NameCensus.

UK surname

Hopcroft

A surname derived from a place name referring to a small enclosed field or paddock.

In the 1881 census there were 479 people recorded with the Hopcroft surname, ranking it #6,993 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 682, ranked #7,860, down from #6,993 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Basford, Windsor, Old and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Aylesbury Vale, South Bucks and Broxtowe.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hopcroft is 731 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.4%.

1881 census count

479

Ranked #6,993

Modern count

682

2016, ranked #7,860

Peak year

1999

731 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hopcroft had 479 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,993 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 682 in 2016, ranked #7,860.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 669 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hopcroft surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hopcroft surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Hopcroft 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 278 #8,089
1861 historical 402 #6,383
1881 historical 479 #6,993
1891 historical 493 #7,514
1901 historical 520 #7,818
1911 historical 669 #6,294
1997 modern 707 #7,191
1998 modern 723 #7,296
1999 modern 731 #7,282
2000 modern 715 #7,383
2001 modern 707 #7,314
2002 modern 709 #7,436
2003 modern 693 #7,444
2004 modern 703 #7,367
2005 modern 680 #7,516
2006 modern 670 #7,622
2007 modern 668 #7,708
2008 modern 664 #7,782
2009 modern 685 #7,771
2010 modern 697 #7,805
2011 modern 685 #7,819
2012 modern 662 #7,949
2013 modern 683 #7,886
2014 modern 688 #7,887
2015 modern 671 #7,984
2016 modern 682 #7,860

Geography

Back to top

Where Hopcrofts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Basford, Windsor, Old, London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Aylesbury Vale, South Bucks, Broxtowe and South Kesteven. 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 Basford Nottinghamshire
2 Windsor, Old Berkshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Aylesbury Vale 010 Aylesbury Vale
2 South Bucks 008 South Bucks
3 Aylesbury Vale 023 Aylesbury Vale
4 Broxtowe 013 Broxtowe
5 South Kesteven 009 South Kesteven

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Hopcroft

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Hopcroft

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Hopcroft 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

Hopcroft is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hopcroft falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hopcroft is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Hopcroft

The surname HOPCROFT is of English origin, deriving from the Old English words "hopp" meaning a small enclosed valley, and "croft" referring to a small enclosed field or humble dwelling. It is believed to have emerged in the medieval period, likely around the 13th or 14th century, as a locative surname given to individuals residing in such a hop-enclosed valley or croft.

The earliest known recorded instances of the HOPCROFT surname can be traced back to the county of Lincolnshire, England, where it is thought to have originated. In the 16th century, records show variations in spelling such as "Hopcrofte" and "Hoppcrofte," reflecting the evolving nature of English orthography during that era.

One notable early bearer of the HOPCROFT name was John Hopcroft, a landowner and farmer who lived in the village of Swineshead, Lincolnshire, in the late 15th century. His name is mentioned in local parish records from the 1480s and 1490s, indicating the surname's presence in that region during that time period.

In the 17th century, the HOPCROFT surname can be found in various historical documents, including the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1662-1666, which recorded households and their taxable hearths or fireplaces. Entries for individuals with the HOPCROFT surname appear in several counties, suggesting the gradual spread of the name across different parts of England.

Moving into the 18th century, a prominent figure bearing the HOPCROFT name was Robert Hopcroft (1713-1788), a renowned clockmaker and inventor from Nottinghamshire. His innovative designs and contributions to the field of horology earned him significant recognition during his lifetime and cemented the HOPCROFT name in the annals of British craftsmanship.

Another notable individual was William Hopcroft (1768-1830), an English painter and engraver known for his landscapes and topographical views. Born in Nottinghamshire, he exhibited his works at the Royal Academy of Arts and left a lasting legacy in the world of British art.

In the 19th century, the HOPCROFT surname continued to be carried by individuals of various professions and backgrounds. One such individual was John Hopcroft (1819-1892), a successful businessman and entrepreneur from Yorkshire, who established a thriving textile manufacturing company that contributed significantly to the local economy.

While the HOPCROFT surname may not have been as widespread or prominent as some other English surnames, it has nevertheless left its mark on the history and culture of England, spanning various regions and vocations over several centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Hopcroft families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hopcroft 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 108 Hopcrofts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.31x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 108 2.31x
Nottinghamshire 66 10.48x
Worcestershire 46 7.54x
Warwickshire 41 3.48x
Oxfordshire 34 11.78x
Berkshire 32 9.12x
Staffordshire 27 1.71x
Surrey 21 0.92x
Hertfordshire 20 6.21x
Buckinghamshire 16 5.66x
Leicestershire 14 2.70x
Lancashire 12 0.22x
Gloucestershire 8 0.87x
Bedfordshire 6 2.48x
Hampshire 6 0.63x
Kent 4 0.25x
Derbyshire 3 0.41x
Devon 2 0.21x
Midlothian 2 0.32x
Monmouthshire 2 0.59x
Northamptonshire 2 0.46x
Northumberland 2 0.29x
Yorkshire 2 0.04x
Essex 1 0.11x
Somerset 1 0.13x
Sussex 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 23 Hopcrofts recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.12x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 23 14.12x
Basford 20 68.89x
Wolverhampton 17 14.02x
St Marylebone London 16 6.41x
Birmingham 15 3.82x
Bethnal Green London 14 6.90x
Kensington London 14 5.39x
Tring 13 151.16x
Chelsea London 11 7.81x
Fritwell 11 1222.22x
Old Windsor 11 270.94x
Feckenham 10 143.27x
Clifton On Dunsmore 9 947.37x
Handborough 9 580.65x
Radford 9 28.13x
Cheltenham 8 11.32x
Hartlebury 8 220.39x
New Windsor 8 67.85x
Ardwick 7 14.00x
Aston 7 2.16x
Islington London 7 1.55x
Lambeth 7 1.72x
Long Crendon 7 370.37x
Paddington London 7 4.07x
Richmond 7 21.94x
Wolverley 7 130.60x
Aylesbury 6 47.92x
Hendon 6 35.69x
Kingswinford 6 10.48x
Redbourn 6 170.45x
Stourbridge 6 38.22x
Blewbury 5 416.67x
Leicester St Margaret 5 3.96x
Lenton 5 33.72x
Oxford St Ebbe 5 58.89x
Pinner 5 122.25x
Rainhill 5 140.85x
Sambourn 5 588.24x
Snenton 5 20.21x
St Luke London 5 6.67x
Upper Mitton 5 364.96x
Clewer 4 27.84x
Cookham 4 36.60x
Dorking 4 26.16x
Owston Newbold Saucey 4 13333.33x
St Anne Soho London 4 14.99x
St Pancras London 4 1.06x
Uxbridge 4 74.91x
Alfreton 3 13.50x
Banbury 3 51.90x
Burton Upon Trent 3 8.13x
Carlton 3 41.72x
Leighton Buzzard 3 28.82x
Luton 3 7.16x
Millbrook 3 12.44x
Monks Risborough 3 222.22x
Dudley 2 2.70x
Ealing 2 4.79x
Edmonton 2 5.31x
Llanwenarth Ultra 2 81.30x
Martley 2 114.29x
North Shields 2 14.42x
Popham 2 1176.47x
Sapcote 2 180.18x
South Leith 2 2.84x
St Botolph Aldersgate 2 37.31x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.43x
Studley 2 39.68x
Syston 2 41.24x
Thame 2 38.10x
Upperswinford 2 38.76x
Yardley 2 12.81x
Ashford 1 27.10x
Brighton 1 0.63x
Croughton 1 103.09x
East Molesey 1 18.94x
Hascombe 1 142.86x
Lambley 1 77.52x
Old Stratford 1 14.99x
Swanscombe 1 13.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 36
Eliza 15
Sarah 14
Annie 12
Elizabeth 12
Ann 10
Emma 9
Jane 9
Alice 8
Emily 7
Fanny 5
Louisa 5
Anne 4
Ellen 4
Rachel 4
Agnes 3
Charlotte 3
Clara 3
Edith 3
Helen 3
Lydia 3
Maria 3
Martha 3
Amy 2
Elizth. 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Mabel 2
Minnie 2
Priscilla 2
Rose 2
Anna 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Deborah 1
Elza 1
Emelia 1
Esther 1
Eunice 1
Eveline 1
Florance 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lilly 1
Unetia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 33
William 33
Arthur 15
John 15
Thomas 14
James 13
Henry 10
Frederick 8
Charles 7
Edwin 7
Joseph 7
Alfred 6
Albert 5
Harry 5
Richard 5
Edward 4
Ernest 4
Benjamin 3
Robert 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
Edmund 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Isaac 2
Bertie 1
Clara 1
David 1
Eligha 1
Emos 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Gains 1
Horace 1
Job 1
Joshua 1
Martin 1
Matthew 1
Phileon 1
Ralph 1
Reginald 1
Saml. 1
Samul 1
Stephen 1
Sydney 1
T.W. 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Victor 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Hopcroft surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hopcroft surname in 1881?

In 1881, 479 people were recorded with the Hopcroft surname. That placed it at #6,993 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hopcroft surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 682 in 2016. That gives Hopcroft a modern rank of #7,860.

What does the Hopcroft surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name referring to a small enclosed field or paddock.

What does the Hopcroft map show?

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