NameCensus.

UK surname

Hopley

A topographic name for someone living by a hopped meadow or area of hop cultivation.

In the 1881 census there were 939 people recorded with the Hopley surname, ranking it #4,103 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,246, ranked #4,792, down from #4,103 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Toxteth Park, Chester St Oswald, Little St John, Cathedral Church, St Peter, St Bridget, St Martin, Holy Trinity and Malpas. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire East, Cannock Chase and Lichfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hopley is 1,404 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.7%.

1881 census count

939

Ranked #4,103

Modern count

1,246

2016, ranked #4,792

Peak year

1911

1,404 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hopley had 939 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,103 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,246 in 2016, ranked #4,792.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,404 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hopley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hopley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hopley 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 640 #4,055
1861 historical 738 #3,706
1881 historical 939 #4,103
1891 historical 1,137 #3,744
1901 historical 1,284 #3,876
1911 historical 1,404 #3,438
1997 modern 1,254 #4,542
1998 modern 1,328 #4,465
1999 modern 1,331 #4,495
2000 modern 1,316 #4,517
2001 modern 1,301 #4,476
2002 modern 1,320 #4,509
2003 modern 1,309 #4,460
2004 modern 1,277 #4,557
2005 modern 1,273 #4,515
2006 modern 1,248 #4,616
2007 modern 1,263 #4,599
2008 modern 1,270 #4,599
2009 modern 1,268 #4,723
2010 modern 1,275 #4,793
2011 modern 1,258 #4,793
2012 modern 1,214 #4,867
2013 modern 1,242 #4,845
2014 modern 1,256 #4,834
2015 modern 1,254 #4,789
2016 modern 1,246 #4,792

Geography

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Where Hopleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Toxteth Park, Chester St Oswald, Little St John, Cathedral Church, St Peter, St Bridget, St Martin, Holy Trinity, Malpas, Aldridge and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire East, Cannock Chase, Lichfield and Cheshire West and Chester. 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 Toxteth Park Lancashire
2 Chester St Oswald, Little St John, Cathedral Church, St Peter, St Bridget, St Martin, Holy Trinity Cheshire
3 Malpas Cheshire
4 Aldridge Staffordshire
5 West Derby Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire East 035 Cheshire East
2 Cannock Chase 013 Cannock Chase
3 Lichfield 006 Lichfield
4 Cheshire West and Chester 002 Cheshire West and Chester
5 Cheshire East 032 Cheshire East

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hopley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hopley

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Hopley is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hopley is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hopley 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 Hopley 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 Hopley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hopley

The surname Hopley originates from England and dates back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "hop" meaning a small valley or hollow, and "leah" meaning a meadow or woodland clearing. The name was likely given to someone who lived in such a location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Hoppelie". This suggests that the name was already well-established by that time. Similar spellings from the Middle Ages include Hoppeleye, Hoppelay, and Hoppelaye.

The Hopley surname is closely associated with the village of Hopley in Derbyshire, which is believed to be the original place from which the name originated. This village is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Oppelie".

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the name was William de Hopley, who was recorded as residing in Nottinghamshire in 1327. Another early record is of John Hopley, who was born around 1450 in Hopley, Derbyshire.

During the 16th century, the name appears in various records, including that of Richard Hopley, who was born in Staffordshire in 1542. In the 17th century, a prominent individual was Sir William Hopley, a wealthy merchant and landowner who was born in London in 1638.

Moving into the 18th century, a significant figure was Thomas Hopley, a renowned author and scholar who was born in Yorkshire in 1717. He wrote several influential works on literature and philosophy.

In the 19th century, one of the most notable individuals with the Hopley surname was Sir John Hopley, who was born in Hampshire in 1812. He was a prominent politician and served as a Member of Parliament for several years.

Throughout its history, the Hopley name has maintained a strong presence in England, particularly in the counties of Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Yorkshire. While it may not be among the most common surnames, it has a rich heritage and a connection to the English countryside.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hopley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hopley 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. Cheshire leads with 290 Hopleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.43x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 290 14.43x
Lancashire 172 1.59x
Staffordshire 104 3.39x
Shropshire 74 9.41x
Warwickshire 47 2.05x
Middlesex 39 0.43x
Flintshire 29 11.85x
Northamptonshire 28 3.27x
Herefordshire 24 6.43x
Surrey 24 0.54x
Yorkshire 24 0.27x
Kent 22 0.71x
Denbighshire 20 5.82x
Essex 9 0.50x
Devon 8 0.42x
Worcestershire 5 0.42x
Lincolnshire 4 0.27x
Norfolk 3 0.21x
Montgomeryshire 2 0.96x
Berkshire 1 0.15x
Derbyshire 1 0.07x
Durham 1 0.04x
Suffolk 1 0.09x
Wiltshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Broxton in Cheshire leads with 30 Hopleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1851.85x.

Place Total Index
Broxton 30 1851.85x
Toxteth Park 25 6.84x
Ellesmere 23 170.37x
Hampton Bickley 20 858.37x
Pattishall 18 633.80x
Aldridge 17 288.14x
Aston 17 2.69x
Helsby 16 632.41x
Runcorn 16 34.54x
Chester St John Baptist 15 41.54x
Kirkdale 14 7.71x
Madeley 14 48.56x
Over 13 63.66x
Atherstone 12 102.39x
Burntwood Edial 12 61.16x
Dunham On The Hill 12 1395.35x
St Martin 12 136.52x
Kingswood 11 1486.49x
Kinnersley 11 1145.83x
Limehouse London 11 11.01x
Todmorden Walsden 11 38.02x
Chester St Oswald 10 27.49x
Hawarden 10 52.03x
Lathom 10 76.69x
Norton Canes 10 89.29x
Oldham 10 2.87x
West Derby 10 3.17x
Huddersfield 9 6.85x
Overton 9 347.49x
West Ham 9 2.27x
Everton 8 2.32x
Goole 8 52.95x
Hampton London 8 53.48x
Larktn Duckngtn Ovrtn 8 516.13x
Little Budworth 8 476.19x
Newton 8 9.61x
Ogley Hay 8 125.39x
Pownall Fee 8 88.99x
Walsall Foreign 8 5.04x
Hanmer 7 370.37x
Liverpool 7 1.07x
Marburywith Quoisley 7 333.33x
Moreton Corbet 7 897.44x
Nantwich 7 29.99x
Plymouth Charles The 7 8.39x
Windle 7 11.52x
Ansley 6 230.77x
Ashford 6 83.45x
Cannock 6 11.19x
Castleton 6 5.56x
Dover St Mary Virgin 6 19.97x
Hale 6 86.58x
Halton 6 133.93x
Hulme 6 2.66x
Lambeth 6 0.76x
Macefin 6 681.82x
Manchester 6 1.24x
Monks Coppenhall 6 7.91x
Mouldsworth 6 1052.63x
Shocklach Church 6 714.29x
Tipton 6 6.38x
Whitchurch 6 39.32x
Camberwell 5 0.86x
Castle Northwich 5 75.19x
Eyton Royton 5 520.83x
Hapsford 5 2173.91x
Horninglow 5 34.55x
Malpas 5 168.92x
Ramsgate 5 9.86x
Salford 5 1.57x
Wilnecote 5 75.99x
Wolverhampton 5 2.12x
Aldford 4 251.57x
Bilston 4 6.72x
Birmingham 4 0.52x
Bishops Frome 4 176.99x
Eddisbury 4 519.48x
Liscard 4 11.05x
Much Woolton 4 27.30x
Walton On Hill 4 6.84x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 72
John 68
Thomas 48
George 32
Charles 22
James 22
Joseph 19
Henry 15
Samuel 13
Robert 11
Richard 10
Arthur 6
Walter 6
Alfred 5
David 5
Edward 5
Edwin 5
Frederick 5
Harry 4
Jesse 4
Daniel 3
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Fred 3
Peter 3
Stephen 3
Albert 2
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Herbert 2
Randal 2
Thos. 2
Willm. 2
Wm. 2
Bertie 1
Bob 1
Chas.Wm. 1
Evan 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Geo.H. 1
Jonathon 1
Jos. 1
Josiah 1
Leonard 1
Levi 1
Lucy 1
Morgan 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Hopley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hopley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 939 people were recorded with the Hopley surname. That placed it at #4,103 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hopley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,246 in 2016. That gives Hopley a modern rank of #4,792.

What does the Hopley surname mean?

A topographic name for someone living by a hopped meadow or area of hop cultivation.

What does the Hopley map show?

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