UK surname

Papas

A Greek surname derived from the Greek word "papas" meaning priest or cleric.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Enfield, East Dorset and Barnet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Papas is 105 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

105

2016, ranked #30,114

Peak year

2016

105 bearers

Map years

2016 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016, ranked #30,114.
• Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8 in 1901.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Map

Papas surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Papas surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Papas 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
1861	historical	1	#34,435
1901	historical	8	#33,289
1911	historical	7	#33,083
1997	modern	37	#33,964
1998	modern	47	#33,197
1999	modern	51	#32,940
2000	modern	49	#33,187
2001	modern	46	#33,311
2002	modern	64	#32,007
2003	modern	66	#31,879
2004	modern	66	#32,079
2005	modern	67	#32,196
2006	modern	65	#32,743
2007	modern	60	#33,539
2008	modern	70	#32,856
2009	modern	67	#33,450
2010	modern	73	#33,249
2011	modern	69	#33,532
2012	modern	72	#33,502
2013	modern	88	#32,349
2014	modern	98	#31,370
2015	modern	93	#31,972
2016	modern	105	#30,114

Geography

Where Papas' 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 Enfield, East Dorset, Barnet, Brent and Croydon. 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	Enfield 030	Enfield
2	East Dorset 011	East Dorset
3	Barnet 029	Barnet
4	Brent 018	Brent
5	Croydon 002	Croydon

Forenames

First names often paired with Papas

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Patricia Vanessa Lorraine Dorothy Maria Elena Susan Rachel Debra Anna

Recent male names

Nicholas Andrew Christopher Nikolaos David George John Lee Yiannis Anthony

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Papas

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

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Papas surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Papas 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 never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Papas 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

Papas 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Papas falls in decile 7 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Papas 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.

Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate: White - Other

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Papas

The surname Papas is of Greek origin and can be traced back to the early Byzantine period in the 4th century AD. It is believed to have derived from the Greek word "papas," which means "father" or "priest." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to clergymen or religious leaders.

In the Byzantine Empire, the term "papas" was often used as a respectful form of address for members of the clergy, particularly for priests and bishops. It is possible that the surname Papas emerged as a way to identify individuals associated with the church or those who held positions of spiritual authority.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Papas can be found in a manuscript from the 9th century, which mentions a monk named Papas living in a monastery on the island of Patmos. This suggests that the name was already in use during the medieval period.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Papas was Georgios Papas, a prominent Byzantine scholar and theologian who lived in the 11th century. He was known for his works on theology and philosophy, and his writings contributed significantly to the intellectual discourse of the time.

In the 13th century, there are records of a Venetian merchant named Antonio Papas who traded extensively in the Mediterranean region. His business dealings and travels may have played a role in spreading the surname across different parts of the Greek-speaking world.

During the Ottoman period, the surname Papas continued to be used among the Greek population living in the territories of the Ottoman Empire. One notable figure from this era was Athanasios Papas, a Greek scholar and educator who lived in the 16th century. He was instrumental in establishing schools and promoting education among the Greek communities under Ottoman rule.

As the centuries passed, the surname Papas spread to various regions where Greek communities were present, including parts of Asia Minor, the Aegean islands, and the Greek mainland. Prominent individuals with this surname included Ioannis Papas, a Greek revolutionary who fought against Ottoman rule in the 19th century, and Konstantinos Papas, a renowned Greek painter and artist who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

While the surname Papas has its roots in the Greek-speaking world, it has also been adopted by individuals of other nationalities and cultures over time, reflecting the historical migrations and interactions between different communities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Papas surname: questions and answers

How common is the Papas surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016. That gives Papas a modern rank of #30,114.

What does the Papas surname mean?