NameCensus.

UK surname

Popescu

A common Romanian surname derived from the Slavic word "pop" meaning a priest or clergyman.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Popescu is 879 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

879

2016, ranked #6,408

Peak year

2016

879 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 879 in 2016, ranked #6,408.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Popescu surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Popescu surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Popescu 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
1997 modern 21 #35,692
1998 modern 26 #35,254
1999 modern 28 #35,127
2000 modern 28 #35,080
2001 modern 28 #34,936
2002 modern 36 #34,480
2003 modern 40 #34,215
2004 modern 50 #33,566
2005 modern 63 #32,602
2006 modern 75 #31,733
2007 modern 128 #24,632
2008 modern 175 #20,311
2009 modern 233 #17,241
2010 modern 300 #14,730
2011 modern 344 #13,249
2012 modern 542 #9,279
2013 modern 578 #8,981
2014 modern 663 #8,125
2015 modern 757 #7,247
2016 modern 879 #6,408

Geography

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Where Popescus 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 Harrow, Barnet and Waltham Forest. 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 Harrow 010 Harrow
2 Barnet 018 Barnet
3 Waltham Forest 028 Waltham Forest
4 Barnet 024 Barnet
5 Barnet 036 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Popescu

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Popescu

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Popescu, 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 Popescu surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Popescu 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, Popescu 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

Popescu 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

Popescu 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 Popescu 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 Popescu, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Popescu

The surname Popescu is a Romanian patronymic name derived from the Romanian word "pop" meaning priest. It originated in the regions of Wallachia and Moldavia, which now make up modern-day Romania.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Popescu can be traced back to the 15th century, appearing in various historical documents and manuscripts from the region. One notable example is the Codex Sturdzanus, a 15th-century manuscript that mentions several individuals bearing the name Popescu.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Popescu gained widespread recognition and was often associated with members of the clergy and educated classes. In the 18th century, the name began to appear in various land ownership records and legal documents, indicating the growing influence of families bearing this surname.

Some notable historical figures with the surname Popescu include:

1. Gheorghe Popescu (1819-1892), a Romanian scholar and writer who played a significant role in the development of the Romanian language and literature.

2. Constantin C. Popescu (1869-1945), a renowned Romanian chemist and professor at the University of Bucharest.

3. Titus Popescu (1904-1981), a Romanian painter and graphic artist known for his works depicting Romanian rural life.

4. Dumitru Popescu-Colindina (1901-1977), a Romanian poet and translator who was a prominent figure in the Romanian avant-garde literary movement.

5. Ion Popescu-Gopo (1923-1989), a celebrated Romanian animator and film director, best known for his award-winning short films such as "A Brief History" and "The Luckiest Man in the World."

The name Popescu has also been associated with various place names and older spellings within Romania, such as Popești and Popes, which are derived from the same root word "pop" and often refer to villages or towns where priests or members of the clergy resided.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Popescu surname: questions and answers

How common is the Popescu surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 879 in 2016. That gives Popescu a modern rank of #6,408.

What does the Popescu surname mean?

A common Romanian surname derived from the Slavic word "pop" meaning a priest or clergyman.

What does the Popescu map show?

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