NameCensus.

UK surname

Stamp

An occupational surname for a person who stamped or impressed official seals or coins.

In the 1881 census there were 2,196 people recorded with the Stamp surname, ranking it #2,021 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,049, ranked #2,211, down from #2,021 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Somerset, East Devon and Sedgemoor.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stamp is 3,280 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.8%.

1881 census count

2,196

Ranked #2,021

Modern count

3,049

2016, ranked #2,211

Peak year

1998

3,280 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stamp had 2,196 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,021 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,049 in 2016, ranked #2,211.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,903 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Stamp surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stamp surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stamp 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 1,501 #1,914
1861 historical 1,469 #1,929
1881 historical 2,196 #2,021
1891 historical 2,397 #1,964
1901 historical 2,631 #2,096
1911 historical 2,903 #1,796
1997 modern 3,092 #2,073
1998 modern 3,280 #2,040
1999 modern 3,273 #2,066
2000 modern 3,241 #2,073
2001 modern 3,155 #2,084
2002 modern 3,194 #2,104
2003 modern 3,155 #2,081
2004 modern 3,101 #2,117
2005 modern 3,021 #2,142
2006 modern 3,020 #2,151
2007 modern 3,047 #2,148
2008 modern 3,040 #2,157
2009 modern 3,081 #2,190
2010 modern 3,146 #2,197
2011 modern 3,114 #2,191
2012 modern 3,071 #2,177
2013 modern 3,110 #2,186
2014 modern 3,104 #2,198
2015 modern 3,083 #2,188
2016 modern 3,049 #2,211

Geography

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Where Stamps are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes, Gateshead, Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints and Barton St Peter and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Somerset, East Devon, Sedgemoor and Kingston upon Hull. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints Hertfordshire
5 Barton St Peter and St Mary Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Somerset 004 South Somerset
2 East Devon 003 East Devon
3 Sedgemoor 012 Sedgemoor
4 Kingston upon Hull 031 Kingston upon Hull, City of
5 East Devon 002 East Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stamp

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stamp

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Stamp is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Stamp is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Stamp 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 Stamp 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 Stamp, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Stamp

The surname STAMP is of English origin, derived from an occupational name for a maker or dealer in stamps, which were used for marking or sealing documents and other materials. The name likely emerged in the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century, when the use of stamps and seals became more widespread.

The name STAMP is believed to have originated in the East Midlands region of England, particularly in counties such as Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. It may have derived from the Old English word "stampe" or the Middle English "stampe," meaning "to stamp" or "to imprint."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname STAMP can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire from 1273, which mention a person named William le Stampour. The "le" prefix indicated the individual's occupation as a stamper or stamp maker.

In the 14th century, the Hundredorum Rolls of Lincolnshire (1273-1276) listed a person named John Stamp, indicating that the surname had become established by that time. The nearby county of Yorkshire also had references to individuals with the surname STAMP in records from the late 13th and early 14th centuries.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname STAMP was William Stamp (c. 1440-1499), a Catholic priest and reformer from Yorkshire. He played a role in the early years of the Protestant Reformation in England and was known for his opposition to the doctrine of purgatory.

Another noteworthy individual was John Stamp (1588-1642), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Annan during the reign of King Charles I. He was involved in the English Civil War and supported the Parliamentarian cause.

In the 18th century, Sir Thomas Stamp (1698-1768) was a prominent English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1767. He was also a Member of Parliament for several constituencies, including Ipswich and Colchester.

In the literary world, William Wood Stamp (1837-1912) was an English writer and journalist who authored several novels and works of non-fiction, including "The Autobiography of a Buccaneer" and "The Admirable Crichton."

Finally, Sir Josiah Stamp (1880-1941) was a renowned British economist, civil servant, and industrialist. He served as the director of the Bank of England and played a significant role in shaping economic policies during the interwar period.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stamp families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stamp 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. Lincolnshire leads with 450 Stamps recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.10x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 450 13.10x
Yorkshire 322 1.51x
Middlesex 264 1.23x
Devon 210 4.70x
Durham 154 2.41x
Surrey 91 0.87x
Hampshire 78 1.77x
Somerset 78 2.26x
Lancashire 76 0.30x
Norfolk 72 2.18x
Sussex 50 1.38x
Gloucestershire 46 1.09x
Nottinghamshire 39 1.35x
Hertfordshire 34 2.30x
Northamptonshire 29 1.44x
Northumberland 29 0.91x
Staffordshire 29 0.40x
Warwickshire 24 0.44x
Kent 22 0.30x
Berkshire 14 0.87x
Dorset 14 0.99x
Glamorgan 13 0.35x
Oxfordshire 13 0.98x
Essex 12 0.28x
Derbyshire 9 0.27x
Cornwall 7 0.29x
Cheshire 6 0.13x
Royal Navy 6 2.34x
Monmouthshire 4 0.26x
Worcestershire 2 0.07x
Bedfordshire 1 0.09x
Channel Islands 1 0.16x
Midlothian 1 0.03x
Suffolk 1 0.04x
Wiltshire 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. Great Grimsby in Lincolnshire leads with 63 Stamps recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.90x.

Place Total Index
Great Grimsby 63 28.90x
Islington London 54 2.59x
Holy Trinity 37 7.23x
Lambeth 30 1.60x
Lyncombe Widcombe 29 32.03x
Woodbury 29 218.70x
Poplar London 28 6.91x
Pamber 27 529.41x
Darlington 24 9.73x
Louth 24 30.49x
St Pancras London 24 1.39x
Bishopwearmouth 22 4.01x
Wakefield 22 13.46x
Ware 22 51.84x
Barton St Peter 20 127.06x
Liverpool 20 1.29x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 19 9.58x
Turton 19 45.53x
Clarborough 18 83.14x
Goxhill 17 200.95x
Twerton 17 47.69x
Barton St Mary 16 92.86x
Clist Honiton 16 720.72x
East Halton 16 336.13x
Heigham 16 9.03x
Honiton 16 64.67x
Battersea 15 1.90x
Gateshead 15 3.14x
Eccleshill 14 27.03x
Hampstead London 14 4.18x
Ruswarp 14 59.12x
Shoreditch London 14 1.50x
Charmouth 13 282.61x
Cleatham 13 1547.62x
Dawdon 13 16.54x
Ryde 13 13.75x
St Helens 13 40.61x
St Marylebone London 13 1.13x
Taunton St Mary 13 20.48x
Aston 12 0.80x
Doncaster 12 7.72x
Exeter St Sidwell 12 11.72x
Horton In Bradford 12 3.61x
Westoe 12 3.31x
Garthorpe 11 266.34x
Newton By Toft 11 1746.03x
Scottow 11 338.46x
Wootton 11 258.22x
Barningham Winter 10 1315.79x
Broadwater 10 12.04x
Everton 10 1.23x
Kirton In Lindsey 10 73.48x
Limehouse London 10 4.24x
Littleham 10 30.59x
Lympston 10 125.16x
Plymouth St Andrew 10 2.90x
Sculcoates 10 2.96x
Scunthorpe 10 64.72x
Westminster St John 10 3.82x
Barton St Mary St Peter 9 141.29x
Basingstoke 9 17.77x
Cheltenham 9 2.77x
East Budleigh 9 42.71x
Frodingham 9 73.53x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 9 3.25x
Southcoates 9 7.62x
St George In East 9 6.16x
Wolverhampton 9 1.61x
York All Sts North 9 85.39x
Bethnal Green London 8 0.86x
Bray 8 16.89x
Caistor 8 58.52x
Kirmington 8 264.03x
Kyo 8 26.60x
Long Riston 8 295.20x
Saxby In Glanford Brigg 8 331.95x
South Elkington 8 305.34x
St Maryle Wigford 8 29.99x
Swansea Town 8 2.61x
West Bromwich 8 1.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 140
John 133
George 92
Thomas 74
James 58
Henry 51
Charles 50
Robert 46
Edward 35
Richard 24
Alfred 21
Arthur 21
Joseph 21
Albert 16
Ernest 12
Frederick 12
Walter 12
Wm. 11
David 10
Harry 9
Francis 8
Isaac 8
Frank 7
Fred 7
Geo. 7
Samuel 7
Edwin 6
Herbert 6
Ralph 5
Tom 5
Edmund 4
Fredrick 4
Robt. 4
Benjamin 3
Christopher 3
Jesse 3
Mark 3
Matthew 3
Thos. 3
A. 2
Chas. 2
Earnest 2
Frederic 2
Fredk. 2
Mathew 2
Paul 2
Percy 2
Philip 2
Reuben 2
Rowland 2

FAQ

Stamp surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stamp surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,196 people were recorded with the Stamp surname. That placed it at #2,021 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stamp surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,049 in 2016. That gives Stamp a modern rank of #2,211.

What does the Stamp surname mean?

An occupational surname for a person who stamped or impressed official seals or coins.

What does the Stamp map show?

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