NameCensus.

UK surname

Hopwood

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a small, enclosed wood or someone from Hopwood, England.

In the 1881 census there were 3,411 people recorded with the Hopwood surname, ranking it #1,338 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,836, ranked #1,767, down from #1,338 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Stockport and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wrexham, Shropshire and Flintshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hopwood is 4,474 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.5%.

1881 census count

3,411

Ranked #1,338

Modern count

3,836

2016, ranked #1,767

Peak year

1911

4,474 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hopwood had 3,411 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,338 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,836 in 2016, ranked #1,767.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,474 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Hopwood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hopwood surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hopwood 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 2,316 #1,280
1861 historical 2,312 #1,274
1881 historical 3,411 #1,338
1891 historical 3,834 #1,250
1901 historical 4,042 #1,394
1911 historical 4,474 #1,154
1997 modern 3,843 #1,695
1998 modern 4,209 #1,603
1999 modern 4,310 #1,570
2000 modern 4,247 #1,582
2001 modern 4,137 #1,588
2002 modern 4,205 #1,594
2003 modern 4,118 #1,588
2004 modern 4,028 #1,638
2005 modern 3,968 #1,638
2006 modern 3,948 #1,649
2007 modern 3,942 #1,672
2008 modern 3,944 #1,679
2009 modern 4,036 #1,681
2010 modern 4,103 #1,690
2011 modern 3,996 #1,713
2012 modern 3,915 #1,718
2013 modern 3,950 #1,739
2014 modern 3,974 #1,731
2015 modern 3,882 #1,750
2016 modern 3,836 #1,767

Geography

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Where Hopwoods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Stockport, Manchester, London parishes and Prestwich. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wrexham, Shropshire, Flintshire and Stoke-on-Trent. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Stockport Cheshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 London parishes London 2
5 Prestwich Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wrexham 017 Wrexham
2 Shropshire 002 Shropshire
3 Flintshire 004 Flintshire
4 Stoke-on-Trent 005 Stoke-on-Trent
5 Wrexham 015 Wrexham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hopwood

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hopwood

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Hopwood surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Hopwood household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hopwood 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

Hopwood is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Hopwood

The surname HOPWOOD is of English origin and dates back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have originated in the county of Lancashire, England. The name is derived from the Old English words "hop" meaning "valley" and "wudu" meaning "wood", thus translating to "the wood in the valley".

One of the earliest recorded instances of the HOPWOOD surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire from 1202, where a Robert de Hopwode is mentioned as a landowner. The name also appears in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1246, referring to a William de Hopwode.

During the Middle Ages, the HOPWOOD family held lands and properties in various parts of Lancashire, particularly around the areas of Middleton and Rochdale. The name is closely associated with the township of Hopwood, which likely derived its name from the surname itself.

In the 13th century, the HOPWOOD family was involved in a legal dispute over land ownership, which is documented in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1275. This record mentions Adam de Hopwode and his claims to certain lands in the vicinity of Rochdale.

One of the earliest notable figures with the HOPWOOD surname was John Hopwood (1610-1679), an English landowner and member of Parliament who represented Lancashire during the English Civil War. He was a staunch Royalist and supported King Charles I.

Another prominent HOPWOOD was Sir John Hopwood (1682-1753), a British lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer from 1746 until his death. He was highly respected for his legal expertise and impartiality on the bench.

In the 18th century, Reverend Henry Hopwood (1717-1784) was an English clergyman and author who wrote several theological works, including "Sermons on Various Subjects" and "An Explanation of the Lord's Prayer".

During the Victorian era, Charles Henry Hopwood (1829-1904) was a successful industrialist and entrepreneur who founded the Hopwood Cotton Spinning Company in Lancashire. He played a significant role in the growth of the textile industry in the region.

In the field of literature, Francis Hopwood (1860-1946) was a British author and poet known for his works such as "The Pilgrim in England" and "The Old Road to Paradise". He was also a prominent figure in the literary circles of his time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hopwood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hopwood 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. Lancashire leads with 1,276 Hopwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.23x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,276 3.23x
Yorkshire 519 1.57x
Cheshire 390 5.31x
Staffordshire 264 2.35x
Middlesex 236 0.71x
Flintshire 121 13.52x
Shropshire 90 3.13x
Surrey 82 0.51x
Cambridgeshire 59 2.80x
Essex 52 0.79x
Durham 50 0.50x
Hampshire 41 0.60x
Denbighshire 37 2.94x
Warwickshire 36 0.43x
Derbyshire 32 0.61x
Lincolnshire 24 0.45x
Kent 18 0.16x
Gloucestershire 14 0.21x
Sussex 11 0.20x
Berkshire 9 0.36x
Rutland 9 3.68x
Bedfordshire 7 0.41x
Worcestershire 5 0.12x
Caernarfonshire 4 0.30x
Hertfordshire 4 0.17x
Devon 3 0.04x
Monmouthshire 3 0.12x
Norfolk 3 0.06x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.14x
Northumberland 2 0.04x
Oxfordshire 2 0.10x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.03x
Channel Islands 1 0.10x
Herefordshire 1 0.07x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.15x
Leicestershire 1 0.03x
Royal Navy 1 0.25x
Somerset 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oldham in Lancashire leads with 99 Hopwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.77x.

Place Total Index
Oldham 99 7.77x
Stockport 94 24.86x
Manchester 88 4.95x
Stoke Upon Trent 76 6.38x
Ashton Under Lyne 48 5.56x
Dukinfield 48 14.14x
Heaton Norris 43 19.13x
Blackburn 42 4.00x
Salford 41 3.53x
Newton 39 12.81x
Little Bolton 36 7.09x
Droylsden 34 26.39x
Leeds 34 1.83x
Wolstanton 34 9.96x
Hyde 32 14.76x
Gomersal 31 20.14x
Habergham Eaves 28 7.76x
Mold Argoed 28 220.82x
Scarborough 26 8.68x
Spotland 26 5.92x
Bradford 25 13.52x
Chelsea London 25 2.49x
Denton 24 27.42x
Bredbury 23 54.09x
Broughton In Salford 23 6.37x
Cheadle 23 16.39x
Bury 20 4.43x
Mold Leeswood 20 98.77x
Pendleton In Salford 20 4.25x
Bethnal Green London 19 1.31x
Birmingham 19 0.68x
Chadderton 19 9.84x
Great Little Marsden 19 10.50x
Methley 19 40.91x
Middleton In Oldham 19 16.04x
Stoke Newington London 19 7.33x
Wolverhampton 19 2.20x
Blackley 18 26.00x
Hopwood 18 34.86x
Whalley 18 31.27x
Drayton In Hales 17 28.68x
Esholt 17 384.62x
Gorton 17 4.58x
Haughton 17 29.50x
Hawarden 17 24.19x
Wardleworth 17 7.53x
Hackney London 16 0.86x
Lower Bebington 16 36.66x
North Meols 16 4.14x
Preston 16 1.51x
Bowling 15 4.59x
Camberwell 15 0.71x
Castleton 15 3.80x
Holy Trinity 15 1.89x
Huddersfield 15 3.12x
Mold Bistree 15 103.09x
St George Hanover Square 15 2.56x
Werneth 15 65.19x
Failsworth 14 15.49x
Glossop Dale 14 5.74x
Great Harwood 14 19.61x
Ickleton 14 185.43x
Islington London 14 0.43x
Lambeth 14 0.48x
Layton With Warbreck 14 9.66x
Moss Side 14 6.74x
St Pancras London 14 0.52x
Wolstanton Chesterton 14 24.38x
Altofts 13 35.71x
Birkenhead 13 2.22x
Liverpool 13 0.54x
Old Malton 13 62.68x
Stayley 13 15.48x
Tryddyn 13 66.91x
Accrington 12 3.34x
Audley Talk O Th Hill 12 59.32x
Harwood 12 58.17x
Mold 12 14.79x
Offerton 12 297.03x
West Derby 12 1.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 257
Elizabeth 157
Sarah 146
Ann 75
Jane 70
Alice 69
Emma 64
Ellen 63
Annie 57
Eliza 50
Hannah 50
Martha 44
Margaret 34
Emily 32
Harriet 29
Maria 29
Ada 23
Edith 22
Fanny 20
Amelia 15
Elizth. 15
Florence 15
Lucy 15
Clara 14
Caroline 12
Nancy 12
Frances 10
Gertrude 10
Catherine 9
Charlotte 9
Esther 9
Louisa 9
Isabella 8
Susan 8
Anne 7
Betty 7
Harriett 7
Kate 7
Minnie 7
Susannah 7
Agnes 6
Amy 6
Bertha 6
Betsy 6
Sophia 6
Lillian 5
Lilly 5
Lizzie 5
Matilda 5
Maud 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 212
William 205
James 148
Thomas 113
Joseph 81
George 77
Charles 59
Robert 49
Henry 46
Samuel 45
Edward 40
Richard 36
Alfred 26
Walter 25
Arthur 24
Edwin 19
Frederick 18
Harry 18
Herbert 16
Albert 14
Peter 13
Thos. 13
David 11
Ernest 11
Frank 11
Wm. 10
Abraham 9
Francis 9
Fred 8
Benjamin 7
Edmund 6
Daniel 5
Harold 5
Jno. 5
Allen 4
Ellis 4
Ephraim 4
Fredk. 4
Geo. 4
Ralph 4
Sidney 4
Tom 4
Charley 3
Eli 3
Jas. 3
Jesse 3
Jonathan 3
Matthew 3
Saml. 3
Valentine 3

FAQ

Hopwood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hopwood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,411 people were recorded with the Hopwood surname. That placed it at #1,338 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hopwood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,836 in 2016. That gives Hopwood a modern rank of #1,767.

What does the Hopwood surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a small, enclosed wood or someone from Hopwood, England.

What does the Hopwood map show?

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