NameCensus.

UK surname

Jopson

An English surname derived from a diminutive form of the personal name Joseph.

In the 1881 census there were 337 people recorded with the Jopson surname, ranking it #8,981 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 413, ranked #11,609, down from #8,981 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bury, Kirkby Ireleth and West Derby. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Hyndburn and Brentwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jopson is 560 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.6%.

1881 census count

337

Ranked #8,981

Modern count

413

2016, ranked #11,609

Peak year

1911

560 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jopson had 337 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,981 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 413 in 2016, ranked #11,609.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 560 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Jopson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jopson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jopson 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 253 #8,709
1861 historical 432 #5,954
1881 historical 337 #8,981
1891 historical 396 #8,945
1901 historical 527 #7,753
1911 historical 560 #7,188
1997 modern 473 #9,706
1998 modern 493 #9,702
1999 modern 489 #9,830
2000 modern 451 #10,412
2001 modern 446 #10,312
2002 modern 454 #10,367
2003 modern 441 #10,458
2004 modern 458 #10,158
2005 modern 449 #10,230
2006 modern 434 #10,543
2007 modern 437 #10,578
2008 modern 432 #10,792
2009 modern 443 #10,821
2010 modern 434 #11,223
2011 modern 422 #11,359
2012 modern 410 #11,518
2013 modern 419 #11,511
2014 modern 419 #11,592
2015 modern 408 #11,737
2016 modern 413 #11,609

Geography

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Where Jopsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bury, Kirkby Ireleth, West Derby, Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Hyndburn, Brentwood, Bolton and Liverpool. 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 Bury Lancashire
2 Kirkby Ireleth Lancashire
3 West Derby Lancashire
4 Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy Essex
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 008 Copeland
2 Hyndburn 002 Hyndburn
3 Brentwood 004 Brentwood
4 Bolton 032 Bolton
5 Liverpool 040 Liverpool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jopson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jopson

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Jopson is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Jopson 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

Jopson falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Jopson 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 Jopson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Jopson

The surname Jopson is of English origin, first appearing in the late 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Middle English word "jop," meaning "to beat" or "to strike," combined with the suffix "-son," indicating it was originally an occupational surname for someone whose job involved beating or striking, such as a blacksmith or a thresher.

The earliest recorded instance of the name can be found in the parish records of Lincolnshire, England, where a John Jopson was listed in 1592. It is believed that the name may have originated in this region, as it was relatively common in the nearby counties of Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire in the 17th and 18th centuries.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William Jopson (1599-1673), an English Puritan clergyman and author who served as the vicar of Louth, Lincolnshire. His most notable work was a controversial book titled "The Hypocrite Unmasked," published in 1658.

In the 18th century, the name appeared in the records of the Society of Friends (Quakers) in Yorkshire, with the birth of Joseph Jopson in 1718. His descendants became prominent Quaker ministers and abolitionists, including his grandson, Joseph Jopson (1785-1869), who was a vocal advocate for the abolition of slavery.

Another notable figure was Sir Ralph Jopson (1829-1899), a British civil engineer and architect who designed several important landmarks in London, including the Royal Albert Hall and the Natural History Museum. He was knighted for his contributions to architecture in 1890.

Robert Jopson (1845-1910) was a British artist and painter known for his landscapes and seascapes. His works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and other prestigious galleries in the late 19th century.

Martha Jopson (1877-1962) was an American educator and activist who worked tirelessly for the advancement of women's rights and access to higher education. She served as the dean of women at the University of Chicago for over 30 years.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jopson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jopson 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 143 Jopsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.66x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 143 3.66x
Essex 46 7.07x
Cumberland 33 11.63x
Middlesex 33 1.00x
Westmorland 23 31.74x
Cambridgeshire 22 10.53x
Kent 9 0.80x
Nottinghamshire 6 1.35x
Warwickshire 5 0.60x
Surrey 4 0.25x
Sussex 4 0.72x
Gloucestershire 2 0.31x
Hampshire 2 0.30x
Leicestershire 2 0.55x
Yorkshire 2 0.06x
Northumberland 1 0.20x
Royal Navy 1 2.55x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Derby in Lancashire leads with 22 Jopsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.22x.

Place Total Index
West Derby 22 19.22x
Bury 18 40.28x
Woodham Ferris 13 1710.53x
Pilkington 11 74.02x
Blackburn 10 9.61x
Writtle 10 375.94x
Clayton Le Moors 9 118.58x
Messing 9 1111.11x
St Pancras London 9 3.39x
Toxteth Park 9 6.79x
Over Darwen 8 25.60x
St Benet Sherehog London 8 40000.00x
Kendal 7 52.79x
St Andrewthe Less 7 29.34x
Applethwaite 6 277.78x
Bottisham 6 337.08x
Everton 6 4.81x
Hackney London 6 3.25x
Kirkby Ireleth 6 307.69x
Lancaster 6 25.77x
Rainham 6 194.17x
Skelton 6 731.71x
Wetheral 6 159.57x
Aston 5 2.18x
East Broughton 5 450.45x
Preston 5 4.78x
Soham 5 111.36x
Canewdon 4 493.83x
Hastings St Leonards 4 48.96x
Hornsey 4 9.59x
Hulme 4 4.90x
Ingatestone 4 380.95x
Islington London 4 1.25x
Oulton 4 952.38x
Rydal Loughrigg 4 714.29x
Wavertree 4 31.95x
Ambleside 3 133.33x
Arlecdon 3 39.74x
Basford 3 14.65x
Grays Thurrock 3 49.59x
Hawkshead Monk Coniston 3 220.59x
Nottingham St Mary 3 2.61x
Oldham 3 2.38x
Stretford 3 13.94x
Westward 3 252.10x
Appleby St Lawrence 2 121.21x
Beckermet St Bridget 2 266.67x
Birkdale 2 20.20x
Caldewgate 2 12.86x
Fordham 2 148.15x
Hawkesbury 2 90.91x
Heaton Norris 2 8.98x
Lambeth 2 0.70x
Leicester Newarke 2 104.71x
Scotton In 2 606.06x
Sittingbourne 2 22.52x
Stanwix 2 86.96x
Barrow In Furness 1 1.88x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.70x
Downham 1 45.05x
Ewhurst 1 2500.00x
Great Crosby 1 9.37x
Haslingden 1 6.17x
Kirkandrews On Esk 1 104.17x
Lewisham 1 1.67x
Liverpool 1 0.42x
Low Holme 1 62.50x
Lowside Quarter 1 285.71x
Nether Staveley 1 270.27x
Paddington London 1 0.82x
Penrith 1 9.53x
Portsea 1 0.76x
Saffron Walden 1 14.53x
Skerton 1 31.15x
St Bees 1 76.34x
Tooting Graveney 1 22.37x
Turton 1 15.60x
Westgate 1 3.29x
Weybridge 1 28.99x
Wigan 1 1.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 24
William 24
James 13
Thomas 12
Robert 9
Joseph 7
George 6
Henry 6
Frederick 5
Richard 5
Alfred 4
Edward 4
Samuel 4
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Harry 3
Mark 2
Philip 2
Thos. 2
Bryan 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Frank 1
Herbert 1
Hy. 1
Jno. 1
Jonathan 1
Lancelot 1
Mossop 1
Mr. 1
Reuben 1
Samual 1
Sidney 1
Willie 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Jopson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jopson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 337 people were recorded with the Jopson surname. That placed it at #8,981 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jopson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 413 in 2016. That gives Jopson a modern rank of #11,609.

What does the Jopson surname mean?

An English surname derived from a diminutive form of the personal name Joseph.

What does the Jopson map show?

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