NameCensus.

UK surname

Pople

An English surname referring to someone from the village of Pople or a variation of "popel", meaning poor.

In the 1881 census there were 616 people recorded with the Pople surname, ranking it #5,709 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,008, ranked #5,770, down from #5,709 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Puriton with Woollavington and Wedmore. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sedgemoor and Mendip.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pople is 1,135 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 63.6%.

1881 census count

616

Ranked #5,709

Modern count

1,008

2016, ranked #5,770

Peak year

2000

1,135 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pople had 616 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,709 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,008 in 2016, ranked #5,770.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 891 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pople surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pople surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pople 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 426 #5,735
1861 historical 435 #5,918
1881 historical 616 #5,709
1891 historical 636 #6,088
1901 historical 757 #5,897
1911 historical 891 #5,000
1997 modern 1,098 #5,079
1998 modern 1,121 #5,173
1999 modern 1,098 #5,289
2000 modern 1,135 #5,135
2001 modern 1,093 #5,199
2002 modern 1,115 #5,224
2003 modern 1,054 #5,363
2004 modern 1,036 #5,449
2005 modern 1,021 #5,456
2006 modern 1,009 #5,522
2007 modern 1,009 #5,568
2008 modern 1,009 #5,613
2009 modern 1,046 #5,570
2010 modern 1,051 #5,645
2011 modern 1,050 #5,589
2012 modern 1,000 #5,731
2013 modern 1,026 #5,709
2014 modern 1,033 #5,705
2015 modern 1,034 #5,657
2016 modern 1,008 #5,770

Geography

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Where Poples are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Puriton with Woollavington, Wedmore, Burnham and Westbury-on-Trym, Henbury, Compton Greenfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sedgemoor and Mendip. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Puriton with Woollavington Somerset
3 Wedmore Somerset
4 Burnham Somerset
5 Westbury-on-Trym, Henbury, Compton Greenfield Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sedgemoor 006 Sedgemoor
2 Sedgemoor 005 Sedgemoor
3 Sedgemoor 009 Sedgemoor
4 Sedgemoor 013 Sedgemoor
5 Mendip 012 Mendip

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pople

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pople

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Pople surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Pople 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Pople is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pople is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pople 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pople is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Pople

The surname Pople is believed to have originated in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "popel," which means "people" or "folk." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who was considered a leader or representative of the community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named Pople in the county of Dorset.

In the 13th century, the surname Pople was relatively widespread in various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire. Historical records from this period often show variations in spelling, such as Popel, Popele, and Popple.

Notable individuals with the surname Pople throughout history include:

1. Richard Pople (c. 1470 - c. 1540), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Bishop of Chichester from 1530 until his death.

2. John Pople (1925 - 2004), a British-American theoretical chemist and Nobel laureate known for his significant contributions to the field of computational chemistry.

3. Henry Pople (c. 1530 - 1584), an English composer and organist during the Renaissance period, best known for his liturgical music.

4. William Pople (c. 1605 - 1683), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis during the 17th century.

5. Thomas Pople (c. 1650 - 1720), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. George in the East.

The surname Pople has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Pople's Green in Buckinghamshire and Pople Street in Staffordshire. These locations may have been named after individuals bearing the Pople surname or derived from the Old English word "popel," suggesting a connection to a settlement or community.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pople families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pople 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. Somerset leads with 322 Poples recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.29x.

County Total Index
Somerset 322 33.29x
Gloucestershire 80 6.79x
Middlesex 72 1.20x
Dorset 32 8.11x
Essex 16 1.35x
Lancashire 13 0.18x
Berkshire 8 1.77x
Derbyshire 8 0.85x
Surrey 8 0.27x
Hertfordshire 7 1.69x
Monmouthshire 6 1.38x
Perthshire 6 2.22x
Warwickshire 6 0.40x
Suffolk 5 0.68x
Devon 4 0.32x
Glamorgan 3 0.29x
Kent 3 0.15x
Northamptonshire 3 0.53x
Wiltshire 3 0.56x
Yorkshire 3 0.05x
Angus 2 0.36x
Staffordshire 2 0.10x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.41x
Cornwall 1 0.15x
Herefordshire 1 0.41x
Leicestershire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Weston Super Mare in Somerset leads with 54 Poples recorded in 1881 and an index of 221.13x.

Place Total Index
Weston Super Mare 54 221.13x
Wedmore 39 620.03x
Puriton 27 1741.94x
Burnham 24 325.64x
Chelsea London 22 12.15x
Westbury On Trym 22 55.10x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 21 18.93x
Compton Bishop 19 1681.42x
Berrow 17 1868.13x
Clifton 16 26.85x
East Brent 16 1095.89x
West Ham 16 6.11x
Bedminster 15 16.50x
Fordington 12 141.34x
Uphill 12 902.26x
Henbury 10 173.91x
Everton 9 3.96x
Bridgewater 8 30.46x
Litchurch 7 18.49x
Lydlinch 7 958.90x
Poplar London 7 6.17x
Reading St Mary 7 19.37x
Abergavenny 6 36.88x
Acton 6 17.03x
Badgworth 6 1034.48x
Bawdrip 6 740.74x
Bristol St James In 6 34.62x
Loxton 6 2142.86x
Walcot 6 11.65x
Westminster St 6 27.09x
Winfrith Newburgh 6 303.03x
Aston 5 1.20x
Beckington 5 261.78x
Berkhampstead 5 53.71x
Haverhill 5 76.92x
Pawlett 5 458.72x
St George Hanover 5 6.38x
St Giles In Fields 5 24.12x
Streatham 5 11.22x
Bathwick 4 37.38x
Catcott 4 353.98x
Chilton Polden 4 547.95x
Easton In Gordano 4 102.83x
Edington 4 444.44x
St Luke London 4 4.15x
Breane 3 967.74x
Bristol St Paul In 3 9.55x
Didsbury 3 31.68x
Exeter St David 3 28.06x
Huntspill 3 75.76x
Islington London 3 0.52x
Kewstoke 3 197.37x
Mile End Old Town 3 3.16x
Paston 3 125.00x
St Pancras London 3 0.62x
Tibbermore 3 77.72x
Weare 3 223.88x
Banwell 2 56.66x
Cheddar 2 41.07x
Clevedon 2 19.88x
Corfe Castle 2 54.64x
Dorchester St Peter 2 69.93x
Fulham London 2 2.29x
Hutton 2 281.69x
Kensington London 2 0.60x
Llanwonno 2 5.32x
Milford 2 70.18x
Monifieth 2 10.17x
Perth West Church 2 15.63x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 0.93x
Watford 2 6.23x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 2 25.67x
West Harptree 2 208.33x
Battersea 1 0.45x
Goodrich 1 64.94x
Hackney London 1 0.30x
Mark 1 44.25x
South Brent 1 61.35x
Stoke Damerel 1 1.14x
Westminster St James 1 1.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 38
Mary 34
Emily 18
Sarah 18
Jane 17
Emma 16
Annie 14
Eliza 14
Ann 11
Alice 8
Caroline 6
Fanny 6
Martha 6
Ellen 5
Amelia 4
Bessie 4
Florence 4
Hannah 4
Maria 4
Rosa 4
Ada 3
Agnes 3
Bertha 3
Catherine 3
Ethel 3
Harriet 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Mabel 3
Minnie 3
Rosina 3
Susan 3
Amy 2
Charlott 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Elenor 2
Eva 2
Isabella 2
Leah 2
Lily 2
Selina 2
Sophia 2
Alma 1
Blanch 1
Effie 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 32
George 22
John 22
James 18
Henry 17
Charles 16
Thomas 11
Albert 9
Frederick 8
Arthur 7
Edward 7
Harry 7
Samuel 7
Walter 6
Frank 5
Herbert 5
Alfred 4
Ernest 4
Robert 4
Ambrose 3
Edwin 3
Jacob 3
Joseph 3
Josiah 3
Abraham 2
Alexander 2
Edmund 2
Edwd.Geo. 2
Francis 2
Jesse 2
Oliver 2
Barington 1
Chetwood 1
Colin 1
Edwd. 1
F. 1
Fredr. 1
Gabriel 1
Gabrl. 1
Geo. 1
Horatio 1
Howard 1
Jonathan 1
Lousa 1
Richard 1
Saml. 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1
Toney 1
Wm.Jno. 1

FAQ

Pople surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pople surname in 1881?

In 1881, 616 people were recorded with the Pople surname. That placed it at #5,709 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pople surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,008 in 2016. That gives Pople a modern rank of #5,770.

What does the Pople surname mean?

An English surname referring to someone from the village of Pople or a variation of "popel", meaning poor.

What does the Pople map show?

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