NameCensus.

UK surname

Pop

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

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Pop surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 749, ranked #7,298, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brent, Newham and Harrow.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pop is 749 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37350.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

749

2016, ranked #7,298

Peak year

2016

749 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pop had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 749 in 2016, ranked #7,298.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 24 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Pop surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pop surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pop 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 24 #29,038
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1901 historical 4 #33,876
1997 modern 14 #36,528
1998 modern 11 #36,908
1999 modern 12 #36,806
2000 modern 12 #36,749
2001 modern 15 #36,265
2002 modern 15 #36,381
2003 modern 20 #35,915
2004 modern 26 #35,519
2005 modern 40 #34,562
2006 modern 55 #33,688
2007 modern 104 #28,020
2008 modern 135 #24,123
2009 modern 200 #19,028
2010 modern 259 #16,386
2011 modern 263 #16,058
2012 modern 458 #10,528
2013 modern 518 #9,755
2014 modern 597 #8,832
2015 modern 668 #8,009
2016 modern 749 #7,298

Geography

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Where Pops 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 Brent, Newham, Harrow 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 Brent 001 Brent
2 Newham 013 Newham
3 Brent 003 Brent
4 Harrow 010 Harrow
5 Croydon 022 Croydon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pop

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pop

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Pop surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Pop household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Pop is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pop 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pop falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pop 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
Unknown

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

Meaning and origin of Pop

The surname "Pop" is believed to have originated in the Slavic regions of Eastern Europe, particularly in the areas now known as Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine. The name is thought to have derived from the Slavic word "pop," which means "priest" or "clergyman." It is likely that the name was initially given to the sons or relatives of priests, or to individuals who lived near or worked for a church.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname "Pop" can be traced back to the 15th and 16th centuries in various church records and census documents in the regions mentioned above. For example, there are records of a Pop family living in the village of Dolhești, Moldova, in the late 15th century.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname "Pop" was Stefan Pop, a Romanian nobleman and military leader who lived in the late 16th century. He played a significant role in the battles against the Ottoman Empire during that time.

In the 17th century, the surname "Pop" began to spread to other parts of Eastern Europe, including Poland and Hungary. During this period, the name underwent some variations in spelling, such as "Popp" and "Popov."

Another notable figure with the surname "Pop" was Petru Pop (1833-1892), a Romanian writer and journalist who was instrumental in the movement for the unification of Transylvania with Romania.

In the 19th century, the surname "Pop" also gained prominence in the United States, particularly among Romanian immigrants. One famous American with this surname was Ion Gheorghe Pop (1861-1927), a Romanian-American entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded the first Romanian Orthodox church in the United States.

Other notable individuals with the surname "Pop" include Mihai Pop (1907-2000), a Romanian mathematician and academic, and Dumitru Pop (1928-2018), a Romanian footballer and manager who played for several teams in Romania and France.

Throughout its history, the surname "Pop" has maintained a strong connection to its Slavic and Eastern European roots, although it has spread to various parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pop families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pop 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. Angus leads with 1 Pops recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.90x.

County Total Index
Angus 1 36.90x
Lanarkshire 1 10.58x
Middlesex 1 3.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 1 Pops recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.84x.

Place Total Index
Barony 1 41.84x
Bethnal Green London 1 78.74x
Dundee 1 99.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 1

FAQ

Pop surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pop surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Pop surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pop surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 749 in 2016. That gives Pop a modern rank of #7,298.

What does the Pop surname mean?

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

What does the Pop map show?

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