NameCensus.

UK surname

Popova

A surname indicating a person's occupation related to priests or clergymen.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, Havering and Trafford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Popova is 278 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

278

2016, ranked #15,579

Peak year

2016

278 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 278 in 2016, ranked #15,579.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Popova surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Popova surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Popova 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 4 #38,094
1998 modern 3 #38,304
1999 modern 6 #37,696
2000 modern 7 #37,430
2001 modern 6 #37,456
2002 modern 11 #36,780
2003 modern 16 #36,304
2004 modern 21 #35,969
2005 modern 44 #34,255
2006 modern 60 #33,235
2007 modern 91 #30,061
2008 modern 105 #28,180
2009 modern 118 #26,766
2010 modern 142 #24,352
2011 modern 176 #20,957
2012 modern 221 #17,979
2013 modern 243 #17,114
2014 modern 258 #16,554
2015 modern 273 #15,789
2016 modern 278 #15,579

Geography

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Where Popovas 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 Westminster, Havering, Trafford, Newham and Barking and Dagenham. 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 Westminster 014 Westminster
2 Havering 003 Havering
3 Trafford 003 Trafford
4 Newham 034 Newham
5 Barking and Dagenham 017 Barking and Dagenham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Popova

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Popova

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Popova surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Popova 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Popova is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Popova 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

Popova 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 Popova is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Popova

The surname Popova is of Russian origin, derived from the Russian word "pop," meaning a priest or a cleric. The name likely emerged during the Middle Ages in Russia, indicating a person's connection to the Orthodox Christian clergy.

Popova was a common surname among the families of priests and clerics in Russia, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. In some regions of Russia, the name was also associated with certain locations or villages where Orthodox churches or monasteries were present.

One of the earliest references to the surname Popova can be found in the "Pistsovye Knigi" (Census Books) from the 16th and 17th centuries, which recorded the names of landowners and their properties across various parts of Russia.

A notable historical figure bearing the surname Popova was Anna Popova (1869-1942), a pioneering Russian educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded the first higher education institution for women in Russia, known as the Popova Courses.

Another prominent individual was Nadezhda Popova (1921-2013), a Soviet and Russian film actress who appeared in numerous classic films during the mid-20th century, including "The Cranes are Flying" and "The Lady with the Dog."

In the field of science, Vera Popova (1899-1984) was a renowned Russian botanist and cytologist, known for her contributions to the study of plant chromosomes and her work on the cytogenetics of cultivated plants.

Yuri Popov (1911-1992) was a Soviet and Russian actor, best known for his roles in films such as "The Foundry Worker" and "The Cranes are Flying," for which he received the Stalin Prize in 1949.

Lastly, Mikhail Popov (1948-2020) was a prominent Russian chess grandmaster and author, known for his contributions to the theory of the Sicilian Defense and his influential chess books and publications.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the surname Popova, which has its roots in the Russian Orthodox clergy and has been associated with various regions and locations within Russia over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Popova surname: questions and answers

How common is the Popova surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 278 in 2016. That gives Popova a modern rank of #15,579.

What does the Popova surname mean?

A surname indicating a person's occupation related to priests or clergymen.

What does the Popova map show?

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