NameCensus.

UK surname

Clipson

An English surname suggesting the bearer's ancestor lived near cliffs or a steep hill.

In the 1881 census there were 194 people recorded with the Clipson surname, ranking it #13,097 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 231, ranked #17,764, down from #13,097 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Oundle, Lincoln St Botolph and Putney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Clipson is 278 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.1%.

1881 census count

194

Ranked #13,097

Modern count

231

2016, ranked #17,764

Peak year

1999

278 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Clipson had 194 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,097 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 231 in 2016, ranked #17,764.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 245 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Clipson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Clipson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Clipson 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 181 #11,256
1861 historical 239 #10,273
1881 historical 194 #13,097
1891 historical 245 #12,950
1901 historical 185 #15,892
1911 historical 239 #13,321
1997 modern 273 #14,417
1998 modern 272 #14,846
1999 modern 278 #14,705
2000 modern 277 #14,688
2001 modern 266 #14,878
2002 modern 271 #14,966
2003 modern 250 #15,605
2004 modern 237 #16,283
2005 modern 238 #16,198
2006 modern 234 #16,493
2007 modern 241 #16,341
2008 modern 243 #16,397
2009 modern 247 #16,549
2010 modern 250 #16,791
2011 modern 252 #16,543
2012 modern 232 #17,401
2013 modern 230 #17,756
2014 modern 230 #17,872
2015 modern 231 #17,733
2016 modern 231 #17,764

Geography

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Where Clipsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Oundle, Lincoln St Botolph, Putney, Burton Latimer and Gretton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire, East Riding of Yorkshire and Tendring. 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 Oundle Northamptonshire
2 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
3 Putney London (South Districts)
4 Burton Latimer Northamptonshire
5 Gretton Rutland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Lincolnshire 001 North Lincolnshire
2 North East Lincolnshire 016 North East Lincolnshire
3 North Lincolnshire 011 North Lincolnshire
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 036 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Tendring 006 Tendring

Forenames

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First names often paired with Clipson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Clipson

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Clipson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Clipson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Clipson is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Clipson is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Clipson falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Clipson

The surname Clipson has its origins in England, tracing back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "clif" meaning a steep slope or cliff, and "tun" meaning an enclosure or settlement. This suggests that the name likely originated from a place name referring to a settlement near a cliff or steep slope.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Clipson can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1194, where a certain "Adam de Clifton" is mentioned. This spelling variation, "Clifton," provides insight into the name's evolution over time.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various historical records, including the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire from 1273, which mentions a "Robert de Cliftone." The Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk from 1327 also reference a "John Clyfton," further highlighting the name's spelling variations.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England compiled in 1086, does not explicitly mention the surname Clipson. However, it does include numerous place names with similar roots, such as Clifton in Nottinghamshire and Clifton in Yorkshire, indicating the name's potential origins from these locations.

Notable individuals with the surname Clipson throughout history include:

1. Robert Clipson (born c. 1460), an English composer and musician during the Renaissance period. 2. William Clipson (1535-1608), an English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Peterborough. 3. Elizabeth Clipson (1621-1698), a prominent Quaker minister and writer from Hertfordshire. 4. Thomas Clipson (1723-1789), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. 5. John Clipson (1812-1878), a renowned English architect and urban planner responsible for designing several iconic buildings in London.

It is worth noting that many variations of the surname, such as Clifton, Cliftone, and Clyfton, were more commonly used throughout history, reflecting the evolution of naming conventions and spelling over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Clipson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Clipson 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. Northamptonshire leads with 106 Clipsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 60.50x.

County Total Index
Northamptonshire 106 60.50x
Lincolnshire 37 12.42x
Yorkshire 12 0.65x
Surrey 10 1.10x
Devon 6 1.55x
Middlesex 4 0.21x
Leicestershire 3 1.45x
Nottinghamshire 3 1.19x
Huntingdonshire 2 5.41x
Northumberland 2 0.72x
Somerset 2 0.67x
Staffordshire 2 0.32x
Sussex 2 0.64x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Geddington in Northamptonshire leads with 32 Clipsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 5714.29x.

Place Total Index
Geddington 32 5714.29x
Slipton 24 34285.71x
Gretton 17 3207.55x
Barton St Mary 11 738.26x
Oundle 8 408.16x
Burton Latimer 6 566.04x
Tiverton 6 89.82x
Glendon 5 12500.00x
North Kelsey 5 925.93x
Putney 5 58.89x
Thrapston 5 568.18x
Barnes 4 104.17x
Barton St Peter 4 291.97x
Higham Ferrers 4 421.05x
Rothwell 4 227.27x
Brightside Bierlow 3 8.29x
Coleby 3 1071.43x
Ompton 3 7500.00x
Teddington London 3 71.09x
Arundel 2 113.64x
Bardney 2 224.72x
Barton St Mary St Peter 2 363.64x
Belgrave 2 42.92x
Holy Trinity 2 4.50x
Middlesbrough 2 8.32x
Ponteland 2 689.66x
Sculcoates 2 6.83x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 2 47.73x
Walsall Foreign 2 6.16x
West Barkwith 2 2500.00x
Castleford 1 14.88x
East Brent 1 222.22x
East Halton 1 243.90x
Fletton 1 84.75x
Godmanchester 1 71.43x
Grasby 1 384.62x
Islington London 1 0.55x
Lambeth 1 0.62x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.99x
Market Rasen 1 59.88x
New Sleaford 1 52.36x
Southcoates 1 9.76x
Sproatley Wyton 1 384.62x
Stamford Baron St Martin 1 106.38x
Wickenby 1 588.24x
Winterton 1 98.04x
Worle 1 161.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Elizabeth 10
Sarah 8
Emma 4
Annie 3
Eliza 3
Elizth. 3
Emily 3
Harriet 3
Amy 2
Betsy 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Jane 2
Alice 1
Ann 1
Augusta 1
Bessy 1
Lizzie 1
Lois 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Maria 1
May 1
Minnie 1
Phoebe 1
Rachael 1
Sally 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 17
William 12
George 7
Joseph 7
Alfred 5
Henry 5
Charles 4
Edward 4
Richard 4
Samuel 4
Arthur 3
James 3
Thomas 3
Robt. 2
Wm. 2
Benjamin 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.Wm. 1
Harry 1
Horace 1
Isaac 1
Louis 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Oscar 1
Paul 1
Reuben 1
Robert 1
Thos. 1
Thos.H. 1

FAQ

Clipson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Clipson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 194 people were recorded with the Clipson surname. That placed it at #13,097 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Clipson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 231 in 2016. That gives Clipson a modern rank of #17,764.

What does the Clipson surname mean?

An English surname suggesting the bearer's ancestor lived near cliffs or a steep hill.

What does the Clipson map show?

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