UK surname
A surname potentially derived from a toponym referring to a riparian location or river bank.
In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Rupel surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #33,498 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St David (incl. Christs College and Castle Inn), Paddington and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rupel is 144 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 66.7%.
1881 census count
3
Ranked #33,498
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1861
144 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rupel surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rupel surname density by area, 1861 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 | 20 | #29,743 |
| 1861 | historical | 144 | #15,817 |
| 1881 | historical | 3 | #33,498 |
| 1891 | historical | 24 | #32,320 |
| 1901 | historical | 3 | #34,063 |
| 1911 | historical | 3 | #33,789 |
| 2006 | modern | 1 | #38,879 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 3 | #38,396 |
| 2009 | modern | 3 | #38,494 |
| 2010 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2011 | modern | 2 | #38,745 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2013 | modern | 1 | #39,008 |
| 2014 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2015 | modern | 1 | #39,021 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St David (incl. Christs College and Castle Inn), Paddington, St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford, Worcester St Peter and Radipole. 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 | St David (incl. Christs College and Castle Inn) | Brecon |
| 2 | Paddington | London (West Districts) |
| 3 | St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | Worcester St Peter | Worcestershire |
| 5 | Radipole | Dorset |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rupel 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 Rupel, 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 Rupel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rupel 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, Rupel 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 Rupel is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rupel, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Rupel has its origins in Germany, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the German word "Ruppe," which means "a recess" or "a cleft." This suggests that the name may have initially been given to someone who lived near a gorge or a ravine.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Rupel surname can be found in the town of Hessen, Germany, where a family by the name of Rupel resided in the late 1500s. The name was also present in various other regions of Germany, such as Bavaria and Saxony, during this time period.
In the 17th century, a notable individual named Hans Rupel (1597-1668) was a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Nuremberg. His descendants continued to carry the Rupel name, and some of them later migrated to other parts of Europe and beyond.
Another historical figure with the surname Rupel was Johann Rupel (1726-1802), a German theologian and philosopher who wrote extensively on religious and ethical topics. His works were widely read and influential during the Enlightenment era.
In the 19th century, a man named Friedrich Rupel (1821-1887) was a renowned botanist and explorer. He traveled extensively throughout Europe and Asia, making significant contributions to the field of plant taxonomy and collecting numerous plant specimens.
A different branch of the Rupel family can be traced back to the town of Ruppertshofen, located in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is possible that the name Rupel may have originated from this place name or a similar-sounding location.
Over the centuries, the Rupel surname has undergone various spelling variations, such as Ruppel, Ruepel, and Ruppell, but the core meaning and origin have remained largely unchanged.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rupel 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. Channel Islands leads with 1 Rupels recorded in 1881 and an index of 86.96x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Channel Islands | 1 | 86.96x |
| Devon | 1 | 12.36x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 16.75x |
| Pembrokeshire | 1 | 81.30x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Fakenham Alethorpe in Norfolk leads with 1 Rupels recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Fakenham Alethorpe | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Johnston | 1 | 0.00x |
| Plympton St Mary | 1 | 2000.00x |
| St Lawrence | 1 | 3333.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rupel 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 Rupel surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Douglas | 1 |
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 Rupel households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Drapers Assistant | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Parlour Maid (Domestic Servant) | 1 |
| Preacher | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Rupel surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Rupel a modern rank of #39,061.
A surname potentially derived from a toponym referring to a riparian location or river bank.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rupel 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.