NameCensus.

UK surname

Staples

An occupational surname referring to someone who sold staple goods like wool and other commodities.

In the 1881 census there were 2,835 people recorded with the Staples surname, ranking it #1,574 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,915, ranked #1,727, down from #1,574 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Boston, Nottingham and Winchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Staples is 4,248 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.1%.

1881 census count

2,835

Ranked #1,574

Modern count

3,915

2016, ranked #1,727

Peak year

1999

4,248 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Staples had 2,835 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,574 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,915 in 2016, ranked #1,727.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,052 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Staples surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Staples surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Staples 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 1,955 #1,482
1861 historical 1,828 #1,582
1881 historical 2,835 #1,574
1891 historical 3,164 #1,493
1901 historical 3,650 #1,537
1911 historical 4,052 #1,266
1997 modern 4,103 #1,582
1998 modern 4,227 #1,597
1999 modern 4,248 #1,597
2000 modern 4,241 #1,584
2001 modern 4,146 #1,581
2002 modern 4,176 #1,610
2003 modern 4,063 #1,623
2004 modern 4,039 #1,631
2005 modern 3,930 #1,654
2006 modern 3,919 #1,663
2007 modern 3,946 #1,668
2008 modern 3,948 #1,677
2009 modern 4,009 #1,696
2010 modern 4,105 #1,687
2011 modern 4,049 #1,691
2012 modern 3,893 #1,729
2013 modern 3,968 #1,723
2014 modern 4,014 #1,720
2015 modern 3,940 #1,728
2016 modern 3,915 #1,727

Geography

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Where Staples' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Boston, Nottingham, Winchester, West Lindsey and Charnwood. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Boston 004 Boston
2 Nottingham 035 Nottingham
3 Winchester 006 Winchester
4 West Lindsey 002 West Lindsey
5 Charnwood 008 Charnwood

Forenames

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First names often paired with Staples

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Staples

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

Staples is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Staples falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Staples 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 Staples, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Staples

The surname Staples is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "stapol," which referred to a post, pillar, or stake. It likely originated as a descriptive name for someone who lived near a prominent post or marker, or possibly as an occupational name for a maker or seller of stakes or posts.

The earliest known record of the Staples surname dates back to the late 12th century, where it appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1199 as "Thomas de Stapeles." This suggests that the name may have originated in the northern English county of Yorkshire.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Stapel," "Stapele," and "Stapeles," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common during that period.

The Staples surname is also found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census-like record of landholders in England at the time. This suggests that the name was well-established by the late 13th century.

One notable early bearer of the Staples surname was Sir Richard Staples (c. 1460-1528), a prominent English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1494-1495. He was also a member of the influential Worshipful Company of Mercers.

Another significant figure was Walter Staples (c. 1505-1558), an English Protestant reformer and bishop who played a role in the English Reformation under King Edward VI. He served as Bishop of Meath in Ireland from 1550 until his death.

In the 17th century, the name Staples appeared in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Gloucestershire. One notable individual from this period was Sir John Staples (1631-1689), an English politician and landowner who served as Member of Parliament for Taunton.

The name Staples has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Staples Hill in Bristol and Staples Road in Loughborough, further reinforcing its connection to the Old English word "stapol."

Another prominent bearer of the Staples surname was Sir Robert Staples (1675-1738), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for Westminster. He was also a director of the Bank of England and the East India Company.

Throughout history, the Staples surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, politicians, clergymen, and landowners, reflecting the diverse origins and roles associated with this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Staples families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Staples 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. Middlesex leads with 505 Staples' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.81x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 505 1.81x
Kent 320 3.36x
Surrey 288 2.11x
Lincolnshire 245 5.48x
Leicestershire 130 4.20x
Wiltshire 122 4.94x
Nottinghamshire 114 3.03x
Yorkshire 107 0.39x
Somerset 106 2.36x
Hampshire 101 1.76x
Gloucestershire 81 1.48x
Warwickshire 69 0.98x
Derbyshire 61 1.39x
Sussex 60 1.27x
Essex 54 0.98x
Dorset 53 2.89x
Lancashire 40 0.12x
Staffordshire 38 0.40x
Worcestershire 32 0.88x
Durham 30 0.36x
Cambridgeshire 25 1.41x
Northamptonshire 25 0.95x
Berkshire 24 1.14x
Buckinghamshire 23 1.36x
Channel Islands 23 2.78x
Herefordshire 23 2.01x
Devon 22 0.38x
Hertfordshire 21 1.09x
Anglesey 16 3.23x
Cornwall 16 0.51x
Cheshire 15 0.24x
Rutland 12 5.85x
Suffolk 12 0.35x
Midlothian 9 0.24x
Bedfordshire 8 0.55x
Lanarkshire 8 0.09x
Monmouthshire 4 0.20x
Royal Navy 4 1.20x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.08x
Denbighshire 2 0.19x
Norfolk 2 0.05x
Northumberland 2 0.05x
Oxfordshire 2 0.12x
Shropshire 2 0.08x
Ayrshire 1 0.05x
Brecknockshire 1 0.18x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.09x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.08x
Fife 1 0.06x
Glamorgan 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Croydon in Surrey leads with 53 Staples' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.01x.

Place Total Index
Croydon 53 7.01x
Knockholt 43 565.05x
Leicester St Margaret 43 5.69x
St Pancras London 42 1.87x
Aston 40 2.06x
St Luke London 39 8.70x
Islington London 38 1.40x
Newington 34 3.29x
Hackney London 32 2.04x
Kensington London 32 2.06x
Lambeth 32 1.31x
St Marylebone London 31 2.08x
Paddington London 29 2.82x
Camberwell 28 1.57x
Portsea 27 2.40x
Waddington 26 318.24x
Walsall Foreign 26 5.34x
Clerkenwell London 25 3.79x
Fulham London 24 5.92x
St George Hanover 23 6.31x
Frieston 22 207.74x
Fisherton Anger 21 45.90x
Deptford St Paul 20 2.72x
West Ham 20 1.64x
Willesden 20 7.59x
Hammersmith London 19 2.76x
Bedminster 18 4.26x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 18 3.49x
Lewisham 18 3.54x
Sellinge 18 289.86x
Wimbledon 18 11.77x
Wing 18 114.94x
Leicester All Sts 17 27.94x
Chelsfield 16 175.63x
Hampstead London 16 3.68x
Battersea 15 1.46x
Great Grimsby 15 5.29x
St Peter Port 15 9.79x
Streatham 15 7.23x
Bermondsey 14 1.68x
Bromley 14 9.63x
Kennington 14 197.46x
Lyncombe Widcombe 14 11.89x
Soham 14 36.76x
Surfleet 14 150.70x
Sutton Bonnington 14 145.53x
Birmingham 13 0.55x
Brighton 13 1.37x
Devizes St Mary 13 52.04x
Peterborough 13 6.83x
Walthamstow 13 6.55x
West Stockwith 13 204.72x
Beaumaris 12 65.75x
Chevening 12 115.61x
Kenn 12 434.78x
Rotherhithe 12 3.48x
Barrow Upon Soar 11 42.99x
Bridgewater 11 9.01x
Castle Donnington 11 42.80x
Castle Eaton 11 355.99x
Clifton 11 3.97x
Nottingham St Mary 11 1.13x
Potterne 11 99.28x
West Barkwith 11 964.91x
Whitchurch Canonicorum 11 107.84x
Chaldon Herring 10 312.50x
Crook Billy Row 10 9.39x
Louth 10 9.76x
Newchurch 10 3.69x
Sheffield 10 1.13x
Southampton All Sts 10 10.17x
Spittlegate 10 16.18x
Sutton At Hone 10 50.56x
Bethnal Green London 9 0.74x
Bowling 9 3.28x
Branston 9 65.74x
Burton Upon Trent 9 4.08x
Shoreditch London 9 0.74x
Tanworth 9 48.31x
Westminster St John 9 2.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 177
Sarah 116
Elizabeth 94
Alice 58
Emma 58
Jane 55
Eliza 54
Ann 44
Ellen 42
Annie 37
Harriet 30
Emily 28
Fanny 27
Louisa 26
Edith 23
Florence 23
Kate 21
Charlotte 20
Ada 19
Martha 19
Susan 19
Caroline 17
Rose 17
Catherine 15
Hannah 15
Margaret 15
Maria 15
Matilda 15
Harriett 14
Anne 13
Amelia 12
Rebecca 12
Frances 10
Sophia 10
Clara 8
Lucy 8
Amy 7
Julia 7
Lydia 7
Minnie 7
Ethel 6
Laura 6
Nellie 6
Anna 5
Beatrice 5
Betsy 5
Gertrude 5
Isabella 5
Jessie 5
Rachel 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 182
John 162
George 121
Thomas 75
James 71
Charles 62
Henry 50
Edward 42
Frederick 40
Joseph 39
Arthur 37
Richard 27
Alfred 26
Albert 25
Robert 25
Harry 21
Samuel 19
Walter 19
Herbert 16
Edwin 15
Francis 13
Frank 12
Ernest 10
Geo. 10
Wm. 10
Fred 8
Fredrick 8
David 7
Edmund 7
Christopher 6
Frederic 5
Fredk. 5
Thos. 5
Benjamin 4
Luke 4
Tom 4
Abraham 3
Chas. 3
Isaac 3
Jno. 3
Reuben 3
Sidney 3
Stephen 3
Daniel 2
Earnest 2
Leonard 2
Llewellyn 2
Mark 2
Morris 2
Moses 2

FAQ

Staples surname: questions and answers

How common was the Staples surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,835 people were recorded with the Staples surname. That placed it at #1,574 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Staples surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,915 in 2016. That gives Staples a modern rank of #1,727.

What does the Staples surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who sold staple goods like wool and other commodities.

What does the Staples map show?

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