NameCensus.

UK surname

Ripper

A surname likely derived from a person's occupation as a reaper or harvester.

In the 1881 census there were 192 people recorded with the Ripper surname, ranking it #13,185 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 196, ranked #19,848, down from #13,185 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stithians, Hedingham, Castle and Crayford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Braintree, Suffolk Coastal and New Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ripper is 256 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.1%.

1881 census count

192

Ranked #13,185

Modern count

196

2016, ranked #19,848

Peak year

1891

256 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ripper had 192 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,185 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 196 in 2016, ranked #19,848.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 256 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ripper surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ripper surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ripper 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 155 #12,604
1861 historical 203 #11,865
1881 historical 192 #13,185
1891 historical 256 #12,522
1901 historical 237 #13,574
1911 historical 241 #13,229
1997 modern 220 #16,607
1998 modern 225 #16,846
1999 modern 231 #16,646
2000 modern 230 #16,644
2001 modern 225 #16,664
2002 modern 233 #16,590
2003 modern 225 #16,808
2004 modern 231 #16,591
2005 modern 224 #16,876
2006 modern 221 #17,149
2007 modern 221 #17,343
2008 modern 222 #17,442
2009 modern 204 #18,779
2010 modern 207 #19,007
2011 modern 204 #19,040
2012 modern 203 #19,025
2013 modern 191 #20,124
2014 modern 194 #20,097
2015 modern 196 #19,840
2016 modern 196 #19,848

Geography

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Where Rippers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stithians, Hedingham, Castle, Crayford and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Braintree, Suffolk Coastal and New Forest. 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 Stithians Cornwall
2 Hedingham, Castle Essex
3 Crayford Kent
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Braintree 003 Braintree
2 Suffolk Coastal 012 Suffolk Coastal
3 Suffolk Coastal 014 Suffolk Coastal
4 Braintree 006 Braintree
5 New Forest 010 New Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ripper

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ripper

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ripper, 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 Ripper surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Ripper 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Ripper is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Ripper is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ripper falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ripper 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
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Ripper

The surname RIPPER is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "rippere," which referred to someone who harvested crops or reaped grain. This occupation-based surname likely emerged during the medieval period when surnames were beginning to be adopted by families.

One of the earliest documented references to the RIPPER surname can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where a man named William le Rippere was recorded in Oxfordshire. The use of the prefix "le" before the occupational title was a common practice at the time, indicating that William was a reaper or harvester by trade.

By the 14th century, variations of the RIPPER surname had emerged, including Riper, Rypper, and Rippur. These spelling variations were likely due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in record-keeping during that era.

In the 15th century, the RIPPER surname appeared in various historical documents, such as the Feet of Fines, a collection of legal records from the era. One notable individual from this time was John Ripper, who was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Warwickshire in 1490.

As the surname spread across England, it became associated with certain place names, such as Ripper's Green in Berkshire and Ripper's Cross in Gloucestershire. These place names likely derived from individuals or families with the RIPPER surname who lived or owned land in those areas.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the RIPPER surname. One such person was Sir John Ripper (1573-1641), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Hertfordshire in the early 17th century.

Another prominent figure was Richard Ripper (1688-1758), a renowned English clockmaker who gained recognition for his intricate and beautifully crafted timepieces during the 18th century.

In the 19th century, the RIPPER surname gained notoriety due to the infamous serial killer known as Jack the Ripper, who terrorized the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. Although his true identity remains a mystery, the moniker "Ripper" has become synonymous with this dark chapter in British history.

Other notable individuals with the RIPPER surname include Mary Ripper (1836-1918), a British author and philanthropist, and William Ripper (1801-1872), an English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in the Victorian era.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ripper families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ripper 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. Kent leads with 35 Rippers recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.39x.

County Total Index
Kent 35 5.39x
Cornwall 31 14.40x
Norfolk 30 10.26x
Essex 26 6.92x
Middlesex 20 1.05x
Suffolk 16 6.91x
Yorkshire 8 0.42x
Surrey 7 0.76x
Derbyshire 5 1.68x
Devon 4 1.01x
Glamorgan 3 0.91x
Somerset 3 0.98x
Royal Navy 2 8.82x
Sussex 2 0.62x
Gloucestershire 1 0.27x
Lancashire 1 0.04x
Monmouthshire 1 0.73x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bexley in Kent leads with 31 Rippers recorded in 1881 and an index of 540.07x.

Place Total Index
Bexley 31 540.07x
Halstead 14 319.63x
St Austell 9 122.28x
Perranzabuloe 7 376.34x
Swaffham 7 294.12x
Aylsham 6 344.83x
Castle Hedingham 6 882.35x
Gislingham 6 1666.67x
Kensington London 6 5.67x
St Marylebone London 6 5.91x
Bacton 5 1190.48x
St Stithians 5 420.17x
Weston On Trent 5 2631.58x
Barningham 4 1481.48x
Bradwell By Coggleshall 4 2500.00x
Kenwyn 4 71.05x
Nether Hallam 4 15.69x
Stoke Damerel 4 14.44x
Thetford St Mary 4 500.00x
Bressingham 3 909.09x
Griston 3 1666.67x
Hackney London 3 2.81x
Holy Trinity 3 6.62x
Roath 3 19.95x
Beechamwell 2 1000.00x
Betchworth 2 175.44x
Colne Engaine 2 588.24x
Eastbourne 2 13.55x
Mile End Old Town 2 6.66x
Redruth 2 32.84x
Rockland St Andrews 2 2000.00x
Royal Navy 2 10.32x
Southwark St Saviour 2 20.45x
Yeovil 2 32.15x
Camborne 1 11.27x
Chartham 1 61.73x
Chorlton Cum Hardy 1 66.67x
Christchurch 1 23.53x
Clifton 1 5.30x
Cubert 1 416.67x
Deptford St Paul 1 2.00x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 15.92x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 2.61x
Egloshayle 1 99.01x
Gillingham 1 7.47x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 1 11.39x
Kirkley 1 51.55x
Lambeth 1 0.60x
Montacute 1 178.57x
Newlyn 1 108.70x
Norwich St Saviour 1 97.09x
South Lynn 1 30.30x
Southwark St John 1 17.18x
St Faith Under St 1 909.09x
St George Hanover 1 4.03x
St Pancras London 1 0.65x
Wimbledon 1 9.61x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 18
John 15
George 8
James 7
Charles 5
Frederick 4
Thomas 4
Alfred 3
Arthur 2
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Harry 2
Jonothan 2
Joseph 2
Robert 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Annie 1
Baldwyn 1
Bertie 1
Charlton 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Fredk. 1
Geo.W. 1
Herbert 1
Hubert 1
Jonathan 1
Kitty 1
Maria 1
Richard 1
Sydney 1
Thetmas 1
Tucker 1
Willie 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Ripper surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ripper surname in 1881?

In 1881, 192 people were recorded with the Ripper surname. That placed it at #13,185 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ripper surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 196 in 2016. That gives Ripper a modern rank of #19,848.

What does the Ripper surname mean?

A surname likely derived from a person's occupation as a reaper or harvester.

What does the Ripper map show?

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