was a British architect responsible for designing several notable buildings, including the Church of St. Peter in Wolverhampton and the Royal Orphan Asylum in Madeley.

Throughout its history, the Nokes surname has maintained a presence across various regions of England, particularly in areas like Essex, Oxfordshire, and the West Midlands. While its origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages, the name has endured and continues to be carried by individuals today.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nokes

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

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 Nokes 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Nokes has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Nokes was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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