NameCensus.

UK surname

Japp

A surname derived from a nickname for someone with a cheerful or jovial disposition.

In the 1881 census there were 303 people recorded with the Japp surname, ranking it #9,654 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 270, ranked #15,913, down from #9,654 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dunnichen, Govan Combination and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Portsmouth, Arun and Petershill.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Japp is 428 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 10.9%.

1881 census count

303

Ranked #9,654

Modern count

270

2016, ranked #15,913

Peak year

1901

428 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Japp had 303 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,654 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 270 in 2016, ranked #15,913.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 428 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Japp surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Japp surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Japp 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 169 #11,832
1861 historical 325 #7,835
1881 historical 303 #9,654
1891 historical 423 #8,465
1901 historical 428 #9,040
1911 historical 86 #24,243
1997 modern 261 #14,849
1998 modern 262 #15,203
1999 modern 260 #15,390
2000 modern 263 #15,228
2001 modern 259 #15,151
2002 modern 248 #15,896
2003 modern 255 #15,416
2004 modern 265 #15,110
2005 modern 266 #15,007
2006 modern 270 #14,923
2007 modern 278 #14,773
2008 modern 288 #14,537
2009 modern 288 #14,838
2010 modern 278 #15,567
2011 modern 287 #15,044
2012 modern 271 #15,628
2013 modern 279 #15,574
2014 modern 274 #15,877
2015 modern 273 #15,789
2016 modern 270 #15,913

Geography

Back to top

Where Japps are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dunnichen, Govan Combination, London parishes, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Barry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Portsmouth, Arun, Petershill, Carmarthenshire and IZ02. 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 Dunnichen Forfar
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 London parishes London 3
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Barry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Portsmouth 001 Portsmouth
2 Arun 017 Arun
3 Petershill Glasgow City
4 Carmarthenshire 011 Carmarthenshire
5 IZ02 West Dunbartonshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Japp

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Japp

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Japp surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Japp household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Japp is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Japp 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

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

Meaning and origin of Japp

The surname Japp is believed to have originated in the region of Friesland, located in the northern part of the Netherlands. It is thought to have derived from the ancient Frisian word "jap," which means "loud" or "boisterous." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a nickname or descriptive term for someone with a particularly loud or boisterous personality.

During the Middle Ages, the name Japp appeared in various historical records and documents from the region. One notable example is the Jap family mentioned in the Frisian Chronicle, a manuscript dating back to the 14th century. This chronicle provides insights into the lives and activities of prominent Frisian families during that period.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Japp can be traced back to the late 15th century, when a man named Gijsbert Jap was listed in the town records of Leeuwarden, the capital of Friesland. This entry suggests that the name had already become established as a surname by that time.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Japp. One prominent figure was Johan Japp (1554-1619), a Dutch mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics. Another notable Japp was Hendrik Japp (1675-1742), a Frisian painter known for his landscapes and seascapes.

In the 19th century, a Scottish chemist named Francis Robert Japp (1848-1925) gained recognition for his work on organic chemistry and the synthesis of various compounds. His research and publications made significant contributions to the field of chemistry during that era.

Another individual of note was Gerrit Japp (1858-1927), a Dutch politician and lawyer who served as the Minister of Justice in the Netherlands from 1913 to 1918. He played a crucial role in shaping legal policies and reforms during his tenure.

While the surname Japp has its roots in the Netherlands, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. However, the earliest and most significant historical references to the name can be traced back to the Frisian region and its ancient linguistic origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Japp families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Japp 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. Angus leads with 85 Japps recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.14x.

County Total Index
Angus 85 31.14x
Fife 48 27.52x
Lanarkshire 29 3.04x
Sussex 21 4.23x
Middlesex 16 0.54x
Lancashire 15 0.43x
Cheshire 14 2.15x
Kent 13 1.29x
Midlothian 11 2.79x
Devon 10 1.63x
Kincardineshire 9 25.09x
Northumberland 8 1.83x
Warwickshire 5 0.67x
Perthshire 4 3.03x
Surrey 3 0.21x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.73x
Argyllshire 2 2.44x
Essex 2 0.34x
Lincolnshire 2 0.42x
Banffshire 1 1.64x
Dumfriesshire 1 1.54x
Stirlingshire 1 0.92x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Montrose in Angus leads with 27 Japps recorded in 1881 and an index of 163.24x.

Place Total Index
Montrose 27 163.24x
Barry 15 457.32x
Dundee 14 13.74x
Barony 12 4.98x
Govan 12 5.09x
Dalgety 11 827.07x
Brighton 9 8.98x
Forfar 9 60.89x
West Teignmouth 9 191.90x
Auchterderran 8 182.65x
Birkenhead 8 15.43x
Dunnichen 8 555.56x
Hackney London 8 4.84x
Longbenton 8 43.10x
Markinch 8 135.14x
Plumstead 8 23.88x
Garvock 7 1627.91x
Wigan 7 14.33x
Childer Thornton 6 952.38x
Dysart 6 51.11x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 6 3.78x
Hulme 6 8.22x
Aberdour 5 284.09x
Edgbaston 5 21.71x
Ifield 5 241.55x
Kinglassie 5 375.94x
Monikie 5 349.65x
Hammersmith London 4 5.51x
Monifieth 4 41.49x
Worth 4 110.80x
Acton 3 17.37x
Alyth 3 84.27x
Lasswade 3 33.26x
Newington 3 2.76x
Shettleston 3 35.17x
Aberdeen Old Machar 2 3.51x
Burntisland 2 40.98x
Chevening 2 183.49x
Glasgow 2 1.18x
Holbeach 2 38.10x
Horsham 2 20.73x
Kinghorn 2 54.05x
West Ham 2 1.56x
Annan 1 17.89x
Beckenham 1 7.61x
Church Coniston 1 102.04x
Cuckfield 1 19.92x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.29x
Devonport 1 14.18x
Dunnottar 1 39.68x
Dunoon 1 59.17x
Edinburgh St Stephens 1 12.87x
Edzell 1 120.48x
Elie 1 144.93x
Falkirk 1 3.93x
Glassary 1 22.62x
Kirriemuir 1 14.86x
Marykirk 1 67.57x
Paddington London 1 0.92x
Rathven 1 8.71x
South Leith 1 2.25x
St Martins 1 133.33x
Strathmartine 1 82.64x
Tonbridge 1 2.76x
Walton On Hill 1 5.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Margaret 4
Annie 3
Elizabeth 3
Jane 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Louisa 2
Lydia 2
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Augusta 1
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Celia 1
Cicely 1
Eliz 1
Elsie 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Jemima 1
Jennet 1
Johannah 1
Kathleen 1
Lizzey 1
Lucy 1
Matilda 1
Nora 1
Sarah 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 7
William 6
John 5
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Frank 3
George 3
Henry 3
Thomas 3
Charles 2
Francis 2
Mathew 2
Spencer 2
Alexr. 1
Cecil 1
David 1
Douglas 1
Maurice 1
Russel 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Japp surname: questions and answers

How common was the Japp surname in 1881?

In 1881, 303 people were recorded with the Japp surname. That placed it at #9,654 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Japp surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 270 in 2016. That gives Japp a modern rank of #15,913.

What does the Japp surname mean?

A surname derived from a nickname for someone with a cheerful or jovial disposition.

What does the Japp map show?

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