NameCensus.

UK surname

Nipper

A surname derived from a Middle English nickname for a young boy or a small person.

In the 1881 census there were 119 people recorded with the Nipper surname, ranking it #17,841 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 112, ranked #28,844, down from #17,841 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Willesden and Winscombe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include The Vale of Glamorgan, Blaenau Gwent and South Tyneside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nipper is 130 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 5.9%.

1881 census count

119

Ranked #17,841

Modern count

112

2016, ranked #28,844

Peak year

1911

130 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nipper had 119 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,841 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016, ranked #28,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 130 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Nipper surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nipper surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nipper 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 80 #19,558
1861 historical 100 #21,103
1881 historical 119 #17,841
1891 historical 102 #23,719
1901 historical 108 #21,836
1911 historical 130 #19,504
1997 modern 114 #24,967
1998 modern 118 #25,041
1999 modern 118 #25,227
2000 modern 110 #26,248
2001 modern 108 #26,184
2002 modern 108 #26,698
2003 modern 104 #27,101
2004 modern 105 #27,181
2005 modern 102 #27,689
2006 modern 101 #28,125
2007 modern 100 #28,669
2008 modern 100 #29,001
2009 modern 105 #28,815
2010 modern 105 #29,453
2011 modern 99 #30,218
2012 modern 102 #29,902
2013 modern 106 #29,740
2014 modern 107 #29,827
2015 modern 110 #29,157
2016 modern 112 #28,844

Geography

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Where Nippers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Willesden, Winscombe, Monkwearmouth and Wrington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to The Vale of Glamorgan, Blaenau Gwent, South Tyneside and North Somerset. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
3 Winscombe Somerset
4 Monkwearmouth Durham
5 Wrington Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 The Vale of Glamorgan 007 Vale of Glamorgan
2 Blaenau Gwent 004 Blaenau Gwent
3 South Tyneside 011 South Tyneside
4 South Tyneside 012 South Tyneside
5 North Somerset 023 North Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nipper

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nipper

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Nipper is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Nipper is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Nipper falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Nipper 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Nipper

The surname NIPPER has its origins in England, with records dating back to the late 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Middle English word "nipper," which referred to a mischievous or cheeky person, particularly a child. This term may have been used as a nickname or descriptive name for someone with a playful or mischievous demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the NIPPER surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, which mentions a John le Nipper. The use of the prefix "le" before the surname suggests that it was initially a descriptive name or occupation before becoming a hereditary surname.

In the 14th century, variations of the name appeared in various records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1279, which lists a Walter le Nipper. The Placita de Quo Warranto from 1292 also mentions a Robert le Nypere, indicating a slightly different spelling.

As the surname evolved, it took on various forms, including Niper, Nypere, and Nypper, reflecting regional dialects and spelling conventions of the time. The more modern spelling, NIPPER, became more prevalent in the 16th and 17th centuries.

One notable figure bearing the NIPPER surname was Sir Robert Nipper (1550-1620), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Suffolk, England. He served as a Member of Parliament for Ipswich in 1597 and was known for his philanthropic efforts, founding a free school in his hometown.

Another historical figure with this surname was John Nipper (1620-1680), a Puritan minister and author from Lincolnshire. He wrote several religious works, including "The Christian's Armoury" and "The Spiritual Mustard-Seed," which gained popularity among Puritan communities in the 17th century.

In the literary world, Thomas Nipper (1785-1864) was a renowned English poet and author from Yorkshire. He published several collections of poetry, including "Musings of a Village Poet" and "The Cottage Muse," which captured the rural life and landscapes of northern England.

The NIPPER surname also has connections to place names, such as Nippers Green, a hamlet in Oxfordshire, which likely derived its name from an early settler or landowner with the NIPPER surname.

Another figure of note was Elizabeth Nipper (1830-1902), a prominent social reformer and women's rights advocate from Lancashire. She campaigned tirelessly for better working conditions for women and children in factories and played a crucial role in the establishment of the Married Women's Property Act of 1870.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nipper families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nipper 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. Somerset leads with 58 Nippers recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.04x.

County Total Index
Somerset 58 31.04x
Gloucestershire 21 9.23x
Middlesex 21 1.81x
Durham 18 5.21x
Cornwall 1 0.76x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Willesden in Middlesex leads with 18 Nippers recorded in 1881 and an index of 164.53x.

Place Total Index
Willesden 18 164.53x
Monkwearmouth Shore 15 222.55x
Winscombe 14 2800.00x
Bristol St Augustine 10 272.48x
Weston Super Mare 10 211.86x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 32.66x
Wrington 7 1111.11x
Huish Episcopi 6 2222.22x
Bedminster 5 28.47x
Bleadon 5 2000.00x
Compton Bishop 5 2272.73x
Westbury On Trym 4 51.88x
Axbridge 2 1111.11x
Banwell 2 294.12x
Bishopwearmouth 2 6.75x
Acton 1 14.71x
Kenwyn 1 29.07x
St Sepulchre London 1 58.82x
Sunderland 1 16.39x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 1 66.67x
Westbury 1 416.67x
Westminster St John 1 7.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 8
Mary 6
Ann 4
Elizabeth 4
Alice 2
Annie 2
Emma 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Adelaid 1
Amelia 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Christia 1
Christiana 1
Dora 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Isabel 1
Jane 1
Laura 1
Lilly 1
Louise 1
Minnie 1
Phillis 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1
Rosie 1
Sophia 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 11
John 10
George 6
Charles 4
Henry 4
Joseph 4
Alfred 3
Thomas 3
David 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
James 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Dlrint 1
Edmund 1
Ernest 1
Gilbert 1
Harry 1
Matthew 1
Sidney 1

FAQ

Nipper surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nipper surname in 1881?

In 1881, 119 people were recorded with the Nipper surname. That placed it at #17,841 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nipper surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016. That gives Nipper a modern rank of #28,844.

What does the Nipper surname mean?

A surname derived from a Middle English nickname for a young boy or a small person.

What does the Nipper map show?

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