NameCensus.

UK surname

Joplin

A locational surname referring to someone from Joplin, a place in Normandy, France, or from Joblin, South Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 189 people recorded with the Joplin surname, ranking it #13,322 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 141, ranked #24,753, down from #13,322 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Darlington, Whitby and King's Lynn St Margaret. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newcastle upon Tyne, Breckland and Darlington.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Joplin is 201 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 25.4%.

1881 census count

189

Ranked #13,322

Modern count

141

2016, ranked #24,753

Peak year

1911

201 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Joplin had 189 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,322 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 141 in 2016, ranked #24,753.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 201 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Joplin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Joplin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Joplin 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 135 #13,964
1861 historical 149 #15,373
1881 historical 189 #13,322
1891 historical 188 #15,609
1901 historical 177 #16,342
1911 historical 201 #14,905
1997 modern 170 #19,505
1998 modern 167 #20,258
1999 modern 162 #20,781
2000 modern 156 #21,235
2001 modern 148 #21,664
2002 modern 148 #22,087
2003 modern 147 #21,977
2004 modern 149 #21,905
2005 modern 137 #23,110
2006 modern 137 #23,270
2007 modern 137 #23,590
2008 modern 138 #23,763
2009 modern 153 #22,611
2010 modern 150 #23,482
2011 modern 153 #22,996
2012 modern 142 #24,148
2013 modern 137 #25,149
2014 modern 144 #24,504
2015 modern 144 #24,369
2016 modern 141 #24,753

Geography

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Where Joplins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Darlington, Whitby, King's Lynn St Margaret, Gateshead and Newburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newcastle upon Tyne, Breckland, Darlington, Kirklees and North East Lincolnshire. 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 Darlington Durham
2 Whitby Yorkshire, North Riding
3 King's Lynn St Margaret Norfolk
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Newburn Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newcastle upon Tyne 008 Newcastle upon Tyne
2 Breckland 002 Breckland
3 Darlington 013 Darlington
4 Kirklees 001 Kirklees
5 North East Lincolnshire 020 North East Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Joplin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Joplin

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Joplin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Joplin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Joplin is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Joplin 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

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

Meaning and origin of Joplin

The surname Joplin is of English origin, and it is believed to have originated in the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the town of Joplin in Derbyshire, England. The name is thought to be a combination of the Old English words "hop" and "hlyn," which together mean "hill beside a valley."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Joplin can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Ioppelinge." This suggests that the surname was already in use by the late 11th century, likely referring to people who hailed from the town of Joplin.

In the 13th century, records show a person named William de Jopline, indicating that the surname had evolved to its more modern spelling by that time. The "de" prefix denotes that William was from the place called Jopline or Joplin.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Joplin was John Joplin, who was born in Derbyshire in 1543. He was a prominent merchant and landowner in the region.

Another notable figure was Robert Joplin (1613-1678), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the rector of St. Giles-in-the-Fields in London.

The name gained wider recognition in the 19th century with the birth of Scott Joplin (1868-1917), the renowned African American composer and pianist who was known as the "King of Ragtime." His compositions, such as "The Entertainer" and "Maple Leaf Rag," became iconic works of American music.

In the literary world, Cleo Joplin (1899-1976) was an American author and journalist who wrote several novels and short stories, including the critically acclaimed "The Lost Generation."

Another notable bearer of the surname was Arthur Joplin (1900-1970), a British artist and painter who was known for his landscapes and portraits.

While the surname Joplin has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, where it gained prominence due to the legacy of Scott Joplin and his contributions to American music.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Joplin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Joplin 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. Yorkshire leads with 45 Joplins recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.48x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 45 2.48x
Durham 37 6.78x
Northumberland 25 9.16x
Norfolk 22 7.80x
Middlesex 14 0.76x
Lancashire 13 0.60x
Lincolnshire 9 3.07x
Surrey 7 0.78x
Suffolk 3 1.34x
Berkshire 2 1.45x
Kent 2 0.32x
Monmouthshire 2 1.51x
Derbyshire 1 0.35x
Essex 1 0.28x
Fife 1 0.92x
Gloucestershire 1 0.28x
Hampshire 1 0.27x
Montgomeryshire 1 2.38x
Northamptonshire 1 0.58x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kings Lynn St Margaret in Norfolk leads with 15 Joplins recorded in 1881 and an index of 177.31x.

Place Total Index
Kings Lynn St Margaret 15 177.31x
Moorsley 13 2203.39x
Soyland 9 412.84x
Stamford St George 9 681.82x
Bishopwearmouth 8 17.08x
West Denton 8 2758.62x
Bermondsey 7 12.82x
Darlington 7 33.24x
Ugglebarnby 7 2916.67x
Bradford 6 13.64x
Huyton With Roby 6 235.29x
Leeds 6 5.85x
Rotherham 6 58.59x
South Lynn 6 188.68x
Amble 5 403.23x
Chirton 5 81.04x
Benwell 4 134.23x
Bethnal Green London 4 5.02x
Cowley 4 1290.32x
Stranton 4 21.77x
Debach 3 3750.00x
Everton 3 4.33x
Felliscliffe 3 1500.00x
Horton In Bradford 3 10.57x
Staines 3 103.45x
Bedwas 2 208.33x
Dawdon 2 29.81x
Kensington London 2 1.96x
Little Ribston 2 1818.18x
Ruswarp 2 99.01x
Wallsend 2 23.12x
Westoe 2 6.47x
Aldermaston 1 294.12x
Aldershot 1 7.94x
Bishop Auckland 1 13.66x
Cheltenham 1 3.60x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 2.89x
Gillingham 1 7.75x
Great Driffield 1 26.81x
Heaton 1 108.70x
Hurst 1 55.56x
Leyton 1 16.05x
Newtown 1 37.17x
North Meols 1 4.69x
Northampton St Sepulchre 1 11.40x
Pittenweem 1 74.63x
St Marylebone London 1 1.02x
Staveley 1 19.61x
Tynemouth 1 6.84x
Weasenham St Peter 1 588.24x
West Derby 1 1.57x
Woolwich 1 4.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 14
George 9
Thomas 9
William 8
Joseph 6
James 5
Alfred 4
Henry 3
Hopper 3
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Nathaniel 2
Walter 2
Bamiet 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Germain 1
Gladstone 1
H. 1
Harry 1
Jos 1
Josiah 1
Nicholas 1
Oliver 1
Oswald 1
Percy 1
R.I. 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Roger 1
Rudolph 1
Theophilus 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Joplin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Joplin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 189 people were recorded with the Joplin surname. That placed it at #13,322 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Joplin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 141 in 2016. That gives Joplin a modern rank of #24,753.

What does the Joplin surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from Joplin, a place in Normandy, France, or from Joblin, South Yorkshire, England.

What does the Joplin map show?

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