UK surname
A habitational surname originating from places named Sharpe or Sharpes.
In the 1881 census there were 62 people recorded with the Sharpes surname, ranking it #24,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 96, ranked #31,684, down from #24,843 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Whitchurch, Malpas and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sharpes is 107 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.8%.
1881 census count
62
Ranked #24,843
Modern count
96
2016, ranked #31,684
Peak year
1861
107 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Sharpes surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Sharpes 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 | 31 | #27,734 |
| 1861 | historical | 107 | #20,008 |
| 1881 | historical | 62 | #24,843 |
| 1891 | historical | 76 | #27,290 |
| 1901 | historical | 69 | #26,499 |
| 1911 | historical | 99 | #22,850 |
| 1997 | modern | 93 | #27,932 |
| 1998 | modern | 92 | #28,680 |
| 1999 | modern | 95 | #28,465 |
| 2000 | modern | 95 | #28,441 |
| 2001 | modern | 93 | #28,382 |
| 2002 | modern | 92 | #29,040 |
| 2003 | modern | 89 | #29,380 |
| 2004 | modern | 88 | #29,758 |
| 2005 | modern | 87 | #29,966 |
| 2006 | modern | 85 | #30,556 |
| 2007 | modern | 76 | #31,966 |
| 2008 | modern | 83 | #31,483 |
| 2009 | modern | 87 | #31,489 |
| 2010 | modern | 88 | #31,875 |
| 2011 | modern | 89 | #31,659 |
| 2012 | modern | 94 | #31,258 |
| 2013 | modern | 97 | #31,239 |
| 2014 | modern | 97 | #31,518 |
| 2015 | modern | 95 | #31,749 |
| 2016 | modern | 96 | #31,684 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Whitchurch, Malpas, Manchester, Lambeth and Great Budworth (Witton with Twambrook), Davenham (Leftwich). 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 | Whitchurch | Shropshire |
| 2 | Malpas | Cheshire |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Great Budworth (Witton with Twambrook), Davenham (Leftwich) | Cheshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Sharpes 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 Sharpes, 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 Sharpes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Sharpes 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, Sharpes 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 Sharpes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Sharpes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Sharpes has its origins in England, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is a locational name derived from places like Sharpe's Green in Buckinghamshire or Sharp Hill in Gloucestershire. The name is thought to have originated from the Old English word "scearp," meaning "sharp" or "pointed," likely referring to a geographical feature or a distinguishing characteristic of an ancestor.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Scharpe." This entry suggests that the name was already well-established in certain parts of England by the late 11th century.
During the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Scharpe," "Sharppe," and "Scharp." Records from this period include William Scharpe, who was mentioned in the Curia Regis Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1208, and Richard Sharppe, recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1230.
In the 14th century, the surname began to take on its modern spelling, with instances like John Sharpes appearing in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire in 1317.
Notable individuals with the Sharpes surname include:
1. Abraham Sharpes (1653-1742), an English Quaker minister and author. 2. Ezekiel Sharpe (1640-1707), an English Puritan minister and author. 3. Samuel Sharpe (1799-1881), an English Egyptologist and translator of the Bible. 4. Lewis Sharpe (1824-1906), an American Civil War Union Army officer. 5. Alfred Sharpe (1853-1935), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire.
While the Sharpes surname has been present in various parts of England for centuries, it has also spread to other regions through migration and has gained recognition in different fields, from religious ministry to academia and sports.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sharpes 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. Middlesex leads with 16 Sharpes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.65x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 16 | 2.65x |
| Cheshire | 14 | 10.49x |
| Shropshire | 11 | 21.05x |
| Surrey | 11 | 3.73x |
| Lancashire | 8 | 1.11x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 2.68x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 1.87x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Baddiley in Cheshire leads with 10 Sharpes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 16666.67x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Baddiley | 10 | 16666.67x |
| Whitchurch | 9 | 891.09x |
| Hackney London | 8 | 23.60x |
| Paddington London | 8 | 35.97x |
| Clapham | 7 | 92.59x |
| Lambeth | 4 | 7.59x |
| Chorley | 2 | 49.63x |
| Chorley In Nantwich | 2 | 6666.67x |
| Oswaldtwistle | 2 | 78.74x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 1 | 8.77x |
| Hurleston | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Manchester | 1 | 3.10x |
| Oxford St Thomas | 1 | 57.47x |
| Preshute | 1 | 303.03x |
| Rodington | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Salford | 1 | 4.74x |
| St Martin | 1 | 172.41x |
| Wilpshire | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Worleston | 1 | 1428.57x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sharpes 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 Sharpes 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 Sharpes households.
FAQ
In 1881, 62 people were recorded with the Sharpes surname. That placed it at #24,843 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 96 in 2016. That gives Sharpes a modern rank of #31,684.
A habitational surname originating from places named Sharpe or Sharpes.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sharpes 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.