UK surname
A surname derived from the word "sharp," potentially referring to someone with keen intellect or skill.
In the 1881 census there were 58 people recorded with the Sharper surname, ranking it #25,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 30, ranked #35,997, down from #25,428 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Thorganby with Cottingwith, Farnham and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sharper is 252 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 48.3%.
1881 census count
58
Ranked #25,428
Modern count
30
2016, ranked #35,997
Peak year
1861
252 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Sharper surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Sharper surname density by area, 1911 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 | 102 | #16,933 |
| 1861 | historical | 252 | #9,804 |
| 1881 | historical | 58 | #25,428 |
| 1891 | historical | 141 | #19,108 |
| 1901 | historical | 82 | #25,019 |
| 1911 | historical | 129 | #19,577 |
| 1997 | modern | 14 | #36,528 |
| 1998 | modern | 19 | #36,009 |
| 1999 | modern | 19 | #36,041 |
| 2000 | modern | 18 | #36,104 |
| 2001 | modern | 14 | #36,372 |
| 2002 | modern | 21 | #35,798 |
| 2003 | modern | 21 | #35,825 |
| 2004 | modern | 20 | #36,053 |
| 2005 | modern | 17 | #36,407 |
| 2006 | modern | 20 | #36,254 |
| 2007 | modern | 18 | #36,537 |
| 2008 | modern | 14 | #36,950 |
| 2009 | modern | 18 | #36,682 |
| 2010 | modern | 23 | #36,400 |
| 2011 | modern | 26 | #36,193 |
| 2012 | modern | 25 | #36,227 |
| 2013 | modern | 28 | #36,096 |
| 2014 | modern | 29 | #36,058 |
| 2015 | modern | 30 | #35,979 |
| 2016 | modern | 30 | #35,997 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Thorganby with Cottingwith, Farnham, St Marylebone, Skipwith and Stranton. 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 | Thorganby with Cottingwith | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 2 | Farnham | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Skipwith | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Stranton | Durham |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Sharper 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 Sharper, 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 Sharper surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Sharper 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, Sharper 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 Sharper is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Sharper, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Sharper has its origins in England, dating back to the late 14th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "scearp," meaning "sharp" or "keen." It was likely initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone with a sharp or keen personality or intellect.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sharper can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire in 1332, where a John le Scharper is mentioned. The use of the prefix "le" before the surname was common practice during this period, indicating that the name was still considered a descriptive nickname rather than a hereditary surname.
In the 15th century, the name appears in various records with slight variations in spelling, such as Sharper, Scharper, and Scherper. This was a common occurrence during this time, as standardized spelling had not yet been established.
The Sharper surname can be traced to various regions in England, including Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire. Some notable individuals bearing this surname include:
1. Thomas Sharper (1574-1630), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Christ's College, Cambridge. 2. John Sharper (1588-1654), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Stratford-upon-Avon during the English Civil War. 3. Henry Sharper (1645-1709), an English architect and surveyor who worked on several prominent buildings in London, including the Old Bailey Central Criminal Court. 4. Edward Sharper (1762-1842), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and was decorated for his bravery. 5. William Sharper (1809-1875), a renowned English botanist and horticulturist who made significant contributions to the study of plant taxonomy and horticulture.
While the Sharper surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and immigration. However, the history and origins of the name remain firmly rooted in the English language and culture.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sharper 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. Yorkshire leads with 30 Sharpers recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.35x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 30 | 5.35x |
| Durham | 8 | 4.75x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 1.24x |
| Essex | 6 | 5.37x |
| Glamorgan | 2 | 2.03x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 1.91x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 2.36x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.80x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.90x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.52x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Skipwith in Yorkshire leads with 8 Sharpers recorded in 1881 and an index of 16000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Skipwith | 8 | 16000.00x |
| Arthington | 5 | 5555.56x |
| Stranton | 5 | 88.34x |
| St Marylebone London | 4 | 13.25x |
| Bradford | 3 | 22.11x |
| Hartwith Cum Winsley | 3 | 1428.57x |
| Wanstead | 3 | 153.06x |
| Westoe | 3 | 31.45x |
| Bedale | 2 | 1000.00x |
| East Keswick | 2 | 2222.22x |
| Ferrensby | 2 | 10000.00x |
| Swansea St Thomas | 2 | 202.02x |
| Arkendale | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Bilton Cum Harrogate | 1 | 52.08x |
| Bristol St James St Paul | 1 | 27.03x |
| Ellon | 1 | 138.89x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 3.15x |
| Hornchurch | 1 | 181.82x |
| Keighley | 1 | 16.75x |
| Leeds | 1 | 3.16x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 4.81x |
| Romford | 1 | 56.82x |
| Runcorn | 1 | 34.72x |
| St Anne Soho London | 1 | 30.96x |
| Tilehurst | 1 | 116.28x |
| West Ham | 1 | 4.06x |
| Wolverhampton | 1 | 6.81x |
| York All Sts North | 1 | 357.14x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sharper 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 Sharper 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 Sharper households.
FAQ
In 1881, 58 people were recorded with the Sharper surname. That placed it at #25,428 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 30 in 2016. That gives Sharper a modern rank of #35,997.
A surname derived from the word "sharp," potentially referring to someone with keen intellect or skill.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sharper 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.