NameCensus.

UK surname

Clapperton

A surname derived from a place name referring to a town or village with a clattering or rambling stream.

In the 1881 census there were 725 people recorded with the Clapperton surname, ranking it #5,030 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 740, ranked #7,378, down from #5,030 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Melrose, London parishes and Selkirk. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Selkirk, Carlisle and New Cumnock.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Clapperton is 895 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.1%.

1881 census count

725

Ranked #5,030

Modern count

740

2016, ranked #7,378

Peak year

1901

895 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Clapperton had 725 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,030 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 740 in 2016, ranked #7,378.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 895 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Clapperton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Clapperton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Clapperton 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 580 #4,396
1861 historical 576 #4,576
1881 historical 725 #5,030
1891 historical 800 #5,027
1901 historical 895 #5,169
1911 historical 384 #9,571
1997 modern 723 #7,063
1998 modern 760 #7,025
1999 modern 758 #7,087
2000 modern 746 #7,136
2001 modern 730 #7,118
2002 modern 755 #7,076
2003 modern 741 #7,083
2004 modern 743 #7,080
2005 modern 742 #7,020
2006 modern 731 #7,126
2007 modern 729 #7,222
2008 modern 742 #7,162
2009 modern 749 #7,263
2010 modern 770 #7,244
2011 modern 764 #7,200
2012 modern 756 #7,179
2013 modern 754 #7,311
2014 modern 747 #7,403
2015 modern 737 #7,417
2016 modern 740 #7,378

Geography

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Where Clappertons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Melrose, London parishes, Selkirk, Edinburgh and Canonbie. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Selkirk, Carlisle, New Cumnock, Muirhouse and Tweeddale West Area. 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 Melrose Roxburgh
2 London parishes London 3
3 Selkirk Selkirk
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Canonbie Dumfries

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Selkirk Scottish Borders
2 Carlisle 011 Carlisle
3 New Cumnock East Ayrshire
4 Muirhouse City of Edinburgh
5 Tweeddale West Area Scottish Borders

Forenames

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First names often paired with Clapperton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Clapperton

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Clapperton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Clapperton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Clapperton 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

Clapperton is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Clapperton falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Clapperton

The surname Clapperton originated in the Lowlands of Scotland, likely in the 14th or 15th century. It is a locational name, derived from a place name that may have been derived from the Old English words "clæppan" meaning "to clap" and "tun" meaning "enclosure" or "settlement." This suggests the name may have originally referred to a settlement where people clapped or applauded, possibly a place for entertainment or public gatherings.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Clapperton can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which were a series of official documents recording the names of Scottish nobles and landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during the Wars of Scottish Independence. The name appeared as "Claperton" in these rolls.

In the 16th century, the name Clapperton appeared in various Scottish documents, including the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, which recorded land grants and other official transactions. For instance, in 1543, a John Clapperton was granted lands in the county of Lanarkshire.

The earliest known bearer of the surname Clapperton was likely Sir Robert Clapperton, who lived in the late 15th century and was a prominent landowner in the Scottish Borders region. He was noted for his involvement in the conflicts between Scotland and England during that time.

Another notable figure with the surname Clapperton was Hugh Clapperton, a Scottish explorer who lived from 1788 to 1827. He was one of the first Europeans to explore the interior regions of West Africa, including the areas around Lake Chad and the cities of Kano and Sokoto in present-day Nigeria.

In the 19th century, James Clapperton, a Scottish author and poet born in 1805, gained recognition for his works on Scottish history and culture, including the book "Edinburgh and its Environs" published in 1842.

Other historical figures with the surname Clapperton include John Clapperton, a Scottish minister and writer who lived in the 17th century, and William Clapperton, a Scottish mathematician and astronomer born in 1704, who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

The surname Clapperton has been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Clapperton in Berwickshire, Clapperton in Lanarkshire, and Clapperton Tower in Dumfries and Galloway. These place names likely reflect the origins of the surname and its connection to specific locations in Scotland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Clapperton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Clapperton 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. Midlothian leads with 187 Clappertons recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.33x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 187 20.33x
Selkirkshire 114 183.49x
Cumberland 57 9.64x
Middlesex 41 0.60x
East Lothian 35 38.48x
Lanarkshire 33 1.49x
Northumberland 28 2.74x
Ayrshire 26 5.06x
Lancashire 26 0.32x
Renfrewshire 20 3.76x
Dumfriesshire 16 10.55x
Peeblesshire 15 46.44x
Aberdeenshire 12 1.89x
Surrey 12 0.36x
Morayshire 10 9.37x
Roxburghshire 9 7.24x
Hampshire 8 0.57x
Cardiganshire 6 3.58x
Glamorgan 6 0.50x
Devon 5 0.35x
Durham 5 0.24x
Stirlingshire 5 1.97x
Merionethshire 4 3.18x
Worcestershire 4 0.45x
Berwickshire 3 3.61x
Essex 3 0.22x
Angus 2 0.31x
Banffshire 2 1.40x
Yorkshire 2 0.03x
Argyllshire 1 0.52x
Cheshire 1 0.07x
Gloucestershire 1 0.07x
Hertfordshire 1 0.21x
Kent 1 0.04x
Royal Navy 1 1.22x
Shropshire 1 0.17x
Sussex 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Galashiels in Selkirkshire leads with 47 Clappertons recorded in 1881 and an index of 204.61x.

Place Total Index
Galashiels 47 204.61x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 46 12.43x
Melrose 37 236.57x
Penicuik 29 232.00x
Selkirk 25 142.86x
New Cumnock 21 235.69x
Lasswade 20 95.10x
South Leith 20 19.32x
Temple 15 409.84x
Barony 14 2.49x
Canonbie 14 217.05x
West Greenock 13 13.61x
Aberdeen Old Machar 12 9.04x
Dalkeith 11 60.61x
Hulme 11 6.47x
Flimby 10 200.00x
Govan 10 1.82x
Islington London 10 1.50x
St Mary Within 9 121.79x
Broughton 8 375.59x
Dearham 8 102.56x
Manchester 8 2.18x
Prestonkirk 8 175.82x
St Cuthbert W O 8 27.76x
Traquair 8 446.93x
Bellie 7 145.23x
Colinton 7 68.23x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 7 32.17x
Edinburgh Lady Yesters 7 109.89x
Garvald 7 391.06x
Inveresk 7 28.10x
Newcastle On Tyne St 7 13.22x
Bromley London 6 3.97x
Clapham 6 6.99x
Clennell 6 10000.00x
Cowpen 6 25.50x
Dunbar 6 47.06x
Ealing 6 9.78x
Melrose 6 55.81x
Roath 6 11.05x
Spott 6 441.18x
East Greenock 5 9.95x
Ellenborough Ewanrigg 5 121.95x
Exeter St Sidwell 5 15.27x
Innerleithen 5 58.34x
Muirkirk 5 41.43x
North Leith 5 11.75x
Rickergate 5 39.97x
Stow 5 105.71x
Wigton 5 56.43x
Acklington Park 4 1250.00x
Crook Billy Row 4 15.29x
Dolgelley 4 42.78x
Dudley 4 3.67x
Edinburgh St Georges 4 20.95x
Falkirk 4 6.75x
Roberton 4 300.75x
St Pancras London 4 0.72x
Aberystwith 3 20.80x
Burgh By Sands 3 157.07x
Douglas 3 46.88x
Elgin 3 14.45x
Hamilton 3 4.84x
Morham 3 612.24x
St Marylebone London 3 0.82x
Tottenham 3 2.74x
Westgate 3 4.74x
Yester 3 136.99x
Battersea 2 0.79x
Church 2 17.38x
Croydon 2 1.08x
Dundee 2 0.84x
Glasgow 2 0.51x
Hawick 2 7.18x
Hornsey 2 2.30x
Kearsley 2 11.66x
Peebles 2 20.94x
Poplar London 2 1.54x
Toxteth Park 2 0.72x
Westruther 2 126.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Isabella 8
Ellen 7
Jane 7
Elizabeth 6
Margaret 5
Agnes 4
Charlotte 4
Sarah 4
Ann 3
Eliza 3
Jessie 3
Martha 3
Hannah 2
Janet 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Charity 1
Deborah 1
Elinora 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Forence 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Georgina 1
H.A. 1
Ida 1
Jean 1
Julia 1
Lydia 1
Mantha 1
Marian 1
Muriel 1
Rebecca 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 16
John 12
William 12
Robert 10
Thomas 9
George 6
Walter 6
Edward 3
Christopher 2
Henry 2
Joseph 2
Wm. 2
A.H. 1
Adam 1
Alex. 1
Alexander 1
Alexdr. 1
Andrew 1
Austin 1
Charles 1
Cyril 1
D.James 1
Frances 1
Fred 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
Jefferson 1
Lawson 1
Menandez 1
Percy 1
Robt 1
Samuel 1
Stanley 1

FAQ

Clapperton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Clapperton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 725 people were recorded with the Clapperton surname. That placed it at #5,030 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Clapperton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 740 in 2016. That gives Clapperton a modern rank of #7,378.

What does the Clapperton surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name referring to a town or village with a clattering or rambling stream.

What does the Clapperton map show?

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