NameCensus.

UK surname

Poplawski

A Polish surname derived from the words "pop" and "law", possibly referring to an occupation or location related to clearing land or forests.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Melton and Forest Heath.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Poplawski is 129 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

128

2016, ranked #26,401

Peak year

2014

129 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016, ranked #26,401.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Poplawski surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Poplawski surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Poplawski 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 1 #33,412
1901 historical 5 #33,728
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 35 #34,174
1998 modern 37 #34,149
1999 modern 36 #34,323
2000 modern 40 #33,976
2001 modern 36 #34,171
2002 modern 38 #34,307
2003 modern 40 #34,215
2004 modern 54 #33,248
2005 modern 54 #33,433
2006 modern 79 #31,263
2007 modern 87 #30,666
2008 modern 99 #29,181
2009 modern 104 #28,982
2010 modern 110 #28,666
2011 modern 109 #28,653
2012 modern 116 #27,550
2013 modern 122 #27,122
2014 modern 129 #26,352
2015 modern 129 #26,226
2016 modern 128 #26,401

Geography

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Where Poplawskis 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 County Durham, Melton, Forest Heath, Wandsworth and Rushcliffe. 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 County Durham 045 County Durham
2 Melton 001 Melton
3 Forest Heath 001 Forest Heath
4 Wandsworth 028 Wandsworth
5 Rushcliffe 015 Rushcliffe

Forenames

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First names often paired with Poplawski

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Poplawski

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

Poplawski 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

Poplawski falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Poplawski 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Poplawski

The surname Poplawski has its origins in Poland, tracing back to the late medieval period. It is derived from the Polish words "pop," meaning "priest," and "law," referring to a meadow or clearing. The name likely originated as a descriptor for someone who lived near a meadow or clearing owned by a priest.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Poplawski can be found in the Akta Metrykalne, or Metrical Records, of the Masovian Voivodeship in central Poland, dating back to the 16th century. These records document births, marriages, and deaths in various parishes and villages across the region.

The name Poplawski is also present in the Księgi Miejskie, or Town Books, of various Polish cities from the 16th and 17th centuries. These books contained records of legal proceedings, property transactions, and other official matters involving townspeople.

A notable early bearer of the name was Jan Poplawski, a Polish nobleman and landowner who lived in the late 16th century. He was mentioned in several contemporary documents related to land disputes and legal matters.

In the 17th century, a Poplawski family established itself in the town of Plock, in central Poland. Several members of this family were involved in the local administration and held positions of importance within the town.

Another prominent figure with the Poplawski surname was Michał Poplawski, a Polish military officer who fought in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth's wars against Sweden in the mid-17th century. He was celebrated for his bravery and leadership during the siege of Riga in 1658.

In the 18th century, the Poplawski name appeared in the records of several Polish noble families, indicating that some members of the family had achieved a higher social status by that time.

One of the most notable Poplawskis in modern history was Józef Poplawski, a Polish mathematician and logician who lived from 1854 to 1920. He made significant contributions to the field of mathematical logic and was a pioneer in the development of set theory.

Throughout its history, the Poplawski surname has been subject to various spelling variations, such as Poplawski, Popławski, and Popławski, reflecting regional differences and changes in orthographic conventions over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Poplawski surname: questions and answers

How common is the Poplawski surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016. That gives Poplawski a modern rank of #26,401.

What does the Poplawski surname mean?

A Polish surname derived from the words "pop" and "law", possibly referring to an occupation or location related to clearing land or forests.

What does the Poplawski map show?

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