NameCensus.

UK surname

Lopes

A Portuguese and Galician surname derived from the Latin word "lupus," meaning "wolf."

In the 1881 census there were 50 people recorded with the Lopes surname, ranking it #26,587 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,868, ranked #3,409, up from #26,587 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swindon, Leicester and Peterborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lopes is 1,868 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 3636.0%.

1881 census count

50

Ranked #26,587

Modern count

1,868

2016, ranked #3,409

Peak year

2016

1,868 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lopes had 50 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,587 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,868 in 2016, ranked #3,409.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 68 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Lopes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lopes surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lopes 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 28 #28,274
1861 historical 33 #29,814
1881 historical 50 #26,587
1891 historical 29 #31,963
1901 historical 45 #29,156
1911 historical 68 #26,050
1997 modern 394 #11,129
1998 modern 466 #10,140
1999 modern 493 #9,765
2000 modern 520 #9,339
2001 modern 505 #9,404
2002 modern 606 #8,401
2003 modern 624 #8,076
2004 modern 680 #7,575
2005 modern 795 #6,641
2006 modern 926 #5,904
2007 modern 1,027 #5,493
2008 modern 1,129 #5,112
2009 modern 1,294 #4,629
2010 modern 1,442 #4,308
2011 modern 1,434 #4,289
2012 modern 1,569 #3,919
2013 modern 1,637 #3,839
2014 modern 1,743 #3,637
2015 modern 1,784 #3,546
2016 modern 1,868 #3,409

Geography

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Where Lopes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swindon, Leicester, Peterborough and Lambeth. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swindon 015 Swindon
2 Leicester 017 Leicester
3 Peterborough 014 Peterborough
4 Lambeth 004 Lambeth
5 Lambeth 006 Lambeth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lopes

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lopes

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Lopes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Lopes 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Lopes 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

Lopes is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lopes falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lopes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Lopes

The surname Lopes has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in Portugal and Spain. It is derived from the Latin word "lupus," meaning "wolf." The name likely emerged during the Middle Ages as a nickname or descriptive term, possibly referring to a person's physical appearance, behavior, or occupation related to wolves or hunting.

In Portugal, the surname Lopes can be traced back to the 12th century, with records indicating its presence in various regions, including the northern areas of Entre-Douro e Minho and Trás-os-Montes. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Fernão Lopes, a renowned Portuguese chronicler who lived from around 1380 to 1459. He is celebrated for his comprehensive chronicles of the reigns of Portuguese kings, providing invaluable historical accounts.

The surname Lopes also has a long history in Spain, particularly in regions like Galicia and Castile. In the 13th century, the name appeared in documents such as the Libro de las Behetrías de Castilla, which recorded landowners and their properties. Notable individuals bearing this surname include Lope de Vega (1562-1635), a celebrated Spanish playwright and poet considered one of the greatest figures in the Spanish Golden Age of literature.

In the 15th century, the surname Lopes gained prominence in Portugal with the explorer Fernão Lopes de Azevedo, who embarked on voyages to the coast of Africa and was instrumental in establishing trade routes and settlements. Another notable figure was Pedro Lopes de Sousa (1530-1586), a Portuguese military commander who played a significant role in the Portuguese colonial expansion in Brazil.

During the Age of Exploration, the surname Lopes spread to various parts of the world as Portuguese and Spanish explorers, settlers, and colonists ventured to new territories. It can be found in regions with strong Portuguese and Spanish influences, such as South America, Africa, and parts of Asia.

Other notable individuals bearing the surname Lopes include João Lopes Carrilho (1513-1597), a Portuguese navigator and explorer known for his expeditions to the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia, and Fernão Lopes de Castanheda (1500-1559), a Portuguese historian and author who wrote extensively about the Portuguese discoveries and conquests in the Indian Ocean region.

Overall, the surname Lopes has a rich historical background, reflecting the cultural and linguistic influences of the Iberian Peninsula and its far-reaching global presence during the era of exploration and colonization.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lopes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lopes 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. Middlesex leads with 21 Lopes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.06x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 21 4.06x
Wiltshire 9 19.69x
Devon 8 7.44x
Worcestershire 4 5.93x
Channel Islands 3 19.60x
Lancashire 3 0.49x
Buckinghamshire 1 3.20x
Cheshire 1 0.88x
Hampshire 1 0.94x
Lanarkshire 1 0.60x
Yorkshire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitechapel London in Middlesex leads with 9 Lopes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 176.82x.

Place Total Index
Whitechapel London 9 176.82x
St George Hanover Square 8 87.82x
Dodbrooke 6 2857.14x
Kensington London 4 13.92x
Ombersley 4 1052.63x
Westbury 4 373.83x
Hardenhuish 3 15000.00x
St Helier 3 60.12x
Liverpool 2 5.37x
Malmesbury St Paul 2 512.82x
Birkenhead 1 11.00x
Devonport 1 80.65x
Eton 1 140.85x
Harberton 1 400.00x
Holdenhurst 1 35.97x
Maryhill 1 30.58x
Southcoates 1 35.21x
Toxteth Park 1 4.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 4
Elizabeth 2
Marie 2
Mary 2
(Miss) 1
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Bertha 1
Corddice 1
Cordelia 1
Deolinda 1
Ellen 1
Ernestine 1
Ester 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Georgina 1
Jane 1
Louisa 1
Minnie 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 4
Charles 2
Daniel 2
Henry 2
(Lady) 1
Alfred 1
Chas. 1
Harry 1
Hy. 1
J.De 1
James 1
Jno.E. 1
John 1
Louis 1
Luigi 1
Massey 1
Moses 1
Samuel 1

FAQ

Lopes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lopes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 50 people were recorded with the Lopes surname. That placed it at #26,587 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lopes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,868 in 2016. That gives Lopes a modern rank of #3,409.

What does the Lopes surname mean?

A Portuguese and Galician surname derived from the Latin word "lupus," meaning "wolf."

What does the Lopes map show?

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