NameCensus.

UK surname

Casper

An occupational surname referring to a person who makes or sells cheese, derived from the Latin word "caseus."

In the 1881 census there were 129 people recorded with the Casper surname, ranking it #17,013 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 196, ranked #19,848, down from #17,013 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees, Tonbridge and Malling and Southwark.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Casper is 205 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.9%.

1881 census count

129

Ranked #17,013

Modern count

196

2016, ranked #19,848

Peak year

2015

205 bearers

Map years

6

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Casper had 129 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,013 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 196 in 2016, ranked #19,848.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 168 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities.

Casper surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Casper surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Casper 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 68 #21,302
1861 historical 168 #13,895
1881 historical 129 #17,013
1891 historical 95 #24,694
1901 historical 94 #23,588
1911 historical 141 #18,571
1997 modern 186 #18,448
1998 modern 194 #18,451
1999 modern 194 #18,579
2000 modern 179 #19,494
2001 modern 176 #19,415
2002 modern 178 #19,671
2003 modern 167 #20,245
2004 modern 163 #20,685
2005 modern 166 #20,379
2006 modern 165 #20,634
2007 modern 168 #20,634
2008 modern 174 #20,385
2009 modern 187 #19,868
2010 modern 190 #20,087
2011 modern 182 #20,495
2012 modern 182 #20,440
2013 modern 195 #19,857
2014 modern 202 #19,575
2015 modern 205 #19,269
2016 modern 196 #19,848

Geography

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Where Caspers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Lambeth, St Mary Castlegate and Stranton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kirklees, Tonbridge and Malling, Southwark, Leeds and Barnsley. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 St Mary Castlegate Yorkshire, East Riding
5 Stranton Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirklees 055 Kirklees
2 Tonbridge and Malling 006 Tonbridge and Malling
3 Southwark 032 Southwark
4 Leeds 050 Leeds
5 Barnsley 017 Barnsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Casper

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Casper

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Casper, 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

Baseline UK

Group

Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities

Nationally, the Casper surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Casper household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Single-person households are common in these neighbourhoods, and these residents are typically divorced rather than never married. A high proportion of residents were born outside the UK in the EU. There are many young adults, some with young children, but relatively few residents are of normal retirement age or over. Although levels of identification with ethnic minorities are in line with the Supergroup average, individuals identifying with Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is more common than average. High long-term disability rates are observed, and unpaid care is more common than in the rest of the Group. The predominant housing types are terraced houses and flats, which are typically part of the social rented sector. This Group is commonly found in coastal areas and (present-day or former) industrial towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Casper is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Casper is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Casper falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Casper is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Casper, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Casper

The surname Casper originates from the Netherlands, where it first appeared in the 16th century. It is derived from the Dutch given name Casper, which is itself a variant of the ancient Persian name Caspar or Gaspar. This name can be traced back to the Biblical Magi, also known as the Three Wise Men, who visited the newborn Jesus Christ bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

In the Netherlands, the name Casper was initially used as a given name, with the surname form emerging as a patronymic (derived from the father's name) during the late medieval period. Early records show variations in spelling, such as Caspers, Caspersen, and Caspersz.

One of the earliest documented instances of the surname Casper can be found in the Dordrecht archives, where a certain Claes Casper is mentioned in a record from 1582. Another early bearer of the name was Dirck Casper, a merchant from Amsterdam who is recorded as having traded with the Dutch East Indies in the late 16th century.

As the Dutch Empire expanded its colonial reach, the name Casper spread to other parts of the world. In the 17th century, a Pieter Casper is recorded as one of the early settlers in the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, which later became New York.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Casper. One of the most famous was Johann Caspar Lavater (1741-1801), a Swiss poet, philosopher, and prominent physiognomist whose writings on the interpretation of facial features were highly influential in his time.

Another notable Casper was Friedrich Caspar (1870-1939), a German historian and palaeographer who made significant contributions to the study of ancient manuscripts and codices. His work on the Codex Theodosianus, a collection of Roman imperial decrees from the 5th century, is particularly noteworthy.

In the realm of art, the Dutch painter Jacob Casper (1619-1675) was a prominent figure in the Golden Age of Dutch painting. His works, which often depicted still lifes and genre scenes, can be found in major museums across Europe.

More recently, the American writer and illustrator Gary Casper (1945-2021) gained recognition for his children's books, including the popular "Gossie" series featuring a gosling character. His whimsical and vibrant illustrations delighted young readers worldwide.

Finally, it is worth mentioning Theodore Casper (1913-2000), an American biochemist and medical researcher who made significant contributions to the understanding of human metabolism and the treatment of thyroid disorders.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Casper families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Casper 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. Middlesex leads with 32 Caspers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.52x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 32 2.52x
Yorkshire 19 1.51x
Surrey 15 2.43x
Lancashire 12 0.80x
Durham 11 2.92x
Kent 6 1.39x
Glamorgan 5 2.26x
Northumberland 5 2.65x
Derbyshire 3 1.51x
Lanarkshire 3 0.73x
Lincolnshire 2 0.99x
Midlothian 2 1.18x
Monmouthshire 2 2.18x
Nottinghamshire 2 1.17x
Channel Islands 1 2.66x
Cheshire 1 0.36x
Essex 1 0.40x
Fife 1 1.33x
Herefordshire 1 1.92x
Leicestershire 1 0.71x
Rutland 1 10.74x
Shropshire 1 0.91x
Staffordshire 1 0.23x
Warwickshire 1 0.31x
Wigtownshire 1 5.94x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 12 Caspers recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.76x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 12 9.76x
Lambeth 12 10.85x
Middlesbrough 7 42.79x
Stranton 6 47.24x
York St Mary Castlegate 6 1621.62x
Cardiff St Mary 5 41.12x
Chirton 5 117.10x
Kensington London 5 7.09x
Plawsworth 5 1219.51x
Cheetham 4 35.65x
Deptford St Paul 4 11.99x
St Botolph Aldgate London 4 153.26x
Alfreton 3 49.75x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 12.55x
Gorbals 3 123.46x
Manchester 3 4.43x
Paddington London 3 6.44x
South Leith 2 10.47x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 7.84x
St George Hanover Square 2 8.95x
Teddington London 2 69.69x
Walton Le Dale 2 49.51x
York St Saviour 2 166.67x
Aberystruth 1 12.38x
Allerton 1 62.50x
Birmingham 1 0.94x
Burntisland 1 47.62x
Easton 1 1000.00x
Empingham 1 277.78x
Erith 1 23.47x
Great Grimsby 1 7.77x
Greenwich 1 4.96x
Hereford St Nicholas 1 140.85x
Kingstonupon Hull 1 99.01x
Knottingley 1 45.25x
Leicester St Mary 1 8.80x
Mile End Old Town London 1 3.71x
Monmouth 1 41.15x
Nantwich 1 30.77x
Nottingham St Mary 1 2.26x
Radford 1 11.52x
St George Bloomsbury 1 13.76x
St Pancras London 1 0.98x
St Saviour 1 48.08x
Stranraer 1 64.94x
Streatham 1 10.63x
Tottenham 1 4.95x
Wakefield 1 10.36x
Walsall Foreign 1 4.52x
West Ham 1 1.81x
Whitchurch 1 46.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Sarah 5
Elizabeth 4
Ann 2
Anna 2
Eliza 2
Jane 2
Ada 1
Alberta 1
Alice 1
Annie 1
Blanche 1
Caroline 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Emilia 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Eugenie 1
Evelyne 1
Fanny 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Jeannie 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Leah 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Marion 1
Matilda 1
Minah 1
Noemie 1
Phoebe 1
Rachel 1
Susanna 1
Valmyra 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 7
Thomas 6
Henry 5
George 4
John 4
Joseph 4
Arthur 2
Carl 2
Charles 2
Edward 2
Louis 2
Philip 2
Walter 2
Adam 1
Albert 1
Axel 1
Cecil 1
Emil 1
Ezekiel 1
Hans 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Lionell 1
Marcus 1
Michael 1
Orla 1
Peter 1
Robert 1
Rudolph 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Thos.R. 1

FAQ

Casper surname: questions and answers

How common was the Casper surname in 1881?

In 1881, 129 people were recorded with the Casper surname. That placed it at #17,013 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Casper surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 196 in 2016. That gives Casper a modern rank of #19,848.

What does the Casper surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person who makes or sells cheese, derived from the Latin word "caseus."

What does the Casper map show?

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