NameCensus.

UK surname

Hopps

A variant spelling of the English surname Hobbs, derived from the Middle English personal name Hobbe, a diminutive form of Robert.

In the 1881 census there were 407 people recorded with the Hopps surname, ranking it #7,868 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 624, ranked #8,450, down from #7,868 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Darlington, Gateshead and Auckland St Andrew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hopps is 651 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.3%.

1881 census count

407

Ranked #7,868

Modern count

624

2016, ranked #8,450

Peak year

2010

651 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hopps had 407 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,868 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 624 in 2016, ranked #8,450.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 636 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Hopps surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hopps surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hopps 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 230 #9,368
1861 historical 245 #10,057
1881 historical 407 #7,868
1891 historical 461 #7,937
1901 historical 569 #7,362
1911 historical 636 #6,546
1997 modern 620 #7,967
1998 modern 614 #8,252
1999 modern 617 #8,296
2000 modern 601 #8,412
2001 modern 590 #8,392
2002 modern 613 #8,331
2003 modern 593 #8,407
2004 modern 602 #8,330
2005 modern 591 #8,363
2006 modern 568 #8,626
2007 modern 581 #8,564
2008 modern 610 #8,298
2009 modern 629 #8,289
2010 modern 651 #8,233
2011 modern 630 #8,364
2012 modern 611 #8,486
2013 modern 623 #8,492
2014 modern 631 #8,442
2015 modern 625 #8,449
2016 modern 624 #8,450

Geography

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Where Hopps' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Darlington, Gateshead, Auckland St Andrew, Jarrow (Harton), Monkwearmouth (Southwick), Boldon, Whitburn and Leeds. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham and Sunderland. 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 Darlington Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Auckland St Andrew Durham
4 Jarrow (Harton), Monkwearmouth (Southwick), Boldon, Whitburn Durham
5 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 058 County Durham
2 County Durham 055 County Durham
3 County Durham 045 County Durham
4 Sunderland 035 Sunderland
5 Sunderland 036 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hopps

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hopps

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Hopps surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Hopps household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Hopps is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Hopps is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hopps falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hopps

The surname Hopps has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "hop," which referred to a small enclosed valley or a hollow in the landscape. This suggests that the name may have originally been a descriptive term used to identify someone who lived or worked in such a geographic feature.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Hopps can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry refers to a landowner named Hoppe, which is likely a variant spelling of the same name.

In the 13th century, records show the name Hopps appearing in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Some early examples include William de la Hoppe, mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1230, and Robertus de Hoppe, who is recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1273.

The name Hopps has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Hopton, Hopwood, and Hopwas. These place names likely share a similar etymological origin with the surname, further reinforcing the connection between the name and geographic features like hollows or valleys.

Among the notable individuals who bore the surname Hopps throughout history are:

1. Robert Hopps (c. 1470 - 1535), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for the City of London during the reign of Henry VIII.

2. Thomas Hopps (1592 - 1647), a English soldier who served in the Parliamentarian forces during the English Civil War.

3. Mary Hopps (1670 - 1738), a renowned English botanist and herbalist, known for her contributions to the study of medicinal plants.

4. William Hopps (1786 - 1853), a British architect who designed several prominent buildings in London, including the Royal Opera House.

5. Charlotte Hopps (1838 - 1912), an English writer and social reformer, who campaigned for women's rights and advocated for better working conditions for factory workers.

While the surname Hopps may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its roots can be traced back to the medieval period in England, where it likely originated as a descriptive term related to the local geography and landscape.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hopps families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hopps 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. Yorkshire leads with 189 Hopps' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.78x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 189 4.78x
Durham 145 12.22x
Cheshire 14 1.59x
Lancashire 14 0.30x
Lincolnshire 14 2.19x
Middlesex 10 0.25x
Northumberland 9 1.52x
Surrey 5 0.26x
Kent 3 0.22x
Channel Islands 2 1.69x
Leicestershire 1 0.23x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.19x
Oxfordshire 1 0.41x
Staffordshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 23 Hopps' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.30x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 23 10.30x
Shildon 20 209.64x
Bishop Auckland 19 119.35x
Middlesbrough 17 33.02x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 14 138.20x
Headingley Cum Burley 13 51.08x
Stranton 13 32.53x
Thornaby 13 88.02x
Coundon 10 207.90x
Sowerby In Thirsk 10 420.17x
Elvet 9 105.02x
Thirsk 9 197.37x
East Thickley 8 331.95x
Harmby 8 3200.00x
Marske In Guisbrough 8 113.96x
Southwick 8 71.17x
Bishopwearmouth 7 6.87x
Kensington London 7 3.16x
Over Dinsdale 7 5000.00x
Southcoates 7 31.89x
East Cowton 6 1132.08x
Hutton Henry 6 240.00x
Thornton 6 2307.69x
Wakefield 6 19.77x
West Derby 6 4.33x
Darlington 5 10.91x
East Layton 5 2380.95x
Helmington Row 5 90.42x
Monkton Moor 5 1470.59x
Warden Law 5 3846.15x
York St Lawrence 5 121.36x
Youlton 5 6250.00x
Aldbrough In Richmond 4 727.27x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 5.32x
Coxlodge 4 88.69x
Egham 4 33.53x
Mordon 4 1739.13x
Salford 4 2.87x
Sculcoates 4 6.38x
Tudhoe 4 38.54x
Aberford 3 337.08x
Auckland St Helen 3 240.00x
Barton 3 428.57x
Holy Trinity 3 3.15x
Martin In Sleaford 3 267.86x
Redworth 3 394.74x
Ripon 3 32.72x
Shipton In Great 3 508.47x
Stillington 3 4285.71x
Whitworth 3 34.52x
York St Mary 3 18.33x
Buckland In Dover 2 44.35x
Canwick 2 588.24x
Eldon 2 106.38x
Elswick 2 4.22x
Hunslet 2 3.24x
Middleham 2 178.57x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 2 5.64x
St Giles 2 26.99x
St Helier 2 5.20x
St Marylebone London 2 0.94x
West Auckland 2 46.08x
Bournmoor 1 53.76x
Bracebridge 1 34.48x
Croydon 1 0.93x
Easington In Guisbrough 1 113.64x
Ford 1 28.09x
Girsby 1 1111.11x
Little Smeaton In 1 250.00x
Lowthorpe 1 370.37x
Micklefield 1 105.26x
Mountsorrel South End 1 158.73x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 3.25x
Ormesby 1 9.41x
Pudsey 1 4.73x
Rawdon 1 21.46x
Shadforth 1 43.48x
Shotover 1 357.14x
St George In East London 1 2.66x
Uttoxeter 1 14.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 34
Elizabeth 20
Jane 19
Sarah 12
Ann 8
Annie 6
Isabella 6
Ellen 5
Ethel 5
Florence 5
Anne 4
Caroline 3
Frances 3
Margaret 3
Matilda 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Amy 2
Eleanor 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Esther 2
Lucy 2
Penelope 2
Rachel 2
Annice 1
Betsy 1
Carolina 1
Cathrine 1
Christiana 1
Edith 1
Eliz 1
Elizbth. 1
Elizth 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Jimima 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
M.A. 1
Maria 1
Mirriam 1
Nancy 1
Priscilla 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 38
John 34
James 15
Joseph 12
Robert 12
George 11
Richard 10
Thomas 10
Charles 6
Francis 6
Albert 5
Alfred 5
Arthur 5
Henry 5
Edward 3
Elias 3
Frederick 3
Ralph 3
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Nicholas 2
Stephen 2
Aurthur 1
Benjamin 1
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Edgar 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Fredric 1
Geor. 1
Harold 1
Horace 1
Hubert 1
Jam. 1
Lewis 1
Matthew 1
Nathaniel 1
Norman 1
Peter 1
Taylor 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Wilson 1

FAQ

Hopps surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hopps surname in 1881?

In 1881, 407 people were recorded with the Hopps surname. That placed it at #7,868 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hopps surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 624 in 2016. That gives Hopps a modern rank of #8,450.

What does the Hopps surname mean?

A variant spelling of the English surname Hobbs, derived from the Middle English personal name Hobbe, a diminutive form of Robert.

What does the Hopps map show?

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