UK surname
A surname derived from the Anglo-Norman French word "papier," referring to an occupation related to papermaking or selling paper.
In the 1881 census there were 32 people recorded with the Paper surname, ranking it #29,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 32, ranked #35,887, down from #29,082 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, Christ Church Spitalfields and Binham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Paper is 210 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.0%.
1881 census count
32
Ranked #29,082
Modern count
32
2016, ranked #35,887
Peak year
1861
210 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Paper surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Paper surname density by area, 1861 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 | 51 | #24,096 |
| 1861 | historical | 210 | #11,551 |
| 1881 | historical | 32 | #29,082 |
| 1891 | historical | 86 | #25,951 |
| 1901 | historical | 50 | #28,590 |
| 1911 | historical | 35 | #29,478 |
| 1997 | modern | 22 | #35,584 |
| 1998 | modern | 21 | #35,788 |
| 1999 | modern | 23 | #35,612 |
| 2000 | modern | 25 | #35,382 |
| 2001 | modern | 20 | #35,754 |
| 2002 | modern | 25 | #35,428 |
| 2003 | modern | 24 | #35,552 |
| 2004 | modern | 21 | #35,969 |
| 2005 | modern | 17 | #36,407 |
| 2006 | modern | 16 | #36,601 |
| 2007 | modern | 20 | #36,362 |
| 2008 | modern | 20 | #36,443 |
| 2009 | modern | 22 | #36,394 |
| 2010 | modern | 23 | #36,400 |
| 2011 | modern | 25 | #36,252 |
| 2012 | modern | 27 | #36,102 |
| 2013 | modern | 33 | #35,808 |
| 2014 | modern | 37 | #35,616 |
| 2015 | modern | 33 | #35,803 |
| 2016 | modern | 32 | #35,887 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, Christ Church Spitalfields, Binham, St Pancras and Workington (Workington), Clossocks. 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 | St George in the East | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | Christ Church Spitalfields | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Binham | Norfolk |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Workington (Workington), Clossocks | Cumberland |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Paper 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 Paper, 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 Paper surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Paper 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, Paper 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 Paper is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Paper, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname PAPER originated in England, traced back to the late 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "papere," referring to a maker or seller of paper products. The name was primarily found in regions with established paper-making industries, such as Kent and Essex.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the PAPER surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1279, where a certain William le Papere is mentioned. This suggests the surname's use as an occupational descriptor for those involved in the paper trade.
During the 14th century, the PAPER surname appears in various tax records and legal documents, including the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327, which lists a John Papere. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1332 also feature a Thomas Papere.
In the 15th century, the PAPER surname continued to be documented in various records. The Feet of Fines for Essex from 1464 mentions a William Papere, while the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk from 1524 include a John Paper.
Notable individuals with the PAPER surname include:
1. William Paper (c. 1420 - 1492), a prominent merchant and alderman in the City of London. 2. Richard Paper (1562 - 1628), an English clergyman and author of religious works. 3. Henry Paper (1674 - 1738), a successful landowner and farmer in Gloucestershire. 4. Elizabeth Paper (1702 - 1773), a renowned artist known for her landscape paintings. 5. George Paper (1812 - 1890), a pioneering industrialist who owned several paper mills in Yorkshire.
The PAPER surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Papworth in Cambridgeshire, which may have derived from the Old English words "pæppa" and "worth," meaning "the enclosure of the paper-maker."
While the PAPER surname has ancient roots, it remains a relatively uncommon name in modern times, reflecting its specific occupational origins in the paper-making industry of medieval England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Paper 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. Middlesex leads with 24 Papers recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.94x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 24 | 7.94x |
| Essex | 2 | 3.35x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 4.41x |
| Devon | 1 | 1.59x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 4.80x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.98x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.96x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Spitalfields London in Middlesex leads with 9 Papers recorded in 1881 and an index of 396.48x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Spitalfields London | 9 | 396.48x |
| Bromley London | 7 | 105.26x |
| Mile End Old Town | 6 | 125.79x |
| Mayland | 2 | 6666.67x |
| Bengeo | 1 | 416.67x |
| Cookbury | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 5.95x |
| Kintbury | 1 | 555.56x |
| Ore | 1 | 263.16x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 1 | 9.24x |
| Whitechapel London | 1 | 33.56x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Paper 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 Paper 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 Paper households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 9 |
| Cigar Maker | 5 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Car Man | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Farm Servant (Indoor) | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Scholars Inmate Of Reformatory | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 32 people were recorded with the Paper surname. That placed it at #29,082 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 32 in 2016. That gives Paper a modern rank of #35,887.
A surname derived from the Anglo-Norman French word "papier," referring to an occupation related to papermaking or selling paper.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Paper 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.