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

Vokes, 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 Vokes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vokes in America

Vokes is the 39555th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vokes surname appeared 556 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 Vokes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vokes 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 Vokes

The surname Vokes has its origins in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "foc," which means "a greedy or covetous person." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone who displayed traits of greed or covetousness.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it is listed as "Roger Vokes." This document was a census-like survey conducted by the English government to record landowners and their properties.

Another early reference can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327, which mentions a "John Vokes" among the taxpayers of the county. These records provide valuable insights into the geographical distribution of the name during the medieval period.

In the 15th century, the name Vokes appeared in the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence between members of the Paston family in Norfolk. One of the letters, dated around 1472, mentions a "William Vokes" who was involved in a legal dispute over land ownership.

The Vokes surname has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Vokes Hill in Kent and Vokes Green in Shropshire. These place names likely derived from individuals bearing the surname who lived or owned land in those areas.

Among notable individuals with the surname Vokes throughout history, we can mention:

1. Thomas Vokes (c. 1580-1661), an English clergyman and polemical writer who served as the rector of Whitchurch in Shropshire.
2. Richard Vokes (1628-1677), an English silversmith and engraver who worked in London during the mid-17th century.
3. Martha Vokes (1756-1824), an English actress and theatre manager who performed in various plays and managed theatres in London and the provinces.
4. Frederick Vokes (1848-1888), a British actor and theatrical manager who founded the Vokes Family, a popular family of actors known for their comedic performances.
5. Rosina Vokes (1854-1894), a member of the Vokes Family and a renowned actress who achieved success in both England and the United States.

The Vokes surname has a rich history spanning several centuries, with its roots firmly planted in England. While its origins may have been humble, the name has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including clergymen, artisans, actors, and theatrical managers, contributing to the cultural and social fabric of English society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vokes

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

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

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

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