NameCensus.

UK surname

Northrop

A locational surname referring to someone who lived north of a village or near a throp (hamlet or farm).

In the 1881 census there were 474 people recorded with the Northrop surname, ranking it #7,040 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 401, ranked #11,857, down from #7,040 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Bingley and Hauxton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Cambridgeshire, Thanet and Huntingdonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Northrop is 716 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 15.4%.

1881 census count

474

Ranked #7,040

Modern count

401

2016, ranked #11,857

Peak year

1911

716 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Northrop had 474 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,040 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 401 in 2016, ranked #11,857.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 716 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Northrop surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Northrop surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Northrop 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 256 #8,629
1861 historical 271 #9,193
1881 historical 474 #7,040
1891 historical 483 #7,638
1901 historical 644 #6,684
1911 historical 716 #5,971
1997 modern 462 #9,869
1998 modern 457 #10,279
1999 modern 474 #10,055
2000 modern 467 #10,144
2001 modern 463 #10,009
2002 modern 459 #10,264
2003 modern 455 #10,201
2004 modern 468 #10,005
2005 modern 469 #9,892
2006 modern 452 #10,204
2007 modern 451 #10,318
2008 modern 448 #10,458
2009 modern 459 #10,502
2010 modern 462 #10,682
2011 modern 433 #11,116
2012 modern 436 #10,940
2013 modern 427 #11,325
2014 modern 421 #11,544
2015 modern 406 #11,781
2016 modern 401 #11,857

Geography

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Where Northrops are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Bingley, Hauxton, Bradford and Keighley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Cambridgeshire, Thanet, Huntingdonshire, Kirklees and East Cambridgeshire. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Bingley Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Hauxton Cambridgeshire
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Keighley Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Cambridgeshire 013 South Cambridgeshire
2 Thanet 014 Thanet
3 Huntingdonshire 008 Huntingdonshire
4 Kirklees 005 Kirklees
5 East Cambridgeshire 002 East Cambridgeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Northrop

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Northrop

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Northrop is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Northrop is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Northrop falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Northrop

The surname Northrop is believed to have originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is considered a locational surname, derived from a place name. One theory suggests that it is derived from the Old English words "nor" (meaning "north") and "throp" (meaning "village" or "hamlet"), indicating that the name may have originated from a northern village or settlement.

Another possible origin is that the name is derived from the place name "Northrop" or "Northrope," which was a location in Norfolk, England. These place names are recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Northrop can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from the year 1195, where a person named Roger de Northrop is mentioned. This suggests that the name was in use by the late 12th century.

Historically, the name has been spelled in various ways, including Northrop, Northropp, Northrupp, and Northruppe. Some variations in spelling were likely due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in record-keeping during earlier times.

Notable individuals with the surname Northrop throughout history include:

1. Sir John Northrop (1590-1676), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Munster in the Protectorate Parliament of 1654.

2. Anson Northrop (1797-1858), an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States Representative from South Carolina.

3. John Northrop (1809-1890), an American inventor and manufacturer who founded the Northrop Loom Company, which produced innovative textile machinery.

4. John Knudsen Northrop (1895-1981), an American aerospace engineer and entrepreneur who founded the Northrop Corporation, a major aerospace company known for its pioneering aircraft designs.

5. Anne Northrop (1924-2016), an American philanthropist and arts patron who supported various cultural institutions and organizations in New York City.

The surname Northrop continues to be found in various English-speaking countries, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, reflecting the historical migration patterns of individuals bearing this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Northrop families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Northrop 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. Yorkshire leads with 346 Northrops recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.54x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 346 7.54x
Cambridgeshire 100 34.07x
Lancashire 7 0.13x
Durham 5 0.36x
Kent 4 0.25x
Middlesex 3 0.06x
Warwickshire 3 0.26x
Huntingdonshire 2 2.17x
Essex 1 0.11x
Hampshire 1 0.11x
Royal Navy 1 1.81x
Suffolk 1 0.18x
Worcestershire 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Harston in Cambridgeshire leads with 69 Northrops recorded in 1881 and an index of 5520.00x.

Place Total Index
Harston 69 5520.00x
Manningham 55 97.22x
Horton In Bradford 44 61.37x
Thornton In Bradford 42 274.69x
Bingley 41 140.22x
Bradford 29 26.09x
Keighley 25 51.08x
Northowram 14 43.48x
Halifax 10 14.83x
Huddersfield 10 14.95x
Shipley 10 41.96x
Bramley In Bramley 8 45.51x
Bowling 7 15.39x
Embsay Cum Eastby 7 376.34x
North Bierley 7 28.24x
Barnsley 6 12.67x
Clayton 6 53.38x
Harlton 6 1224.49x
Bradford Girlington 5 243.90x
Haslingfield 5 416.67x
Hauxton 5 1219.51x
March 5 50.86x
Wisbech St Peter 5 33.97x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 4 25.48x
Broughton In Salford 4 7.96x
Hipperholme Cum 4 19.82x
Newton 4 350.88x
Woolwich 4 6.85x
Hillmorton 3 144.23x
Kirkheaton 3 40.27x
Pudsey 3 12.22x
Stranton 3 6.46x
Allerton 2 34.19x
Fulham London 2 2.98x
Hartlepool 2 10.21x
Toxteth Park 2 1.07x
Armley 1 4.94x
Bocking 1 18.18x
Brampton 1 52.36x
Dalton In Huddersfield 1 9.72x
Hackney London 1 0.38x
Holy Trinity 1 0.91x
Kidderminster Borough 1 2.82x
Long Marston 1 172.41x
Lowestoft 1 3.75x
Oldham 1 0.56x
Royal Navy 1 2.12x
Southampton St Mary 1 1.67x
St Andrewthe Less 1 2.98x
St Ives 1 20.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Sarah 24
Emma 12
Annie 11
Elizabeth 11
Emily 10
Jane 10
Hannah 9
Martha 9
Alice 7
Clara 6
Eliza 6
Ada 4
Ann 4
Selina 4
Ellen 3
Harriet 3
Lily 3
Rebecca 3
Susan 3
Susannah 3
Bertha 2
Charlotte 2
Florence 2
Isabella 2
Nancy 2
Rose 2
Susanna 2
Annis 1
Asenath 1
Cecil 1
Ceiliar 1
Celema 1
Edna 1
Emeley 1
Emeline 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Fanney 1
Grace 1
Kiziah 1
Lavina 1
Letty 1
Lilian 1
Lizzie 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Marion 1
Marth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 20
Joseph 16
Arthur 13
James 13
George 11
John 11
Thomas 10
Fred 9
Albert 8
Alfred 6
Harry 6
Edward 5
Edwin 5
Herbert 5
Abraham 4
Charles 4
Henry 4
Joshua 4
Samuel 4
Frank 3
Frederick 3
Jonas 3
Levi 3
Robert 3
Willie 3
Wm. 3
Irving 2
Joe 2
Jonathan 2
Walter 2
Alick 1
Amos 1
Benson 1
Bertie 1
Bill 1
Birtie 1
Burty 1
Dan 1
David 1
Dennis 1
Edgar 1
Elias 1
Ezra 1
Isaac 1
Iva 1
Jackson 1
Jeremiah 1
Jim 1
Jo 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Northrop surname: questions and answers

How common was the Northrop surname in 1881?

In 1881, 474 people were recorded with the Northrop surname. That placed it at #7,040 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Northrop surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 401 in 2016. That gives Northrop a modern rank of #11,857.

What does the Northrop surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived north of a village or near a throp (hamlet or farm).

What does the Northrop map show?

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