NameCensus.

UK surname

Stapleford

A surname denoting someone from Stapleford, a place name derived from Old English meaning "staplewood ford".

In the 1881 census there were 167 people recorded with the Stapleford surname, ranking it #14,443 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 237, ranked #17,418, down from #14,443 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dalby, Little, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and St Werburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North West Leicestershire, Melton and Tendring.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stapleford is 272 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.9%.

1881 census count

167

Ranked #14,443

Modern count

237

2016, ranked #17,418

Peak year

2011

272 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stapleford had 167 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,443 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 237 in 2016, ranked #17,418.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 241 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Stapleford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stapleford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stapleford 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 100 #17,164
1861 historical 138 #16,365
1881 historical 167 #14,443
1891 historical 215 #14,155
1901 historical 235 #13,662
1911 historical 241 #13,229
1997 modern 254 #15,111
1998 modern 251 #15,631
1999 modern 257 #15,506
2000 modern 250 #15,741
2001 modern 246 #15,684
2002 modern 260 #15,415
2003 modern 249 #15,653
2004 modern 249 #15,739
2005 modern 234 #16,388
2006 modern 235 #16,439
2007 modern 244 #16,186
2008 modern 247 #16,205
2009 modern 263 #15,843
2010 modern 268 #15,978
2011 modern 272 #15,653
2012 modern 264 #15,904
2013 modern 269 #15,963
2014 modern 258 #16,554
2015 modern 252 #16,705
2016 modern 237 #17,418

Geography

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Where Staplefords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dalby, Little, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, St Werburgh, Calne, Bowood, Blackland, Calstone Withington and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North West Leicestershire, Melton, Tendring and West Somerset. 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 Dalby, Little Leicestershire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 St Werburgh Derbyshire
4 Calne, Bowood, Blackland, Calstone Withington Wiltshire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North West Leicestershire 011 North West Leicestershire
2 Melton 001 Melton
3 Melton 005 Melton
4 Tendring 001 Tendring
5 West Somerset 002 West Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stapleford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stapleford

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Stapleford is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Stapleford 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

Stapleford falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Stapleford is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Stapleford

The surname Stapleford originates from England, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is a locational surname, derived from the place names of Stapleford, which can be found in various counties across England, including Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, and Wiltshire.

The name Stapleford is believed to have originated from the Old English words "stapol" and "ford," meaning "post" or "stake" and "ford" or "river crossing," respectively. This combination suggests that the name referred to a ford or river crossing marked by stakes or posts, likely indicating a settlement near such a location.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Stapleford can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented landowners and properties throughout England after the Norman Conquest. The entry refers to a place called "Stapelforde" in Nottinghamshire, indicating the presence of the name in that region during the 11th century.

Among the notable individuals bearing the Stapleford surname throughout history is Sir John Stapleford, a 14th-century English politician and landowner. He served as a Member of Parliament for Wiltshire in 1363 and held significant estates in the county.

Another prominent figure was Walter Stapleford, born in 1510, who was a renowned English clergyman and scholar. He served as the Bishop of Exeter from 1548 until his death in 1559, and is remembered for his contributions to the English Reformation.

In the 17th century, Nicholas Stapleford (1581-1637) was an English clergyman and author, best known for his work "A Discourse on the Dignity and Importance of the Clergy" published in 1625.

Moving forward, John Stapleford (1735-1808) was a notable English lawyer and judge who served as a Baron of the Exchequer from 1798 until his retirement in 1806.

Finally, one cannot overlook the achievements of Sir William Stapleford (1804-1888), a British Army officer who served in the Crimean War and later became the Governor of the Ionian Islands from 1862 to 1864.

These examples illustrate the longstanding presence and significance of the Stapleford surname throughout English history, spanning various professions and periods, from medieval landowners to clergymen, authors, and military figures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stapleford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stapleford 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. Leicestershire leads with 56 Staplefords recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.82x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 56 30.82x
Hampshire 32 9.53x
Wiltshire 21 14.49x
Nottinghamshire 11 4.98x
Somerset 11 4.17x
Middlesex 8 0.49x
Berkshire 6 4.88x
Rutland 6 49.88x
Staffordshire 6 1.08x
Surrey 4 0.50x
Derbyshire 3 1.17x
Sussex 2 0.72x
Kent 1 0.18x
Lancashire 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. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 32 Staplefords recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.62x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 32 48.62x
Ab Kettleby 26 20000.00x
Calne 14 469.80x
Leicester St Margaret 10 22.57x
Grimston 7 7777.78x
Horninglow 6 229.89x
Walcot 6 42.70x
Wilford 6 967.74x
Childrey 5 1724.14x
Lyncombe Widcombe 5 72.36x
South Luffenham 5 2631.58x
Dalby Little 4 4444.44x
Oadby 4 412.37x
Cotgrave 3 652.17x
Hasland 3 114.94x
Hillmarton 3 833.33x
Islington London 3 1.89x
Newington 3 4.96x
St George Hanover 3 14.03x
Winterbourne Bassett 3 2000.00x
Asfordby 1 333.33x
Brighton 1 1.79x
Broad Hinton 1 322.58x
Camberwell 1 0.96x
Clawson 1 238.10x
Cuckfield 1 35.84x
Gillingham 1 8.67x
Hornsey 1 4.83x
Long Whatton 1 256.41x
Loughborough 1 12.14x
Normanton On Wolds 1 2500.00x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.75x
Oakham Lordshold 1 79.37x
Reading St Giles 1 8.29x
Thorpe Satchville 1 1111.11x
Westminster St John 1 5.01x
Withington 1 15.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Sarah 9
Elizabeth 7
Ann 6
Charlotte 5
Emily 4
Emma 4
Alice 3
Ellen 3
Ada 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Lizzie 2
Louisa 2
Martha 2
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Anna 1
Catherine 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Frances 1
Harriett 1
Jannette 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Marianne 1
Rebecca 1
Susannah 1
Wilmeth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 13
George 7
Henry 7
James 6
Joseph 5
William 4
Ernest 3
Frederick 3
Herbert 3
Thomas 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Daniel 2
Edmund 2
Edward 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Charles 1
Edwin 1
G.D. 1
Harry 1
Matilda 1
Morrison 1
Nelson 1
Payne 1
Peter 1
Saml. 1
Sidney 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Stapleford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stapleford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 167 people were recorded with the Stapleford surname. That placed it at #14,443 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stapleford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 237 in 2016. That gives Stapleford a modern rank of #17,418.

What does the Stapleford surname mean?

A surname denoting someone from Stapleford, a place name derived from Old English meaning "staplewood ford".

What does the Stapleford map show?

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