NameCensus.

UK surname

Maples

An English toponymic surname referring to someone who lived near a maple tree or a maple forest.

In the 1881 census there were 322 people recorded with the Maples surname, ranking it #9,262 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 238, ranked #17,361, down from #9,262 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lincoln St Botolph, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Leeds. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Kesteven, West Berkshire and Uttlesford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Maples is 383 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 26.1%.

1881 census count

322

Ranked #9,262

Modern count

238

2016, ranked #17,361

Peak year

1891

383 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Maples had 322 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,262 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 238 in 2016, ranked #17,361.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 383 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Maples surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Maples surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Maples 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 198 #10,483
1861 historical 255 #9,699
1881 historical 322 #9,262
1891 historical 383 #9,178
1901 historical 369 #10,040
1911 historical 344 #10,386
1997 modern 211 #17,048
1998 modern 219 #17,115
1999 modern 214 #17,494
2000 modern 214 #17,457
2001 modern 221 #16,848
2002 modern 215 #17,487
2003 modern 226 #16,766
2004 modern 226 #16,829
2005 modern 206 #17,786
2006 modern 207 #17,892
2007 modern 208 #18,013
2008 modern 214 #17,854
2009 modern 219 #17,960
2010 modern 222 #18,148
2011 modern 226 #17,792
2012 modern 236 #17,187
2013 modern 235 #17,515
2014 modern 240 #17,387
2015 modern 239 #17,322
2016 modern 238 #17,361

Geography

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Where Maples' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lincoln St Botolph, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Leeds, London parishes and St Mary Stratford-le-Bow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Kesteven, West Berkshire, Uttlesford, Fenland and Chelmsford. 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 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Mary Stratford-le-Bow London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Kesteven 007 South Kesteven
2 West Berkshire 007 West Berkshire
3 Uttlesford 006 Uttlesford
4 Fenland 006 Fenland
5 Chelmsford 017 Chelmsford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Maples

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Maples

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

European Enclaves

Within London, Maples is most associated with areas classed as European Enclaves, 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

Many residents of these accessible neighbourhoods have wide-ranging non-UK European origins. Typically residing in privately rented flats, many residents live alone and are beyond normal retirement age. There are more students than elsewhere in the Supergroup, some of which live in communal establishments. Household residents are often drawn from different ethnic groups.

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

Maples 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

Maples falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Maples

The surname Maples originated in England and is a locational name derived from the Old English word 'mapol', meaning maple tree. It is believed to have been first adopted by families residing near a prominent maple tree or in an area abundant with maple trees.

The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Mapeldene', referring to a place in Norfolk. This suggests that the surname was already in use by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as Mapel, Mapull, and Mapulle, reflecting the regional dialects and variations in spelling conventions at the time.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname was Richard de Mapuldurwelle, recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1194. The name likely refers to Mapledurwell, a village in Hampshire.

In the 13th century, the Maples family established themselves as landowners in Leicestershire and Warwickshire. One notable figure was John Maples (c. 1280 - c. 1350), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of Coventry.

During the English Civil War (1642-1651), Captain Thomas Maples (1620-1679) served as a Parliamentarian officer and was later appointed as the Governor of Warwick Castle.

Another prominent individual was Sir John Maples (1645-1723), a Member of Parliament for Warwickshire and a staunch supporter of the Glorious Revolution of 1688. He played a significant role in securing the accession of William III and Mary II to the English throne.

In the 19th century, Chauncy Maples (1808-1892) was a renowned English landowner and banker. He served as the High Sheriff of Warwickshire in 1845 and was known for his philanthropic efforts, including the establishment of a school in Coleshill.

One of the most famous bearers of the name was Sir Stanley Maples (1910-1996), a British aviator and pioneering test pilot. He set numerous aviation records and was awarded the Air Force Cross for his contributions to the development of aircraft during World War II.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Maples families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Maples 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. Lincolnshire leads with 72 Maples' recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.38x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 72 14.38x
Middlesex 53 1.69x
Yorkshire 44 1.42x
Nottinghamshire 33 7.82x
Derbyshire 25 5.10x
Hampshire 16 2.49x
Surrey 16 1.05x
Essex 13 2.10x
Leicestershire 10 2.88x
Lancashire 7 0.19x
Northamptonshire 7 2.38x
Sussex 6 1.14x
Kent 5 0.47x
Caernarfonshire 3 2.37x
Oxfordshire 3 1.55x
Pembrokeshire 3 3.01x
Warwickshire 2 0.25x
Cheshire 1 0.14x
Fife 1 0.54x
Lanarkshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 14 Maples' recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.83x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 14 12.83x
Islington London 13 4.28x
Leeds 12 6.85x
Paddington London 12 10.42x
Spalding 12 120.72x
Holy Trinity 11 14.74x
Newington 11 9.51x
Eckington 9 75.57x
St Nicholas Lincoln 9 187.89x
Sutton On Trent 9 865.38x
Billingborough 8 629.92x
Great Grimsby 8 25.17x
Bow London 7 17.56x
Portsea 7 5.57x
Stoney Stanton 7 654.21x
Chelmsford 6 56.60x
Derby St Werburgh 6 21.19x
Kirkheaton 6 119.28x
St Pancras London 6 2.38x
Osbournby 5 943.40x
Sapperton 5 3333.33x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 5 71.02x
Threckingham Swaton 5 1612.90x
West Ham 5 3.66x
Bermondsey 4 4.29x
Elmton 4 714.29x
Gainsborough 4 33.90x
Hampole 4 3076.92x
Newhaven 4 93.24x
Peterborough 4 18.76x
Chelsea London 3 3.18x
Curbar 3 882.35x
Huddersfield 3 6.64x
Llandudno 3 66.52x
Moulton 3 124.48x
Oxford St Clement 3 61.48x
Pembroke St Mary 3 23.42x
St Luke London 3 5.97x
St Paul Lincoln 3 340.91x
Ventnor 3 49.18x
Wavertree 3 25.23x
Boughton 2 625.00x
Christchurch 2 14.37x
Church Gresley 2 25.64x
Hackney London 2 1.14x
Kingsclere 2 68.26x
Laneham 2 606.06x
North Meols 2 5.50x
North Somercotes 2 152.67x
Sheffield 2 2.02x
Sileby 2 91.32x
St Marylebone London 2 1.20x
Sutton Coldfield 2 24.10x
Thrapston 2 135.14x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 1.23x
Barony 1 0.39x
Birkenhead 1 1.81x
Bromley London 1 1.45x
Chesterfield 1 5.44x
Dewsbury 1 3.14x
Ecclesfield 1 4.40x
Egmanton 1 400.00x
Great Driffield 1 15.70x
Lambeth 1 0.37x
New Shoreham 1 31.65x
Newark Upon Trent 1 6.59x
Portsmouth 1 6.77x
Ramsgate 1 5.73x
Richmond 1 20.62x
Rothley 1 88.50x
Sandwich St Mary 1 103.09x
South Weald 1 18.90x
St Andrews 1 11.86x
St George Martyr 1 18.94x
Syston 1 416.67x
Tottenham 1 2.01x
Toxteth Park 1 0.79x
Walesby 1 333.33x
Walthamstow 1 4.49x
Woodhouse Hall 1 714.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 24
George 15
John 13
Edward 9
Thomas 8
Henry 7
Richard 7
Robert 7
Arthur 6
Alfred 4
James 4
Charles 3
Frederick 3
Jarvis 3
Joseph 3
Ashley 2
Cornelius 2
Ernest 2
Augustus 1
Betsy 1
Cecil 1
Claud 1
Coats 1
Cornelus 1
Cyril 1
Dick 1
Edmond 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Eustace 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Gregory 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Jno. 1
Kenneth 1
Moses 1
Percy 1
Reginald 1
Samuel 1
Stanley 1
Thos. 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Maples surname: questions and answers

How common was the Maples surname in 1881?

In 1881, 322 people were recorded with the Maples surname. That placed it at #9,262 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Maples surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 238 in 2016. That gives Maples a modern rank of #17,361.

What does the Maples surname mean?

An English toponymic surname referring to someone who lived near a maple tree or a maple forest.

What does the Maples map show?

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