NameCensus.

UK surname

Epps

Derived from the Middle English word "eppus," meaning a high, raised place or a cliff.

In the 1881 census there were 824 people recorded with the Epps surname, ranking it #4,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 793, ranked #6,970, down from #4,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Margate and Ashford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swale, Whisky Isles and Canterbury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Epps is 1,061 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.8%.

1881 census count

824

Ranked #4,559

Modern count

793

2016, ranked #6,970

Peak year

1911

1,061 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Epps had 824 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 793 in 2016, ranked #6,970.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,061 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Epps surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Epps surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Epps 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 621 #4,162
1861 historical 623 #4,292
1881 historical 824 #4,559
1891 historical 920 #4,495
1901 historical 1,032 #4,631
1911 historical 1,061 #4,358
1997 modern 916 #5,893
1998 modern 923 #6,033
1999 modern 928 #6,059
2000 modern 895 #6,200
2001 modern 881 #6,170
2002 modern 884 #6,264
2003 modern 868 #6,239
2004 modern 850 #6,353
2005 modern 810 #6,547
2006 modern 811 #6,548
2007 modern 810 #6,614
2008 modern 815 #6,640
2009 modern 832 #6,674
2010 modern 847 #6,713
2011 modern 848 #6,627
2012 modern 815 #6,740
2013 modern 817 #6,818
2014 modern 814 #6,882
2015 modern 807 #6,881
2016 modern 793 #6,970

Geography

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Where Epps' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Margate, Ashford, Lambeth and Chilham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swale, Whisky Isles and Canterbury. 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 Margate Kent
3 Ashford Kent
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Chilham Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swale 015 Swale
2 Swale 014 Swale
3 Whisky Isles Argyll and Bute
4 Canterbury 018 Canterbury
5 Canterbury 013 Canterbury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Epps

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Epps

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

Epps 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

Epps falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Epps

The surname Epps originated in England, with its roots dating back to the medieval era. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the Old English word "epp" or "oepp," which means a small stream or a minor watercourse. This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname likely lived near a stream or a small river.

During the Anglo-Saxon period, the use of locational surnames became increasingly common, as people began to adopt surnames based on the places where they resided. The Epps surname likely emerged from one of the numerous locations across England that contained a small stream or a brook, such as the village of Epps in Sussex.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Epps surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a Richard de Epp residing in Oxfordshire. This document serves as a valuable historical reference, providing evidence of the surname's existence and its geographical distribution during that era.

Another notable mention of the Epps surname appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1301, where a John Epps is recorded as a landowner. This ancient record further solidifies the surname's presence in England during the late 13th and early 14th centuries.

Among the notable individuals who bore the Epps surname throughout history is Sir George Epps (1530-1589), a prominent English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Tewkesbury during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another noteworthy figure was John Epps (1661-1736), an English Baptist minister and theologian, who played a significant role in the development of Baptist thought and theology during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

In the realm of literature, Mary Ann Epps (1819-1868) was an English novelist and writer, known for her works such as "The Autobiography of a Working Man" and "The Experiences of a Governess."

The Epps surname has also been associated with notable figures in science and medicine. Sir John Epps (1805-1869) was an English physician and chemist, renowned for his contributions to the field of food science and his advocacy for public health reforms.

Lastly, John Epps Jr. (1825-1916) was an English horticulturist and botanist, known for his work on plant breeding and his role in introducing new plant species to the United Kingdom from various parts of the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Epps families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Epps 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 533 Epps' recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.46x.

County Total Index
Kent 533 19.46x
Surrey 90 2.30x
Middlesex 86 1.07x
Hampshire 24 1.46x
Oxfordshire 17 3.43x
Sussex 17 1.26x
Warwickshire 9 0.44x
Herefordshire 7 2.13x
Yorkshire 7 0.09x
Durham 6 0.25x
Worcestershire 5 0.48x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.82x
Gloucestershire 3 0.19x
Lancashire 3 0.03x
Devon 2 0.12x
Midlothian 2 0.19x
Berkshire 1 0.17x
Cheshire 1 0.06x
Denbighshire 1 0.33x
Essex 1 0.06x
Hertfordshire 1 0.18x
Lincolnshire 1 0.08x
Somerset 1 0.08x
Staffordshire 1 0.04x

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 39 Epps' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.57x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 39 5.57x
Margate St John Baptist 34 67.78x
Faversham 32 122.51x
Ashford 26 97.45x
Chilham 23 589.74x
Maidstone 22 26.96x
Chartham 19 278.18x
Boughton Aluph 17 1096.77x
Petham 16 846.56x
Wye 16 377.36x
Kensington London 15 3.36x
Smeeth 13 760.23x
Ramsgate 12 26.84x
Selling 12 533.33x
Ash Next Sandwich 11 181.52x
Harrow On The Hill 11 68.58x
Bermondsey 10 4.18x
Chatham 10 13.27x
Minster In Sheppey 10 22.04x
St Peters 10 78.93x
Beckenham 9 25.13x
Canterbury St Paul 9 182.93x
Chipping Norton 9 78.53x
Croydon 9 4.14x
Greenwich 9 7.04x
Kennington 9 441.18x
Titchfield 9 72.58x
Godmersham 8 816.33x
Hoo 8 220.39x
Milton In Milton 8 68.73x
Penge 8 15.60x
St George Hanover Square 8 5.66x
Battersea 7 2.37x
Canterbury St George 7 212.77x
Chislehurst 7 47.65x
Dover St Mary Virgin 7 26.41x
Friern Barnet 7 39.59x
Holy Trinity 7 3.66x
Nortonwith 7 432.10x
Rainham 7 92.96x
Sheldwich 7 400.00x
Wickham 7 231.02x
Bredgar 6 352.94x
Brighton 6 2.20x
Buckland In Faversham 6 3157.89x
Canterbury St Mary 6 32.64x
Chelsea London 6 2.48x
Churchill 6 431.65x
Folkestone 6 11.29x
Hernhill 6 289.86x
Higham 6 162.16x
Islington London 6 0.77x
Ospringe 6 178.04x
Birchington 5 130.55x
Boughton Under Blean 5 108.93x
Challock 5 510.20x
Deptford St Paul 5 2.37x
Dover St James 5 41.67x
Gillingham 5 8.85x
Monkwearmouth Shore 5 10.73x
Portsea 5 1.55x
Rumbolds Wyke 5 201.61x
Sandwich St Clement 5 216.45x
Sandwich St Mary 5 201.61x
Westwell 5 182.48x
Clapham 4 3.99x
Hackney London 4 0.89x
Hampstead London 4 3.20x
Hedsor 4 930.23x
Hinxhill 4 1052.63x
Hove 4 6.74x
Leaveland 4 1142.86x
Preston Next Faversham 4 62.11x
St Pancras London 4 0.62x
Staines 4 31.47x
Wellesbourne Mountford 4 207.25x
Charlton 3 16.49x
Doddington 3 188.68x
Postling 3 750.00x
Rotherhithe 3 3.02x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 45
Sarah 28
Elizabeth 22
Emma 18
Ellen 17
Annie 16
Emily 16
Jane 15
Alice 14
Eliza 14
Fanny 13
Edith 11
Frances 11
Louisa 10
Catherine 9
Charlotte 8
Ann 7
Harriet 7
Clara 6
Julia 6
Kate 6
Caroline 5
Hannah 5
Harriett 5
Susan 5
Amelia 4
Ethel 4
Maria 4
Rebecca 4
Susannah 4
Ada 3
Elizth. 3
Esther 3
Jessie 3
Lucy 3
Margaret 3
Matilda 3
Selina 3
Sophia 3
Fannie 2
Flora 2
Florence 2
Olive 2
Rhoda 2
Rose 2
Amy 1
Beatrice 1
Betsy 1
Elsie 1
Harnett 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 47
George 39
John 29
Thomas 25
James 24
Henry 19
Edward 18
Alfred 15
Charles 15
Walter 13
Frank 7
Harry 7
Albert 6
Frederick 6
Joseph 6
Richard 6
Ernest 5
Francis 5
Edwin 4
Henery 4
Herbert 4
Percy 4
Robert 4
Stephen 4
Fred 3
Moses 3
Timothy 3
Austin 2
Franklin 2
Fredk. 2
Geo. 2
Lewis 2
Mark 2
Ralph 2
Read 2
Samuel 2
Sidney 2
Alf. 1
Douglas 1
Edgar 1
Edwd. 1
Fred. 1
Fredrick 1
Hapnoman 1
Lydney 1
Mosley 1
Nathaniel 1
Nelson 1
Penfold 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Epps surname: questions and answers

How common was the Epps surname in 1881?

In 1881, 824 people were recorded with the Epps surname. That placed it at #4,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Epps surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 793 in 2016. That gives Epps a modern rank of #6,970.

What does the Epps surname mean?

Derived from the Middle English word "eppus," meaning a high, raised place or a cliff.

What does the Epps map show?

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