NameCensus.

UK surname

Bishopp

An occupational surname derived from the Old English for "bishop", likely referring to someone who served a bishop.

In the 1881 census there were 195 people recorded with the Bishopp surname, ranking it #13,054 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 239, ranked #17,322, down from #13,054 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Betchworth, Buckland and Tunbridge, Bidborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Windsor and Maidenhead, Northumberland and Bromley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bishopp is 272 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.6%.

1881 census count

195

Ranked #13,054

Modern count

239

2016, ranked #17,322

Peak year

1998

272 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bishopp had 195 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,054 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 239 in 2016, ranked #17,322.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 268 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bishopp surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bishopp surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bishopp 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 183 #11,166
1861 historical 171 #13,692
1881 historical 195 #13,054
1891 historical 198 #15,033
1901 historical 228 #13,929
1911 historical 268 #12,332
1997 modern 258 #14,949
1998 modern 272 #14,846
1999 modern 258 #15,467
2000 modern 248 #15,827
2001 modern 240 #15,912
2002 modern 252 #15,714
2003 modern 247 #15,733
2004 modern 241 #16,086
2005 modern 226 #16,782
2006 modern 225 #16,941
2007 modern 225 #17,154
2008 modern 229 #17,092
2009 modern 220 #17,911
2010 modern 225 #18,000
2011 modern 218 #18,206
2012 modern 218 #18,139
2013 modern 230 #17,756
2014 modern 233 #17,707
2015 modern 235 #17,530
2016 modern 239 #17,322

Geography

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Where Bishopps are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Betchworth, Buckland, Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes and Ashford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Windsor and Maidenhead, Northumberland, Bromley, Central Bedfordshire and Ashford. 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 Betchworth, Buckland Surrey
3 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
4 London parishes London 3
5 Ashford Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Windsor and Maidenhead 017 Windsor and Maidenhead
2 Northumberland 004 Northumberland
3 Bromley 014 Bromley
4 Central Bedfordshire 008 Central Bedfordshire
5 Ashford 005 Ashford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bishopp

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bishopp

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

Bishopp 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

Bishopp falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bishopp

The surname Bishopp has its origins in England, with the earliest references dating back to the 12th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English words "biscop" or "bisceop," which were variants of the modern English word "bishop." This suggests that the name likely originated from someone who held a position or occupation related to the church hierarchy.

In the Domesday Book, a manuscript recording land ownership in England in 1086, there are several entries that include variations of the name, such as "Bisceop" and "Biscop." These early records provide evidence of the surname's existence in the medieval period.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Bishopp was Robert Bishopp, who was born in Oxfordshire, England, around 1260. He served as a member of Parliament for the county in 1295.

During the 14th century, the name appears in various records, including the Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where a John Bisshop is listed in the county of Yorkshire.

In the 15th century, a notable figure bearing the surname was William Bishopp, a merchant and alderman in the city of London. He was born around 1420 and served as the Mayor of London from 1484 to 1485.

In the 16th century, a prominent individual with the surname was John Bishopp, who was born in Gloucestershire, England, around 1530. He served as a member of Parliament for the borough of Tewkesbury in 1558.

The 17th century saw the rise of Sir Edward Bishopp, a prominent English politician and landowner. He was born in Parham, Sussex, in 1616 and served as a member of Parliament for the county of Sussex from 1661 to 1679.

It is worth noting that the surname Bishopp has undergone various spelling variations over time, including Bishop, Bishope, and Bishope, among others. Additionally, the name has been associated with certain place names, such as Bishop's Stortford in Hertfordshire, England, which may have influenced the development of the surname in certain regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bishopp families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bishopp 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 95 Bishopps recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.87x.

County Total Index
Kent 95 14.87x
Middlesex 30 1.60x
Sussex 27 8.55x
Surrey 26 2.85x
Yorkshire 7 0.38x
Suffolk 3 1.32x
Aberdeenshire 2 1.15x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.84x
Hampshire 1 0.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kingsnorth in Kent leads with 10 Bishopps recorded in 1881 and an index of 2564.10x.

Place Total Index
Kingsnorth 10 2564.10x
Boughton Aluph 9 2500.00x
Broadwater 9 124.31x
Barham 8 1230.77x
Bermondsey 8 14.35x
Hythe St Leonard 8 353.98x
Bodiam 7 3333.33x
Deptford St Paul 7 14.20x
Tonbridge 7 30.37x
Betchworth 6 530.97x
Kensington London 6 5.76x
Lenham 6 468.75x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 15.92x
St George Hanover Square 6 18.18x
Westwell 6 937.50x
Charing 5 581.40x
Faversham 5 82.10x
Petworth 5 264.55x
St Luke London 5 16.64x
Ashford 4 64.31x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 4 180.18x
Cranbrook 4 147.60x
Newington 4 5.78x
St Andrew Holborn London 4 49.32x
Willesborough 4 232.56x
Finchley 3 41.78x
Horsham 3 48.94x
Ipswich St Mathew 3 46.95x
Islington London 3 1.65x
Mersham 3 652.17x
Eastchurch 2 317.46x
Hucking 2 2222.22x
Peterhead 2 21.81x
St George In East London 2 11.35x
Worth 2 87.34x
Brighton 1 1.57x
Canterbury St George 1 129.87x
Eastwell 1 1428.57x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 2.65x
Folkestone 1 8.06x
Frittenden 1 166.67x
Great Chart 1 208.33x
Holy Trinity 1 2.24x
Newdigate 1 232.56x
Normanby In 1 20.16x
Reigate Foreign 1 10.12x
Ryde 1 12.12x
Shoreditch London 1 1.23x
St Andrewthe Less 1 7.38x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emily 7
Mary 6
Elizabeth 5
Jane 5
Sarah 4
Ada 3
Ann 3
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Fanny 3
Hannah 3
Harriet 3
Margaret 3
Minnie 3
Alice 2
Clara 2
Ellen 2
Harriett 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Ruth 2
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Blanch 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Eleanor 1
Elinor 1
Emma 1
Frances 1
Georgiana 1
Grace 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Katie 1
Mabel 1
Margret 1
Martha 1
Mercy 1
Mildred 1
Rosa 1
Sussanah 1
Zipporah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 14
George 13
Edward 7
Stephen 6
James 5
William 5
Alfred 4
Arthur 4
Thomas 4
Frederick 3
Henry 3
Samuel 3
Albert 2
Frank 2
Joseph 2
Charles 1
Charley 1
Cornelius 1
Earnest 1
Edwd.W. 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredirick 1
Geo.D. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Llewellyn 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Steven 1
Valentine 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Bishopp surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bishopp surname in 1881?

In 1881, 195 people were recorded with the Bishopp surname. That placed it at #13,054 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bishopp surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 239 in 2016. That gives Bishopp a modern rank of #17,322.

What does the Bishopp surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Old English for "bishop", likely referring to someone who served a bishop.

What does the Bishopp map show?

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