NameCensus.

UK surname

Popp

A German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) occupational surname referring to a doll maker, from Middle High German "poppe" meaning "doll".

In the 1881 census there were 22 people recorded with the Popp surname, ranking it #30,464 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 116, ranked #28,197, up from #30,464 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Merthyr Tydfil, South Derbyshire and South Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Popp is 116 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 427.3%.

1881 census count

22

Ranked #30,464

Modern count

116

2016, ranked #28,197

Peak year

2016

116 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Popp had 22 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,464 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 116 in 2016, ranked #28,197.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 66 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Popp surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Popp surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Popp 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 5 #32,456
1861 historical 10 #32,589
1881 historical 22 #30,464
1891 historical 32 #31,754
1901 historical 41 #29,602
1911 historical 66 #26,249
1997 modern 91 #28,215
1998 modern 92 #28,680
1999 modern 90 #29,056
2000 modern 91 #28,952
2001 modern 92 #28,528
2002 modern 93 #28,920
2003 modern 91 #29,121
2004 modern 89 #29,623
2005 modern 85 #30,219
2006 modern 81 #31,044
2007 modern 78 #31,748
2008 modern 77 #32,181
2009 modern 76 #32,635
2010 modern 83 #32,396
2011 modern 96 #30,721
2012 modern 105 #29,362
2013 modern 113 #28,502
2014 modern 110 #29,294
2015 modern 110 #29,157
2016 modern 116 #28,197

Geography

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Where Popps 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 Merthyr Tydfil, South Derbyshire and South Norfolk. 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 Merthyr Tydfil 004 Merthyr Tydfil
2 Merthyr Tydfil 002 Merthyr Tydfil
3 Merthyr Tydfil 003 Merthyr Tydfil
4 South Derbyshire 006 South Derbyshire
5 South Norfolk 014 South Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Popp

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Popp

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Popp surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Popp household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Popp is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Popp 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

Popp falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Popp 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 Popp, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Popp

The surname Popp has its origins in Germany, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "Poppe," which was a nickname for someone who was plump or rotund. This nickname likely stemmed from the Old German word "puppa," meaning "bulge" or "swelling."

In the early Middle Ages, the use of surnames was not widespread, and people were often identified by their given name, occupation, or physical characteristic. As the population grew, the need for more specific identification arose, leading to the adoption of hereditary surnames.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Popp can be found in various German records and manuscripts from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable example is the mention of a "Henricus Poppe" in a document from the city of Göttingen in 1292.

Over time, the name Popp spread to various regions of Germany, and variations in spelling emerged, such as Poppé, Poppen, and Poppes. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and scribal practices.

In the 16th century, a notable bearer of the name was Johann Popp (1516-1569), a German Protestant theologian and reformer. He played a significant role in the Reformation movement and was known for his writings and sermons.

Another prominent figure with the surname Popp was Johann Christoph Popp (1679-1753), a German theologian and philosopher. He was a professor at the University of Leipzig and made significant contributions to the fields of logic and metaphysics.

In the 19th century, Carl Eduard Popp (1830-1904) was a German botanist and teacher who specialized in the study of mosses and liverworts. He made significant contributions to the field of bryology and published several works on the subject.

Moving into the 20th century, Max Popp (1888-1962) was a German film director and screenwriter who worked during the silent film era and the early years of sound films. He directed several notable films, including "Die Försterchristl" (1952) and "Königliche Hoheit" (1953).

Another notable bearer of the surname was Gerd Popp (1912-1997), a German physicist and engineer. He made significant contributions to the field of optics and was known for his work on laser technology and holography.

While the surname Popp has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. However, the historical evidence suggests that its origins can be traced back to the German-speaking regions of Europe, where it emerged as a descriptive nickname in the Middle Ages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Popp families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Popp 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. Northamptonshire leads with 5 Popps recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.28x.

County Total Index
Northamptonshire 5 30.28x
Midlothian 4 17.01x
Worcestershire 4 17.44x
Lancashire 2 0.96x
Berkshire 1 7.59x
Middlesex 1 0.57x
Surrey 1 1.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Peterborough in Northamptonshire leads with 5 Popps recorded in 1881 and an index of 416.67x.

Place Total Index
Peterborough 5 416.67x
Dalkeith 4 869.57x
Kings Norton 4 194.17x
Kirkdale 1 28.57x
Liverpool 1 7.91x
Shoreditch London 1 13.14x
Sunninghill 1 555.56x
Weybridge 1 555.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Caroline 2
Edith 1
Eleonore 1
Elizabeth 1
Louisa 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 2
Charles 1
Frank 1
Fredric 1
John 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Popp households.

FAQ

Popp surname: questions and answers

How common was the Popp surname in 1881?

In 1881, 22 people were recorded with the Popp surname. That placed it at #30,464 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Popp surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 116 in 2016. That gives Popp a modern rank of #28,197.

What does the Popp surname mean?

A German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) occupational surname referring to a doll maker, from Middle High German "poppe" meaning "doll".

What does the Popp map show?

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