NameCensus.

UK surname

Jaap

A variant of the Hebrew name Jacob or James, popular among Dutch people.

In the 1881 census there were 100 people recorded with the Jaap surname, ranking it #19,750 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 183, ranked #20,813, down from #19,750 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hamilton, Kirkintilloch and Bothwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Baillieston East, Hyndburn and Carmyle and Mount Vernon South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jaap is 191 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 83.0%.

1881 census count

100

Ranked #19,750

Modern count

183

2016, ranked #20,813

Peak year

1998

191 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jaap had 100 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,750 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 183 in 2016, ranked #20,813.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 160 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Jaap surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jaap surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jaap 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 95 #17,707
1861 historical 92 #22,112
1881 historical 100 #19,750
1891 historical 138 #19,411
1901 historical 160 #17,387
1911 historical 11 #32,463
1997 modern 182 #18,693
1998 modern 191 #18,624
1999 modern 183 #19,248
2000 modern 173 #19,889
2001 modern 162 #20,460
2002 modern 167 #20,457
2003 modern 182 #19,215
2004 modern 180 #19,424
2005 modern 184 #19,117
2006 modern 175 #19,850
2007 modern 185 #19,402
2008 modern 187 #19,465
2009 modern 182 #20,201
2010 modern 181 #20,738
2011 modern 181 #20,579
2012 modern 179 #20,679
2013 modern 183 #20,722
2014 modern 187 #20,570
2015 modern 184 #20,719
2016 modern 183 #20,813

Geography

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Where Jaaps are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hamilton, Kirkintilloch, Bothwell, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Baillieston East, Hyndburn, Carmyle and Mount Vernon South, Townhead and Caldercruix and Plains. 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 Hamilton Lanark
2 Kirkintilloch Dunbarton
3 Bothwell Lanark
4 Govan Combination Lanark
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Baillieston East Glasgow City
2 Hyndburn 002 Hyndburn
3 Carmyle and Mount Vernon South Glasgow City
4 Townhead North Lanarkshire
5 Caldercruix and Plains North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jaap

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jaap

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Jaap is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Jaap is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Jaap falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Jaap

The surname Jaap originated in the Netherlands and is a Dutch name. It is derived from the given name Jacob, which comes from the biblical Hebrew name Ya'aqov, meaning "supplanter" or "heel-holder." The surname Jaap is a diminutive or nickname form of the name Jacob.

In the Netherlands, the use of surnames became more widespread in the late Middle Ages, particularly among the urban population. The name Jaap likely emerged during this period as a way to distinguish individuals with the common first name Jacob.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Jaap can be found in historical records from the city of Amsterdam in the 16th century. For example, a merchant named Pieter Jaap is mentioned in a document dated 1562.

The name Jaap has also been associated with certain place names in the Netherlands, such as Jaapveld and Jaapskamp. These locations may have been named after individuals bearing the surname Jaap.

Notable individuals with the surname Jaap throughout history include Jan Jaap van der Wal (1896-1976), a Dutch politician and jurist who served as the Minister of Justice from 1945 to 1946. Another person of note is Dirk Jaap Jansen (1923-2002), a Dutch mathematician and computer scientist known for his contributions to the field of programming languages.

In the artistic realm, Cornelis Jaap Kieviet (1858-1931) was a Dutch painter known for his landscapes and cityscapes. His works are held in collections at the Rijksmuseum and the Frans Hals Museum in the Netherlands.

Another individual worth mentioning is Hendrik Jaap Bijleveld (1876-1942), a Dutch military officer who served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army during World War II.

Lastly, Jaap van der Bij (1931-2004) was a Dutch actor and voice artist who lent his voice to various animated films and television shows, including the Dutch dub of the popular series "The Flintstones."

While these are just a few examples, the surname Jaap has a rich history in the Netherlands, reflecting the country's cultural and linguistic traditions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jaap families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jaap 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. Lanarkshire leads with 83 Jaaps recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.31x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 83 26.31x
Renfrewshire 7 9.26x
Dumfriesshire 4 18.56x
Middlesex 2 0.21x
Midlothian 2 1.53x
Hampshire 1 0.50x
Kincardineshire 1 8.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bothwell in Lanarkshire leads with 34 Jaaps recorded in 1881 and an index of 397.20x.

Place Total Index
Bothwell 34 397.20x
Hamilton 13 147.73x
Govan 11 14.10x
Barony 8 10.02x
Paisley High Church 6 99.67x
Shotts 6 158.73x
Glasgow 5 8.93x
Dumfries 4 187.79x
Shettleston 4 141.84x
Edinburgh St Marys 2 78.74x
Finchley 2 53.48x
Cathcart 1 24.45x
Maryhill 1 16.18x
Marykirk 1 204.08x
New Monkland 1 10.72x
Portsmouth 1 21.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Vanda 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 1
Lulu 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Jaap households.

Occupation Count
Scholar 2
Bandsman 1

FAQ

Jaap surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jaap surname in 1881?

In 1881, 100 people were recorded with the Jaap surname. That placed it at #19,750 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jaap surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 183 in 2016. That gives Jaap a modern rank of #20,813.

What does the Jaap surname mean?

A variant of the Hebrew name Jacob or James, popular among Dutch people.

What does the Jaap map show?

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