NameCensus.

UK surname

Prosper

A surname derived from the Latin word "prosperus," meaning prosperous or thriving.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Prosper surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 153, ranked #23,408, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Oxford, Luton and Windsor and Maidenhead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Prosper is 163 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15200.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

153

2016, ranked #23,408

Peak year

2010

163 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Prosper had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 153 in 2016, ranked #23,408.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 22 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Prosper surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Prosper surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Prosper 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 7 #33,053
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 11 #33,268
1901 historical 14 #32,506
1911 historical 22 #31,030
1997 modern 128 #23,238
1998 modern 136 #23,013
1999 modern 132 #23,602
2000 modern 130 #23,785
2001 modern 131 #23,343
2002 modern 145 #22,392
2003 modern 150 #21,669
2004 modern 149 #21,905
2005 modern 153 #21,490
2006 modern 153 #21,643
2007 modern 153 #21,912
2008 modern 149 #22,530
2009 modern 151 #22,816
2010 modern 163 #22,205
2011 modern 160 #22,282
2012 modern 154 #22,870
2013 modern 158 #22,817
2014 modern 156 #23,231
2015 modern 150 #23,718
2016 modern 153 #23,408

Geography

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Where Prospers 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 Oxford, Luton, Windsor and Maidenhead, Broadland and Camden. 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 Oxford 017 Oxford
2 Luton 005 Luton
3 Windsor and Maidenhead 003 Windsor and Maidenhead
4 Broadland 014 Broadland
5 Camden 009 Camden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Prosper

These lists show first names that appear often with the Prosper 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 Prosper

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

Prosper 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

Prosper 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 Prosper 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Prosper

The surname Prosper is believed to have originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Latin word "prospere," which means "to thrive" or "to prosper." The name may have been given to someone who was particularly successful or prosperous in their endeavors.

In the late 12th century, the name Prosper appeared in records from the region of Normandy, France. One of the earliest documented instances of the name was in the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Étienne de Caen, a manuscript from the late 12th century that recorded the names of individuals who donated land or property to the abbey.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name Prosper began to spread throughout other regions of France, including Brittany and Île-de-France. The name also appeared in various spelling variations, such as Prospere, Prosperre, and Prosperus.

One notable individual with the surname Prosper was Jean Prosper, a French monk and historian who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was born in 1565 and is known for his work, "Histoire de la Ville de Lyon," which chronicled the history of the city of Lyon.

Another prominent figure was Jacques Prosper, a French writer and philosopher who lived in the 17th century. He was born in 1610 and is best known for his work "Traité de l'Existence de Dieu," which explored the existence of God and the nature of the universe.

In the 18th century, the surname Prosper was particularly prevalent in the region of Provence, France. One individual of note was Pierre Prosper, a French painter and engraver who was born in 1742 in Marseille. He is known for his landscapes and portraits, which were popular among the aristocracy of the time.

In the 19th century, the name Prosper appeared in various parts of Europe, including Belgium and Germany. One notable figure was Émile Prosper, a Belgian artist and sculptor who was born in 1825. He is best known for his monumental sculptures and public works, which can be found throughout Belgium and France.

Another individual with the surname Prosper was Gustave Prosper, a German musician and composer who lived in the late 19th century. He was born in 1861 and is known for his compositions for piano and chamber ensembles, which were influenced by the Romantic movement.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Prosper families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Prosper 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. Channel Islands leads with 2 Prospers recorded in 1881 and an index of 229.89x.

County Total Index
Channel Islands 2 229.89x
Gloucestershire 1 17.45x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Saviour in Channel Islands leads with 2 Prospers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4000.00x.

Place Total Index
St Saviour 2 4000.00x
Bristol St Paul In 1 666.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Louisa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Barrett 1
Chottis 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 Prosper households.

FAQ

Prosper surname: questions and answers

How common was the Prosper surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Prosper surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Prosper surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 153 in 2016. That gives Prosper a modern rank of #23,408.

What does the Prosper surname mean?

A surname derived from the Latin word "prosperus," meaning prosperous or thriving.

What does the Prosper map show?

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