NameCensus.

UK surname

Sharps

A surname referring to someone who was skilled with or traded sharp objects like knives or swords.

In the 1881 census there were 198 people recorded with the Sharps surname, ranking it #12,922 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 257, ranked #16,485, down from #12,922 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Swindon, Lyddington, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Vale of White Horse, Swindon and Flintshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sharps is 393 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.8%.

1881 census count

198

Ranked #12,922

Modern count

257

2016, ranked #16,485

Peak year

1911

393 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sharps had 198 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,922 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 257 in 2016, ranked #16,485.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 393 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Sharps surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sharps surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Sharps 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 156 #12,552
1861 historical 298 #8,485
1881 historical 198 #12,922
1891 historical 381 #9,213
1901 historical 286 #12,029
1911 historical 393 #9,408
1997 modern 268 #14,585
1998 modern 279 #14,592
1999 modern 286 #14,412
2000 modern 282 #14,532
2001 modern 278 #14,444
2002 modern 287 #14,402
2003 modern 281 #14,443
2004 modern 277 #14,644
2005 modern 273 #14,708
2006 modern 273 #14,804
2007 modern 282 #14,618
2008 modern 279 #14,860
2009 modern 282 #15,059
2010 modern 286 #15,231
2011 modern 274 #15,571
2012 modern 263 #15,954
2013 modern 272 #15,836
2014 modern 279 #15,661
2015 modern 261 #16,318
2016 modern 257 #16,485

Geography

Back to top

Where Sharps' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Swindon, Lyddington, London parishes, Manchester, Great Budworth (Witton with Twambrook), Davenham (Leftwich) and Highworth, Stanton Fitzwarren, Blunsdon St Andrew. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Vale of White Horse, Swindon, Flintshire, Doncaster and Cheshire West and Chester. 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 Swindon, Lyddington Wiltshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Great Budworth (Witton with Twambrook), Davenham (Leftwich) Cheshire
5 Highworth, Stanton Fitzwarren, Blunsdon St Andrew Wiltshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Vale of White Horse 009 Vale of White Horse
2 Swindon 008 Swindon
3 Flintshire 010 Flintshire
4 Doncaster 035 Doncaster
5 Cheshire West and Chester 004 Cheshire West and Chester

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Sharps

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Sharps

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Sharps is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sharps is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sharps falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sharps is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Sharps

The surname Sharps is an English name that originated in the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "scearp," meaning "sharp" or "keen." The name likely referred to someone who possessed these qualities or perhaps worked as a blade sharpener or cutler.

In medieval England, the Sharps surname was prevalent in counties like Derbyshire, Yorkshire, and Lincolnshire. One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1191, which mentions a Robert Scharpe.

Another notable historical reference is the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a Hugo Sharpe residing in Oxfordshire. These ancient records provide valuable insight into the name's early origins and spellings, such as "Scharpe" and "Sharpe."

The Domesday Book of 1086, while not mentioning the surname directly, does record place names like Sharpenham in Bedfordshire and Sharpenore in Oxfordshire, which may have influenced the development of the Sharps surname.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Sharps surname was John Sharps, a member of the English Parliament who represented Coventry in 1410 and 1413. Another notable figure was Richard Sharps, a 15th-century English composer and musician known for his sacred music.

In the 16th century, Abraham Sharps (1542-1630) was a renowned English mathematician and inventor who made significant contributions to the design of mathematical instruments, such as the sector and the "Sharps" geometrical square.

During the English Civil War, John Sharps (1594-1663) was a prominent military leader who served as a colonel in the Parliamentarian army under Oliver Cromwell. He played a crucial role in several battles, including the Battle of Naseby in 1645.

In the 18th century, Samuel Sharps (1700-1768) was a respected English architect known for his work on several churches and country houses, including the famous Holkham Hall in Norfolk.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who carried the Sharps surname throughout history, highlighting the name's long-standing presence and significance in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Sharps families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sharps 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. Cheshire leads with 72 Sharps' recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.89x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 72 16.89x
Lancashire 33 1.44x
Wiltshire 24 14.05x
Berkshire 18 12.42x
Surrey 12 1.28x
Oxfordshire 10 8.38x
Shropshire 10 5.99x
Sussex 4 1.23x
Lanarkshire 3 0.48x
Staffordshire 3 0.46x
Durham 2 0.35x
Anglesey 1 2.92x
Gloucestershire 1 0.26x
Kent 1 0.15x
Lincolnshire 1 0.32x
Northumberland 1 0.35x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.38x
Yorkshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barnton in Cheshire leads with 13 Sharps' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1274.51x.

Place Total Index
Barnton 13 1274.51x
Castle Northwich 12 851.06x
Manchester 11 10.67x
Swindon 11 83.02x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 9 237.47x
Burland 8 1860.47x
Camberwell 8 6.48x
Crowton 8 2580.65x
Oldham 8 10.82x
Withington 8 4705.88x
Aston Cote 7 1489.36x
Highworth 7 321.10x
Abingdon St Nicholas 6 1500.00x
Buckland 6 1250.00x
Ness 6 2400.00x
Brightwaltham 5 1785.71x
Hulme 5 10.45x
Tranmere 5 31.91x
Bradford 4 37.28x
Cricklade St Mary 4 1481.48x
Lambeth 4 2.38x
Liscard 4 52.08x
Birkenhead 3 8.83x
Royton 3 42.80x
Winchelsea St Thomas 3 731.71x
Wolverhampton 3 5.98x
Devizes St James 2 88.11x
Glasgow 2 1.80x
Stranton 2 10.34x
Weston In Runcorn 2 180.18x
Badgington 1 833.33x
Cambusnethan 1 7.21x
Colton 1 84.03x
Eastbourne 1 6.68x
Gillingham 1 7.36x
Holy Trinity 1 2.17x
Holyhead 1 15.67x
Hurleston 1 1250.00x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.49x
Oxford St Giles 1 17.57x
Preston On Wild Moors 1 666.67x
Salford 1 1.48x
Sanford On Thames 1 476.19x
Scartho 1 666.67x
Shawbury 1 156.25x
Shifford 1 2000.00x
Speen 1 42.19x
Throckley 1 126.58x
Winnington 1 212.77x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 18
Mary 9
Ann 7
Annie 5
Alice 3
Elizabeth 3
Ellen 3
Margaret 3
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Gertrude 2
Hannah 2
Martha 2
Maud 2
Sophia 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Annette 1
Anogie 1
Barbara 1
Betty 1
C. 1
Clara 1
Edna 1
Eleanor 1
Elinor 1
Elizebeth 1
Elsie 1
Elvina 1
Emelia 1
Emiley 1
Harriet 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lilian 1
Lucy 1
Maggie 1
May 1
Mildred 1
Milly 1
Nora 1
Susanna 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 13
William 13
George 9
John 8
Richard 6
Henry 4
Robert 4
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Francis 2
Herbert 2
James 2
Joseph 2
Ralph 2
Thos. 2
Alexander 1
Ambrose 1
Cornelius 1
David 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
H. 1
H.T. 1
Hugh 1
Lewis 1
Robt. 1
Robt.E. 1
S. 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Sharps surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sharps surname in 1881?

In 1881, 198 people were recorded with the Sharps surname. That placed it at #12,922 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sharps surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 257 in 2016. That gives Sharps a modern rank of #16,485.

What does the Sharps surname mean?

A surname referring to someone who was skilled with or traded sharp objects like knives or swords.

What does the Sharps map show?

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