NameCensus.

UK surname

Apps

A surname denoting an occupation related to apps or computer programming.

In the 1881 census there were 1,345 people recorded with the Apps surname, ranking it #3,048 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,621, ranked #3,840, down from #3,048 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes and Goudhurst. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swale, Hastings and Ashford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Apps is 1,893 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.5%.

1881 census count

1,345

Ranked #3,048

Modern count

1,621

2016, ranked #3,840

Peak year

1911

1,893 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Apps had 1,345 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,048 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,621 in 2016, ranked #3,840.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,893 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Apps surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Apps surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Apps 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 861 #3,161
1861 historical 942 #2,944
1881 historical 1,345 #3,048
1891 historical 1,522 #2,905
1901 historical 1,715 #3,011
1911 historical 1,893 #2,613
1997 modern 1,717 #3,472
1998 modern 1,793 #3,454
1999 modern 1,826 #3,431
2000 modern 1,800 #3,454
2001 modern 1,733 #3,510
2002 modern 1,766 #3,526
2003 modern 1,705 #3,571
2004 modern 1,676 #3,626
2005 modern 1,624 #3,682
2006 modern 1,634 #3,678
2007 modern 1,660 #3,651
2008 modern 1,648 #3,702
2009 modern 1,698 #3,673
2010 modern 1,739 #3,668
2011 modern 1,704 #3,695
2012 modern 1,666 #3,714
2013 modern 1,694 #3,719
2014 modern 1,686 #3,740
2015 modern 1,642 #3,805
2016 modern 1,621 #3,840

Geography

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Where Apps' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes, Goudhurst, Portsmouth, Portsea and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swale, Hastings, Ashford and Rother. 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 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
2 London parishes London 3
3 Goudhurst Kent
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swale 011 Swale
2 Hastings 004 Hastings
3 Hastings 007 Hastings
4 Ashford 005 Ashford
5 Rother 002 Rother

Forenames

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First names often paired with Apps

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Apps

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Apps, 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 Apps surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Apps 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Apps is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Apps is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Apps falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Apps 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 Apps, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Apps

The surname Apps is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "æppel," meaning apple. It likely originated as a descriptive name for someone who lived near an apple orchard or worked as an apple farmer or seller.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Apps can be traced back to the 13th century in various English counties, including Essex, Norfolk, and Suffolk. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, a census-like record of landholders in England, mentions individuals with the surname Apps.

In the 14th century, the surname Apps appeared in various spellings, such as Ape, Appe, and Appys, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time. The Poll Tax Returns of 1379, a taxation record, lists several individuals with the surname Apps or similar spellings.

One notable early bearer of the surname was John Apes, who was recorded as a landowner in the village of Ickham, Kent, in the 14th century. Another early record is of Thomas Appys, a merchant from London, who was mentioned in legal documents from the 15th century.

As the surname spread across England, it became associated with various place names, such as Applesham in Sussex and Appleton in various counties, suggesting that some bearers of the name may have originated from or lived in these locations.

In the 16th century, the surname Apps gained prominence with the birth of John Apps (c. 1515 - 1592), an English churchman and academic who served as the Bishop of Thetford and the Master of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge.

Other notable individuals with the surname Apps include:

1. Thomas Apps (1766 - 1838), an English engraver and portrait painter known for his works depicting military officers and aristocrats.

2. William Apps (1796 - 1889), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

3. Jane Apps (1811 - 1878), an English writer and educator who published several books on educational topics and helped establish schools for the poor.

4. Henry Apps (1865 - 1947), an Australian politician who served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and was known for his advocacy of workers' rights.

5. Frederick Apps (1880 - 1959), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Somerset County Cricket Club in the early 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Apps families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Apps 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. Kent leads with 498 Apps' recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.10x.

County Total Index
Kent 498 11.10x
Sussex 332 14.98x
Surrey 186 2.90x
Middlesex 125 0.95x
Hampshire 66 2.45x
Cornwall 37 2.49x
Warwickshire 20 0.60x
Devon 14 0.51x
Somerset 13 0.61x
Durham 12 0.31x
Essex 10 0.39x
Norfolk 7 0.35x
Gloucestershire 4 0.16x
Hertfordshire 4 0.44x
Lancashire 3 0.02x
Suffolk 3 0.19x
Dorset 2 0.23x
Glamorgan 2 0.09x
Royal Navy 2 1.28x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.13x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.12x
Channel Islands 1 0.26x
Derbyshire 1 0.05x
Leicestershire 1 0.07x
Northumberland 1 0.05x
Worcestershire 1 0.06x
Yorkshire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 44 Apps' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.84x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 44 3.84x
Portsea 28 5.30x
Lydd 26 270.55x
Maidstone 26 19.46x
Goudhurst 24 193.24x
Bosham 22 389.38x
Horley 21 195.53x
Hastings St Mary 20 36.25x
Reigate Foreign 20 28.83x
Brede 19 408.60x
Hastings St Clement 19 91.08x
Hastings St Mary In The 19 40.17x
Tonbridge 19 11.74x
Loose 18 273.14x
Wadhurst 18 123.63x
Brenchley 17 105.85x
East Molesey 17 114.40x
Padstow 17 171.89x
Birmingham 16 1.45x
Chatham 16 12.96x
Hunton 16 408.16x
Icklesham 16 410.26x
Newington 16 3.29x
Bridge 15 388.60x
Brighton 15 3.35x
Rainham 15 121.65x
Shoreditch London 15 2.63x
Willesborough 15 124.38x
Bishopsteignton 14 270.27x
Camberwell 14 1.67x
Borden 13 228.87x
Mile End Old Town London 13 4.65x
Newchurch 13 890.41x
Rye 13 61.70x
Bow London 12 7.17x
Sidlesham 12 281.03x
Catsfield 11 345.91x
Hastings St Andrew 11 138.54x
Hollingbourn 11 212.36x
Deal 10 26.13x
Droxford 10 97.18x
Lower Halstow 10 307.69x
Warblington 10 93.55x
Whatlington 10 588.24x
Bishops Waltham 9 80.14x
Brabourne 9 267.06x
Hastings St Leonards 9 27.62x
Sedlescombe 9 308.22x
Thornham 9 308.22x
Ashford 8 18.31x
Hadlow 8 71.88x
Hornsey 8 4.81x
Ivychurch 8 683.76x
Rumbolds Wyke 8 196.56x
Bearsted 7 258.30x
Bishopstoke 7 101.16x
Burstow 7 128.91x
Guestling 7 193.91x
Kensington London 7 0.96x
Kingsnorth 7 254.55x
Midhurst 7 96.29x
Minster In Sheppey 7 9.42x
Ore 7 42.42x
Pagham 7 178.57x
St Clement Danes London 7 25.73x
Tenterden 7 44.25x
West Wickham 7 161.66x
Bodiam 6 410.96x
Brookland 6 306.12x
Croydon 6 1.69x
Detling 6 397.35x
Elworthy 6 810.81x
Fairlight 6 276.50x
Gillingham 6 6.49x
Penge 6 7.14x
Poplar London 6 2.42x
Probus 6 98.36x
Slindon 6 263.16x
Snargate 6 895.52x
St Marylebone London 6 0.85x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Apps surname: questions and answers

How common was the Apps surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,345 people were recorded with the Apps surname. That placed it at #3,048 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Apps surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,621 in 2016. That gives Apps a modern rank of #3,840.

What does the Apps surname mean?

A surname denoting an occupation related to apps or computer programming.

What does the Apps map show?

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