UK surname
A surname derived from the word "nap" referring to someone who resided near a small valley or dell.
In the 1881 census there were 92 people recorded with the Napp surname, ranking it #20,709 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 66, ranked #33,948, down from #20,709 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Paddington and Waldron. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Napp is 115 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 28.3%.
1881 census count
92
Ranked #20,709
Modern count
66
2016, ranked #33,948
Peak year
1851
115 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Napp surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Napp surname density by area, 1851 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 115 | #15,634 |
| 1861 | historical | 67 | #25,342 |
| 1881 | historical | 92 | #20,709 |
| 1891 | historical | 81 | #26,632 |
| 1901 | historical | 93 | #23,689 |
| 1911 | historical | 67 | #26,152 |
| 1997 | modern | 67 | #30,915 |
| 1998 | modern | 71 | #30,869 |
| 1999 | modern | 72 | #30,955 |
| 2000 | modern | 71 | #31,082 |
| 2001 | modern | 72 | #30,813 |
| 2002 | modern | 73 | #31,159 |
| 2003 | modern | 71 | #31,393 |
| 2004 | modern | 77 | #31,024 |
| 2005 | modern | 64 | #32,482 |
| 2006 | modern | 67 | #32,532 |
| 2007 | modern | 72 | #32,397 |
| 2008 | modern | 69 | #32,962 |
| 2009 | modern | 71 | #33,102 |
| 2010 | modern | 69 | #33,560 |
| 2011 | modern | 74 | #33,151 |
| 2012 | modern | 69 | #33,695 |
| 2013 | modern | 69 | #33,808 |
| 2014 | modern | 66 | #34,025 |
| 2015 | modern | 65 | #34,036 |
| 2016 | modern | 66 | #33,948 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Paddington, Waldron, Norton Subcourse and Hawkhurst, Etchingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Paddington | London (West Districts) |
| 3 | Waldron | Sussex |
| 4 | Norton Subcourse | Norfolk |
| 5 | Hawkhurst, Etchingham | Kent |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Napp surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Napp, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Napp surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Napp household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Napp is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Napp is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Napp, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Napp is believed to have originated in Germany, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the German word "Nappe," which means a small container or vessel, suggesting that the name may have been an occupational surname for someone who worked with such items.
One of the earliest known references to the Napp surname can be found in the records of the city of Cologne, where a certain Johannes Napp was documented as a citizen in 1572. Another early record comes from the town of Zittau in Saxony, where a man named Christoph Napp was mentioned in the local church register in 1598.
In the 17th century, the Napp surname began to appear in various regions of Germany, including Silesia, Brandenburg, and Bavaria. Some notable individuals from this period include Hans Napp, a merchant from Nuremberg who was born around 1620, and Johann Napp, a Lutheran pastor from Ansbach who lived from 1635 to 1701.
As the Napp family spread across Germany and beyond, variations in spelling emerged, such as Napp, Napper, and Nappe. In some cases, the name may have been influenced by local place names or dialects, leading to further variations.
One of the most famous individuals with the Napp surname was Johann Samuel Napp, a German composer and organist who lived from 1690 to 1753. He served as the organist at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig and was a contemporary of Johann Sebastian Bach.
Another notable figure was Friedrich Napp, a German-American engineer and inventor who was born in 1832 and later emigrated to the United States. He is credited with developing several important innovations in the field of textile machinery.
In the 19th century, the Napp surname continued to spread throughout Europe and beyond, with individuals bearing the name found in countries such as France, Austria, and Switzerland. One example is Johann Napp, a Swiss artist and engraver who was born in 1825 and is known for his landscape etchings.
As the centuries passed, the Napp surname became more widely distributed, with descendants bearing the name found in various parts of the world. However, its origins can be traced back to the German regions where it first emerged and gained prominence.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Napp surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Sussex leads with 30 Napps recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.83x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Sussex | 30 | 19.83x |
| Norfolk | 12 | 8.70x |
| Middlesex | 10 | 1.11x |
| Surrey | 8 | 1.83x |
| Bedfordshire | 5 | 10.76x |
| Warwickshire | 5 | 2.21x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 0.56x |
| Gloucestershire | 4 | 2.27x |
| Somerset | 3 | 2.08x |
| Devon | 2 | 1.07x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.65x |
| Brecknockshire | 1 | 5.57x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.37x |
| Flintshire | 1 | 4.15x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.54x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.09x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.33x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Heathfield in Sussex leads with 15 Napps recorded in 1881 and an index of 2459.02x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Heathfield | 15 | 2459.02x |
| Loddon | 8 | 2285.71x |
| Wadhurst | 8 | 808.08x |
| Chipstead | 5 | 2500.00x |
| Leeds | 5 | 9.96x |
| Shefford | 5 | 1515.15x |
| Bristol St George | 4 | 49.14x |
| Chiswick | 4 | 81.63x |
| Crowhurst | 4 | 3076.92x |
| Edgbaston | 4 | 56.98x |
| High Ham | 3 | 882.35x |
| Chislehurst | 2 | 121.95x |
| Eastbourne | 2 | 28.74x |
| Norwich St Paul | 2 | 240.96x |
| Paddington London | 2 | 6.06x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 2 | 13.90x |
| Wimbledon | 2 | 40.73x |
| Ardingly | 1 | 208.33x |
| Great Yarmouth | 1 | 8.75x |
| Guildford St Mary | 1 | 185.19x |
| Hanmer | 1 | 526.32x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 2.00x |
| Llangattock | 1 | 68.49x |
| Norton Subcourse | 1 | 909.09x |
| Portsea | 1 | 2.77x |
| Skerton | 1 | 114.94x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 8.54x |
| St Giles In Fields | 1 | 32.26x |
| Sunderland | 1 | 21.19x |
| Sutton Coldfield | 1 | 42.02x |
| Tamworth | 1 | 61.73x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 10.83x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Napp surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Napp surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Napp households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 17 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Gardener | 2 |
| General Lab | 2 |
| General Servant | 2 |
| Straw Plaiter | 2 |
| Wife | 2 |
| Baker & Grocer | 1 |
| Bricklayers Labourer | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Carter Ag | 1 |
| Carter Boy Ag | 1 |
| Coach Man | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Cordwainer | 1 |
| Cowman (A L) | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Drapers Assistant | 1 |
| Dress & Mantle Maker | 1 |
| Drover | 1 |
| Engine Driver | 1 |
| Engineer Artzn | 1 |
| Gas Fitter | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| Housekeeper General Serv | 1 |
| Innkeeper | 1 |
| Ironer | 1 |
| Ladiesmaid (Dom) | 1 |
| Ladys Maid DS | 1 |
| Land & Interest Of Money | 1 |
| Lodging House Keeper | 1 |
| Nurse Dom Serv | 1 |
| P T Board School | 1 |
| Plumber Ec Employ Boy & 3 Apprentices | 1 |
| Poultry Dealer | 1 |
| Poultry Dealer Wife | 1 |
| Publican | 1 |
| Publican (Dom Svt) Unemployed | 1 |
| Publican (Unemployed) | 1 |
| Seaman R N | 1 |
| Serv | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 92 people were recorded with the Napp surname. That placed it at #20,709 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 66 in 2016. That gives Napp a modern rank of #33,948.
A surname derived from the word "nap" referring to someone who resided near a small valley or dell.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Napp bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.