NameCensus.

UK surname

Guppy

A surname derived from the English word for a small freshwater fish.

In the 1881 census there were 769 people recorded with the Guppy surname, ranking it #4,804 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,083, ranked #5,398, down from #4,804 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Coker, West, Chard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset, South Somerset and Torridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Guppy is 1,151 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.8%.

1881 census count

769

Ranked #4,804

Modern count

1,083

2016, ranked #5,398

Peak year

2011

1,151 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Guppy had 769 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,804 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,083 in 2016, ranked #5,398.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,032 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Guppy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Guppy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Guppy 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 488 #5,116
1861 historical 476 #5,476
1881 historical 769 #4,804
1891 historical 795 #5,059
1901 historical 936 #4,988
1911 historical 1,032 #4,445
1997 modern 1,119 #4,993
1998 modern 1,150 #5,059
1999 modern 1,144 #5,133
2000 modern 1,147 #5,084
2001 modern 1,103 #5,160
2002 modern 1,127 #5,181
2003 modern 1,110 #5,136
2004 modern 1,101 #5,179
2005 modern 1,078 #5,219
2006 modern 1,091 #5,174
2007 modern 1,090 #5,225
2008 modern 1,115 #5,164
2009 modern 1,126 #5,216
2010 modern 1,146 #5,261
2011 modern 1,151 #5,175
2012 modern 1,124 #5,193
2013 modern 1,124 #5,282
2014 modern 1,112 #5,350
2015 modern 1,085 #5,407
2016 modern 1,083 #5,398

Geography

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Where Guppys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Coker, West, Chard, London parishes, Melcombe Regis and Bridport. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Dorset, South Somerset and Torridge. 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 Coker, West Somerset
2 Chard Somerset
3 London parishes London 3
4 Melcombe Regis Dorset
5 Bridport Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 001 West Dorset
2 West Dorset 003 West Dorset
3 South Somerset 021 South Somerset
4 West Dorset 006 West Dorset
5 Torridge 006 Torridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Guppy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Guppy

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Guppy is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Guppy is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Guppy falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Guppy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Guppy

The surname Guppy originated in England, first appearing in the 16th century. It is derived from the Old English words "gop" and "pytt," which translate to "mouth" and "pit" or "pool," respectively. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a pool or waterway.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Guppy surname dates back to 1584 in the parish records of Tenterden, Kent. The entry mentions a John Guppy, who was likely among the first to bear this surname in its modern spelling.

In the 17th century, the surname appeared in various records across southern England, particularly in Kent, Sussex, and Hampshire. The Guppy family was well-established in the village of Biddenden, Kent, where they owned a significant amount of land and property.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and property values compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, does not contain any direct references to the Guppy surname. However, it does mention several place names that may have influenced the development of the name, such as Guppedene and Gupeham.

In the 18th century, a notable figure bearing the Guppy surname was Robert Guppy (1711-1788), a successful merchant and landowner from Dorset. He was instrumental in the development of the town of Gillingham and served as its mayor.

Another famous Guppy was Sir Henry Guppy (1805-1871), a British naval officer and explorer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. He later became an influential advocate for the exploration and colonization of the Pacific Islands.

In the 19th century, the Reverend Thomas Guppy (1797-1846) was a prominent Anglican clergyman and author who wrote extensively on theological and historical subjects. His works include "A Compendious History of the Principal Protestant Missions to the Heathen" and "The Evidences of Christianity."

The Guppy surname has also been associated with notable figures in the field of natural history. Richard Guppy (1865-1952) was a British botanist and explorer who conducted extensive research on the flora of the Caribbean region, particularly in Trinidad and Tobago.

Lastly, Henry Belfield Guppy (1854-1926) was a renowned English botanist and geologist who made significant contributions to the study of plant distribution and the geological history of various Pacific islands. His book, "Observations of a Naturalist in the Pacific between 1896 and 1899," is considered a seminal work in the field.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Guppy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Guppy 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. Dorset leads with 225 Guppys recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.43x.

County Total Index
Dorset 225 44.43x
Somerset 209 16.83x
Middlesex 67 0.87x
Devon 47 2.93x
Gloucestershire 38 2.51x
Surrey 37 0.98x
Hampshire 34 2.15x
Warwickshire 21 1.08x
Channel Islands 20 8.75x
Lancashire 15 0.16x
Glamorgan 13 0.97x
Essex 9 0.59x
Cornwall 8 0.92x
Monmouthshire 8 1.43x
Sussex 7 0.54x
Brecknockshire 5 3.24x
Leicestershire 5 0.58x
Bedfordshire 4 1.00x
Durham 4 0.17x
Wiltshire 4 0.59x
Derbyshire 2 0.17x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.19x
Staffordshire 2 0.08x
Yorkshire 2 0.03x
Oxfordshire 1 0.21x
Royal Navy 1 1.09x
Worcestershire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bridport in Dorset leads with 35 Guppys recorded in 1881 and an index of 335.89x.

Place Total Index
Bridport 35 335.89x
Yeovil 33 130.74x
West Coker 28 1106.72x
Chard 25 166.22x
Exeter St Mary Major 16 165.29x
Bedminster 14 12.00x
St Pancras London 14 2.25x
Cheltenham 13 11.13x
Hardington Mandeville 13 778.44x
St Helier 13 17.47x
St Marylebone London 12 2.91x
Westbury On Trym 12 23.41x
Symondsbury 11 341.61x
Thorncombe 11 378.01x
Yetminster 11 585.11x
Beaminster 10 177.62x
Birmingham 10 1.54x
Broadway 10 497.51x
Chetnole 10 1562.50x
Halstock 10 854.70x
Mudford 10 990.10x
South Petherton 10 156.01x
Canford Magna 9 308.22x
Christchurch 9 26.25x
Portishead 9 97.51x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 9 90.00x
Aldershot 8 15.10x
Camberwell 8 1.62x
Melcombe Regis 8 38.11x
St George Hanover Square 8 5.88x
Stoke Under Hambdon 8 196.08x
Upway 8 414.51x
Almsford 7 897.44x
Aston 7 1.31x
Bristol St James St Paul 7 13.87x
Mark 7 241.38x
North Wooton 7 3888.89x
Preston 7 378.38x
Bedwellty 6 6.09x
Bootle Cum Linacre 6 8.25x
Falmouth 6 19.40x
Melbury Osmond 6 582.52x
Milborne Port 6 120.72x
Netherbury 6 143.20x
St Peter Port 6 14.18x
Sydling St Nicholas 6 405.41x
West Ham 6 1.78x
Axminster 5 66.40x
Battersea 5 1.76x
Bradpole 5 120.48x
Charminster 5 124.07x
Cuddington 5 344.83x
Lambeth 5 0.74x
Llanelly 5 27.09x
Loders 5 198.41x
Newington 5 1.75x
Sidmouth 5 54.41x
Syston 5 62.42x
Wandsworth 5 6.73x
Whitchurch 5 68.78x
Barnstaple 4 15.87x
Buckland Newton 4 176.99x
Burrington 4 333.33x
Cardiff St Mary 4 5.41x
East Blatchington 4 701.75x
Exeter St Thomas The 4 24.43x
Ilminster 4 46.08x
Ilton 4 344.83x
Leighton Buzzard 4 23.27x
Mile End Old Town London 4 2.44x
Paddington London 4 1.41x
Sherborne 4 26.83x
St George In East London 4 5.51x
Stranton 4 5.18x
Stratford On Avon 4 37.07x
Swanage 4 64.00x
Tolpuddle 4 493.83x
Westminster St Margaret 4 10.75x
Bothenhampton 3 211.27x
Broadwinsor 3 90.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 53
Elizabeth 33
Sarah 29
Jane 27
Emma 17
Ann 15
Alice 14
Ellen 13
Emily 12
Florence 10
Charlotte 9
Harriet 9
Susan 9
Annie 8
Caroline 8
Louisa 7
Martha 7
Eliza 6
Ada 5
Bessie 5
Hannah 5
Maria 5
Amelia 4
Clara 4
Edith 4
Harriett 4
Julia 4
Margaret 4
Agnes 3
Anne 3
Lilian 3
Lucy 3
Alma 2
Amy 2
Anna 2
Catherine 2
Elizth. 2
Grace 2
Isabella 2
Jessie 2
Lydia 2
Mabel 2
Matilda 2
Rhoda 2
Rose 2
Cordelia 1
Dinah 1
Eleanor 1
Gertrude 1
Wellmott 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 47
William 47
George 30
Thomas 26
Henry 20
Charles 19
James 18
Robert 17
Samuel 12
Albert 9
Edward 9
Joseph 9
Alfred 7
Arthur 6
Edwin 6
Francis 5
Ernest 4
Frank 4
Frederick 4
Harry 4
Herbert 4
Walter 4
Absalom 3
Richard 3
Wm. 3
Frederic 2
Geo. 2
Job 2
Justinian 2
Matthew 2
Rupert 2
Sidney 2
Thos. 2
Andrew 1
Benjamin 1
Bollar 1
Brian 1
C. 1
Chasrles 1
Francois 1
Fred 1
Fred.James 1
Fredk. 1
Issac 1
Jas. 1
Jesse 1
Nicholas 1
Philip 1
Reginald 1
Wm.Jas. 1

FAQ

Guppy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Guppy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 769 people were recorded with the Guppy surname. That placed it at #4,804 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Guppy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,083 in 2016. That gives Guppy a modern rank of #5,398.

What does the Guppy surname mean?

A surname derived from the English word for a small freshwater fish.

What does the Guppy map show?

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