UK surname
A German surname derived from the Middle High German word "rippe" meaning "rib" or "side."
In the 1881 census there were 100 people recorded with the Rippen surname, ranking it #19,750 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5, ranked #38,264, down from #19,750 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Englishcombe, Tiverton, Darlington and Orsett, Little Thurrock, Stock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rippen is 111 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 95.0%.
1881 census count
100
Ranked #19,750
Modern count
5
2016, ranked #38,264
Peak year
1891
111 bearers
Map years
2
1881 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rippen surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rippen surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 72 | #20,720 |
| 1861 | historical | 76 | #24,114 |
| 1881 | historical | 100 | #19,750 |
| 1891 | historical | 111 | #22,421 |
| 1901 | historical | 49 | #28,696 |
| 1911 | historical | 60 | #26,808 |
| 1997 | modern | 6 | #37,704 |
| 1998 | modern | 6 | #37,703 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 4 | #38,004 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 5 | #37,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 6 | #37,586 |
| 2004 | modern | 5 | #37,830 |
| 2005 | modern | 4 | #38,078 |
| 2006 | modern | 3 | #38,334 |
| 2007 | modern | 4 | #38,169 |
| 2008 | modern | 4 | #38,216 |
| 2009 | modern | 4 | #38,287 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 4 | #38,338 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 6 | #38,049 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 6 | #38,076 |
| 2016 | modern | 5 | #38,264 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Englishcombe, Tiverton, Darlington, Orsett, Little Thurrock, Stock, St Mary Stratford-le-Bow and Basingthorpe with Westby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Englishcombe, Tiverton | Somerset |
| 2 | Darlington | Durham |
| 3 | Orsett, Little Thurrock, Stock | Essex |
| 4 | St Mary Stratford-le-Bow | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | Basingthorpe with Westby | Lincolnshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rippen surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rippen, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Rippen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rippen household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Rippen is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rippen is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rippen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Rippen is believed to have originated in Germany, with its earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old German word "rip," meaning "riverbank" or "shore," suggesting that the name may have been originally associated with someone who lived near a river or body of water.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rippen can be found in the historical documents of the city of Cologne, where a merchant named Heinrich Rippen was mentioned in a trade record from the year 1276. Around the same time period, a knight named Konrad von Rippen was documented as a participant in the Crusades.
In the 14th century, a variant spelling of the name, "Ryppen," was recorded in the town of Dortmund, where a family of that name owned a sizable plot of land and a brewery. This particular branch of the Rippen family was known for their involvement in the local beer-making industry for several generations.
The name Rippen also appeared in various medieval manuscripts and records from the regions of Bavaria and Saxony, often in reference to landowners or individuals of some social standing. One notable example is Johann Rippen, a scholar and theologian from Nuremberg, who lived from 1482 to 1551 and authored several influential works on religious philosophy.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Rippen name spread to other parts of Europe, including the Netherlands and England, likely due to migration and trade. In 1612, a Dutch merchant named Willem Rippen was documented as having established a successful business in Amsterdam, importing goods from Germany and other parts of the continent.
Another prominent figure bearing the Rippen surname was Hans Rippen, a German architect and builder who lived from 1568 to 1634. He is credited with designing and constructing several notable churches and public buildings in the city of Hamburg during the Renaissance period.
As the centuries progressed, the Rippen name continued to be found across various regions of Germany, as well as in other European countries where German immigrants had settled. While the name may have evolved in spelling or pronunciation over time, its origins can be traced back to the riverbanks and shores of medieval Germany, where the earliest known Rippens made their mark.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rippen surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Essex leads with 22 Rippens recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.43x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Essex | 22 | 11.43x |
| Middlesex | 22 | 2.26x |
| Lincolnshire | 8 | 5.13x |
| Surrey | 7 | 1.47x |
| Cornwall | 6 | 5.43x |
| Derbyshire | 6 | 3.93x |
| Leicestershire | 6 | 5.55x |
| Northamptonshire | 6 | 6.54x |
| Durham | 5 | 1.72x |
| Rutland | 4 | 55.87x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 2.28x |
| Devon | 2 | 0.99x |
| Huntingdonshire | 1 | 5.16x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.09x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.10x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Ham in Essex leads with 13 Rippens recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.58x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| West Ham | 13 | 30.58x |
| Little Thurrock | 9 | 6000.00x |
| Breaston | 6 | 2222.22x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 6 | 22.75x |
| Boston | 5 | 105.71x |
| Bow London | 5 | 40.26x |
| North Bedburn | 5 | 617.28x |
| Stamford Baron St Martin | 5 | 1020.41x |
| St Pancras London | 4 | 5.09x |
| Hickling | 3 | 1764.71x |
| St Agnes | 3 | 193.55x |
| St Blazey | 3 | 309.28x |
| St George Hanover | 3 | 23.57x |
| Westminster St John | 3 | 25.25x |
| Chelsea London | 2 | 6.81x |
| Donington | 2 | 357.14x |
| Epsom | 2 | 86.21x |
| Hackney London | 2 | 3.66x |
| Oakham Lordshold | 2 | 266.67x |
| Penge | 2 | 32.10x |
| Burton Coggles | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Croydon | 1 | 3.79x |
| Everton | 1 | 2.71x |
| High Bickington | 1 | 434.78x |
| Kimbolton | 1 | 243.90x |
| Kingston On Thames | 1 | 8.76x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.18x |
| Linthorpe | 1 | 17.33x |
| Market Overton | 1 | 769.23x |
| Oakham Deanshold | 1 | 312.50x |
| Oundle | 1 | 97.09x |
| South Molton | 1 | 89.29x |
| St Luke London | 1 | 6.39x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 1.92x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 9.97x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rippen surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Rippen surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Rippen households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 19 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| General Servant | 2 |
| Joiner | 2 |
| (C) Miller And Baker | 1 |
| Ag Servant (Indoors) | 1 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Blacksmiths Wife | 1 |
| Brush Manufacturer | 1 |
| Builders Lab | 1 |
| Builders Lab Wife | 1 |
| Butchers Asst | 1 |
| Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Cabinet Maker Wife | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Clay Labourer | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Decorator | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Draper Retired | 1 |
| Druggist Sundriesman | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Farm Servt (Indoor) | 1 |
| Fitter (Shoe) | 1 |
| Footman | 1 |
| General Servant (Ag Lab) | 1 |
| Horse Keeper | 1 |
| House Keeper | 1 |
| House Proprietor | 1 |
| House Work | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Housemaid Domestic | 1 |
| Innkeeper | 1 |
| Ironmonger | 1 |
| Labour | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Omnibus Conductor | 1 |
| Plater | 1 |
| Porter | 1 |
| Post Boy (6/26) | 1 |
| Railway Engine Driver | 1 |
| Servant (Dom) | 1 |
| Servant (Domestic) | 1 |
| Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Tin Miner | 1 |
| Unemployed | 1 |
| Van Boy | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 100 people were recorded with the Rippen surname. That placed it at #19,750 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 5 in 2016. That gives Rippen a modern rank of #38,264.
A German surname derived from the Middle High German word "rippe" meaning "rib" or "side."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rippen bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.