NameCensus.

UK surname

Jepson

Son of Geoffrey or Geoff, derived from the personal name Gepp, a Middle English variant of the name Jeffrey.

In the 1881 census there were 2,929 people recorded with the Jepson surname, ranking it #1,529 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,158, ranked #2,146, down from #1,529 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blackburn with Darwen, Rotherham and Ashfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jepson is 3,764 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.8%.

1881 census count

2,929

Ranked #1,529

Modern count

3,158

2016, ranked #2,146

Peak year

1911

3,764 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jepson had 2,929 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,529 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,158 in 2016, ranked #2,146.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,764 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Jepson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jepson surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Jepson 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 1,751 #1,647
1861 historical 1,466 #1,935
1881 historical 2,929 #1,529
1891 historical 2,825 #1,677
1901 historical 3,414 #1,630
1911 historical 3,764 #1,375
1997 modern 3,229 #1,993
1998 modern 3,403 #1,966
1999 modern 3,437 #1,971
2000 modern 3,361 #2,008
2001 modern 3,330 #1,981
2002 modern 3,410 #1,988
2003 modern 3,300 #2,004
2004 modern 3,284 #2,009
2005 modern 3,229 #2,015
2006 modern 3,183 #2,049
2007 modern 3,201 #2,061
2008 modern 3,207 #2,068
2009 modern 3,301 #2,063
2010 modern 3,327 #2,088
2011 modern 3,262 #2,097
2012 modern 3,215 #2,095
2013 modern 3,194 #2,144
2014 modern 3,221 #2,142
2015 modern 3,195 #2,138
2016 modern 3,158 #2,146

Geography

Back to top

Where Jepsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Manchester, Sheffield and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blackburn with Darwen, Rotherham and Ashfield. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blackburn with Darwen 014 Blackburn with Darwen
2 Blackburn with Darwen 017 Blackburn with Darwen
3 Blackburn with Darwen 016 Blackburn with Darwen
4 Rotherham 029 Rotherham
5 Ashfield 011 Ashfield

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Jepson

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Jepson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Jepson, 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 Jepson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Jepson 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Jepson 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

Jepson 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

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

Meaning and origin of Jepson

The surname Jepson has its origins in Scandinavia, derived from the Old Norse personal name Ieppi or Ieppo. It is believed to have been introduced to England during the Viking invasions of the 9th and 10th centuries.

In its earliest form, the name was spelled as Iepson or Ieppeson, reflecting its Norse roots. As the language evolved, the spelling gradually changed to Jepson or Jeppson, which became more common in the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire and Lancashire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jepson can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as a place name, "Iepesune," referring to a location in Yorkshire. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name Jepson gained prominence in various parts of England. Notable individuals bearing this surname include William Jepson, a 14th-century cleric and scholar from Yorkshire who served as the Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1370 to 1374.

In the 16th century, John Jepson (c. 1534-1594) was an English Puritan minister and author, best known for his work "A View of a Seditious Bull," published in 1588. He was a vocal critic of the Catholic Church and played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation.

The 17th century saw the emergence of Ralph Jepson (1612-1678), an English mathematician and astronomer who made important contributions to the study of celestial mechanics. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society and served as the Savilian Professor of Astronomy at the University of Oxford from 1654 until his death.

In the 18th century, Edward Jepson (1737-1817) was a notable English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in Yorkshire and Lancashire. His most famous work is the Leeds Parish Church, now known as Leeds Minster, which he designed in the Gothic Revival style.

Moving into the 19th century, Edgar Jepson (1863-1938) was a prolific English author and playwright who wrote over 50 novels and numerous plays. He was known for his works of historical fiction and adventure stories set in exotic locations around the world.

Throughout history, the surname Jepson has maintained a strong presence in various regions of England, particularly in the northern counties where it originated. While its spelling has evolved over time, the name's Scandinavian roots and connection to the Viking heritage of the region remain evident.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Jepson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jepson 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 843 Jepsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.49x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 843 2.49x
Yorkshire 722 2.55x
Cheshire 360 5.71x
Derbyshire 293 6.55x
Nottinghamshire 241 6.26x
Middlesex 98 0.34x
Staffordshire 68 0.70x
Lincolnshire 49 1.07x
Durham 41 0.48x
Warwickshire 28 0.39x
Kent 21 0.22x
Leicestershire 17 0.54x
Surrey 17 0.12x
Northamptonshire 14 0.52x
Essex 13 0.23x
Montgomeryshire 11 1.68x
Glamorgan 10 0.20x
Oxfordshire 8 0.45x
Wiltshire 8 0.32x
Hampshire 7 0.12x
Northumberland 7 0.16x
Berkshire 5 0.23x
Cornwall 5 0.15x
Sussex 5 0.10x
Wigtownshire 5 1.32x
Flintshire 4 0.52x
Herefordshire 4 0.34x
Pembrokeshire 4 0.44x
Westmorland 4 0.64x
Gloucestershire 3 0.05x
Suffolk 3 0.09x
Isle of Man 2 0.38x
Worcestershire 2 0.05x
Bedfordshire 1 0.07x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.06x
Denbighshire 1 0.09x
Devon 1 0.02x
Hertfordshire 1 0.05x
Monmouthshire 1 0.05x
Norfolk 1 0.02x
Shropshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Over Darwen in Lancashire leads with 226 Jepsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 83.43x.

Place Total Index
Over Darwen 226 83.43x
Sheffield 80 8.87x
Blackburn 61 6.76x
Almondbury 54 39.43x
Ashton Under Lyne 50 6.75x
Stockport 47 14.48x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 42 15.92x
Leeds 40 2.50x
Disley Stanley 37 113.92x
Ecclesall Bierlow 36 6.25x
Lockwood 36 35.33x
Brightside Bierlow 33 5.94x
Nether Hallam 33 8.61x
Alfreton 32 23.54x
Claylane 31 49.84x
Nottingham St Mary 31 3.11x
Oldham 31 2.83x
Huddersfield 30 7.27x
Rotherham 28 17.54x
Worksop 28 24.51x
Glossop Dale 25 11.93x
Greasley 25 28.76x
Bury 24 6.19x
Macclesfield 24 8.56x
Radford 24 12.26x
Cheadle 23 19.09x
Hulme 23 3.25x
Manchester 23 1.51x
Selston 23 53.45x
Salford 22 2.21x
Heaton Norris 21 10.88x
Great Bolton 19 4.23x
Castleford 18 17.45x
Newton 18 6.89x
Derby St Werburgh 17 6.58x
Great Grimsby 17 5.86x
St Pancras London 17 0.74x
Everton 16 1.48x
Birmingham 15 0.62x
Congleton 15 13.76x
West Derby 15 1.51x
Audley 14 14.67x
Chorlton On Medlock 14 2.60x
Kimberworth 14 8.91x
Litchurch 14 7.77x
Liverpool 14 0.68x
Spalding 14 15.44x
Broughton In Salford 13 4.19x
Dukinfield 13 4.46x
Warrington 13 3.23x
Chesterfield 12 7.15x
Derby St Alkmund 12 8.95x
Ecclesfield 12 5.78x
Sandbach 12 22.30x
Ardwick 11 3.60x
Chatham 11 4.10x
Gateshead 11 1.73x
Habergham Eaves 11 3.55x
Llanllugan 11 388.69x
Rawmarsh 11 10.99x
Wombwell 11 13.32x
Altrincham 10 9.07x
Kenilworth 10 24.61x
Lower Darwen 10 22.46x
Mansfield 10 7.50x
Pendleton In Salford 10 2.47x
Rastrick 10 12.71x
St Luke London 10 2.18x
Yeardsley Cum Whaley 10 80.39x
Bollington In 9 16.03x
Capesthorne 9 825.69x
Chinley Bugsworth 9 76.53x
Clifton In York 9 15.19x
Kirkby In Ashfield 9 21.84x
Moss Side 9 5.04x
Pownall Fee 9 31.88x
Poynton 9 42.43x
Radcliffe 9 5.50x
Ripley 9 16.27x
Cuckney 8 146.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 233
Elizabeth 133
Sarah 128
Ann 70
Hannah 58
Ellen 57
Alice 55
Eliza 48
Annie 45
Jane 43
Emma 40
Martha 30
Emily 28
Margaret 26
Florence 20
Harriet 20
Clara 19
Edith 15
Maria 15
Fanny 12
Louisa 12
Ada 11
Agnes 11
Betsy 11
Charlotte 11
Nancy 11
Catherine 9
Esther 9
Rose 9
Susannah 9
Betty 8
Frances 8
Minnie 8
Anne 7
Elizth. 7
Gertrude 7
Amy 6
Lydia 6
Rebecca 6
Susan 6
Maud 5
Phoebe 5
Rachel 5
Amelia 4
Bertha 4
Caroline 4
Eleanor 4
Isabella 4
Matilda 4
Sophia 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 204
William 159
George 109
Thomas 96
James 89
Joseph 73
Samuel 60
Henry 51
Charles 46
Arthur 25
Walter 25
Harry 24
Richard 24
Robert 23
Albert 20
Edward 20
Alfred 17
Herbert 13
Frank 12
Fred 12
David 11
Edwin 11
Thos. 11
Tom 11
Wm. 11
Ernest 10
Joe 9
Benjamin 7
Peter 7
Ralph 7
Frederick 6
Matthew 6
Timothy 6
Daniel 5
Edmund 5
Michael 5
Edgar 4
Fredrick 4
Joshua 4
Saml. 4
Stephen 4
Chas. 3
Elias 3
Francis 3
Infant 3
Isaac 3
Job 3
Jonathan 3
Nathaniel 3
Percy 3

FAQ

Jepson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jepson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,929 people were recorded with the Jepson surname. That placed it at #1,529 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jepson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,158 in 2016. That gives Jepson a modern rank of #2,146.

What does the Jepson surname mean?

Son of Geoffrey or Geoff, derived from the personal name Gepp, a Middle English variant of the name Jeffrey.

What does the Jepson map show?

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