NameCensus.

UK surname

Horspool

An occupational surname referring to someone who cared for horses.

In the 1881 census there were 239 people recorded with the Horspool surname, ranking it #11,446 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 265, ranked #16,130, down from #11,446 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes and Nottingham St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Holland, Fenland and South Cambridgeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Horspool is 317 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.9%.

1881 census count

239

Ranked #11,446

Modern count

265

2016, ranked #16,130

Peak year

1911

317 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Horspool had 239 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,446 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 265 in 2016, ranked #16,130.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 317 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Horspool surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Horspool surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Horspool 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 190 #10,852
1861 historical 152 #15,126
1881 historical 239 #11,446
1891 historical 250 #12,762
1901 historical 315 #11,263
1911 historical 317 #11,011
1997 modern 278 #14,210
1998 modern 289 #14,208
1999 modern 294 #14,140
2000 modern 288 #14,312
2001 modern 283 #14,247
2002 modern 294 #14,180
2003 modern 286 #14,259
2004 modern 279 #14,578
2005 modern 277 #14,542
2006 modern 271 #14,880
2007 modern 275 #14,888
2008 modern 276 #14,994
2009 modern 275 #15,349
2010 modern 280 #15,485
2011 modern 272 #15,653
2012 modern 259 #16,126
2013 modern 263 #16,232
2014 modern 271 #15,986
2015 modern 269 #15,955
2016 modern 265 #16,130

Geography

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Where Horspools are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Nottingham St Mary, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Wisbech St Peter. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Holland, Fenland, South Cambridgeshire, Denbighshire and Broxtowe. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 Wisbech St Peter Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Holland 010 South Holland
2 Fenland 001 Fenland
3 South Cambridgeshire 010 South Cambridgeshire
4 Denbighshire 016 Denbighshire
5 Broxtowe 016 Broxtowe

Forenames

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First names often paired with Horspool

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Horspool

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Horspool is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Horspool 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

Horspool falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Horspool is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Horspool

The surname Horspool is of English origin, derived from a geographical location bearing the same name. It is believed to have originated in the county of Staffordshire, where the first recorded instances of the name appeared in the 13th century.

The name Horspool is believed to have been derived from the Old English words "hors" meaning horse, and "pol" meaning a pool or small body of water. This suggests that the name may have originated from a place where horses were watered or gathered near a pool or pond.

One of the earliest known references to the name Horspool can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Staffordshire, a census-like record compiled in 1273. This document mentions a person named William de Horsepole, indicating the presence of the name in the region during that time period.

In the 14th century, records from the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire mention a Richard de Horsepole, who was likely a landowner or taxpayer in the area. This further solidifies the association of the name with the county of Staffordshire during the medieval period.

During the 16th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Horspoole, Horsepole, and Horspole, reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that era. One notable individual from this time was John Horspoole, a merchant and alderman in the city of London, who lived from 1525 to 1590.

In the 17th century, the name Horspool can be found in parish records and other historical documents across various parts of England, indicating the gradual spread of the name beyond its initial origins in Staffordshire. One notable figure from this period was Thomas Horspool, a member of the English Parliament who represented the borough of Derby from 1661 to 1679.

Other individuals bearing the surname Horspool include Sir Edward Horspool, a British politician and Member of Parliament for Liverpool from 1857 to 1865, and Alfred Horspool, an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the late 19th century.

Throughout its history, the surname Horspool has maintained a strong presence in various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and the West Midlands. Its origins and evolution reflect the rich tapestry of English toponymic surnames, derived from the unique geographical features and place names that have shaped the country's cultural landscape.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Horspool families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Horspool 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. Leicestershire leads with 57 Horspools recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.05x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 57 22.05x
Nottinghamshire 22 7.00x
Cambridgeshire 19 12.87x
Rutland 19 110.98x
Derbyshire 13 3.56x
Lincolnshire 12 3.22x
Staffordshire 10 1.27x
Denbighshire 9 10.22x
Yorkshire 9 0.39x
Surrey 8 0.70x
Bedfordshire 7 5.80x
Northamptonshire 7 3.19x
Lancashire 6 0.22x
Middlesex 6 0.26x
Ayrshire 5 2.87x
Devon 5 1.03x
Hampshire 5 1.05x
Aberdeenshire 4 1.85x
Brecknockshire 4 8.58x
Kent 4 0.50x
Norfolk 4 1.12x
Hertfordshire 1 0.62x
Oxfordshire 1 0.69x
Warwickshire 1 0.17x
Worcestershire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 12 Horspools recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.04x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Margaret 12 19.04x
Nailstone 11 1864.41x
Houghton On The Hill 10 3030.30x
Wisbech St Peter 10 135.14x
Llangollen Llangollen 9 900.00x
St Andrewthe Less 9 53.35x
Ampthill 7 388.89x
Aylestone 7 343.14x
Burton Extra 7 155.21x
Goadby 7 8750.00x
Rotherhithe 7 24.31x
Burley 6 2500.00x
Liverpool 6 3.57x
Oakham Lordshold 6 335.20x
Wing 6 2307.69x
Church Gresley 5 86.06x
Deeping St Nicholas 5 458.72x
Exeter St Sidwell 5 45.00x
Goole 5 129.20x
Ilkeston 5 48.88x
Nottingham St Mary 5 6.15x
Stewarton 5 144.93x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 4 9.90x
Deptford St Paul 4 6.52x
Headingley Cum Burley 4 26.90x
Newark Upon Trent 4 35.43x
Pipton 4 5000.00x
Portsea 4 4.27x
St Benedict Lincoln 4 800.00x
Walpole St Peter 4 439.56x
Deenethorpe 3 1875.00x
Himley 3 1071.43x
Normanton On Trent 3 1200.00x
Radford 3 18.80x
Basford 2 13.81x
Billesdon 2 298.51x
Derby St Werburgh 2 9.49x
Desford 2 277.78x
Draughton 2 1538.46x
Loddington 2 1666.67x
Mile End Old Town London 2 4.03x
Snenton 2 16.19x
Sutton On Trent 2 259.74x
Barrow Upon Trent 1 357.14x
Bow London 1 3.37x
Clapham 1 3.43x
Claypole 1 185.19x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.82x
Congerstone 1 625.00x
Hertford St John 1 41.84x
Hillmorton 1 95.24x
Kings Norton 1 3.66x
Leicester St Mary 1 4.79x
Linby 1 384.62x
Louth 1 11.71x
Melton Mowbray 1 21.51x
Northampton St Giles 1 11.98x
Nosely 1 1666.67x
Oakham Deanshold 1 131.58x
Paston 1 107.53x
Ryde 1 9.75x
St Marylebone London 1 0.80x
St Pancras London 1 0.53x
Sutton St Mary 1 28.41x
Wootton 1 116.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 15
John 12
George 10
Thomas 10
Robert 7
James 5
Henry 4
Herbert 4
Joseph 4
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Richard 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Humphrey 2
Roland 2
Walter 2
Amos 1
Edward 1
Eustace 1
Frank 1
Harry 1
J.R.M. 1
Job 1
Morrison 1
Nathaniel 1
Reuben 1
Robt. 1
Sidney 1
Victor 1
Wilfred 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Horspool surname: questions and answers

How common was the Horspool surname in 1881?

In 1881, 239 people were recorded with the Horspool surname. That placed it at #11,446 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Horspool surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 265 in 2016. That gives Horspool a modern rank of #16,130.

What does the Horspool surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who cared for horses.

What does the Horspool map show?

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