NameCensus.

UK surname

Steeples

A name referring to a builder or resident of a steeple or church tower.

In the 1881 census there were 253 people recorded with the Steeples surname, ranking it #10,980 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 494, ranked #10,067, up from #10,980 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Carsington, St Werburgh and Wakefield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Amber Valley, High Peak and Derbyshire Dales.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Steeples is 537 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 95.3%.

1881 census count

253

Ranked #10,980

Modern count

494

2016, ranked #10,067

Peak year

2011

537 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Steeples had 253 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,980 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 494 in 2016, ranked #10,067.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 486 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Steeples surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Steeples surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Steeples 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 121 #15,049
1861 historical 103 #20,650
1881 historical 253 #10,980
1891 historical 321 #10,520
1901 historical 452 #8,676
1911 historical 486 #8,008
1997 modern 507 #9,204
1998 modern 509 #9,462
1999 modern 515 #9,451
2000 modern 525 #9,284
2001 modern 507 #9,364
2002 modern 531 #9,227
2003 modern 522 #9,204
2004 modern 522 #9,218
2005 modern 511 #9,297
2006 modern 497 #9,518
2007 modern 500 #9,562
2008 modern 502 #9,601
2009 modern 523 #9,530
2010 modern 534 #9,581
2011 modern 537 #9,460
2012 modern 517 #9,644
2013 modern 517 #9,766
2014 modern 516 #9,862
2015 modern 502 #9,972
2016 modern 494 #10,067

Geography

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Where Steeples' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Carsington, St Werburgh, Wakefield, Wirksworth 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 Amber Valley, High Peak and Derbyshire Dales. 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 Carsington Derbyshire
2 St Werburgh Derbyshire
3 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Wirksworth Derbyshire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Amber Valley 005 Amber Valley
2 High Peak 010 High Peak
3 Amber Valley 017 Amber Valley
4 Derbyshire Dales 008 Derbyshire Dales
5 Derbyshire Dales 010 Derbyshire Dales

Forenames

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First names often paired with Steeples

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Steeples

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Steeples, 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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Steeples surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Steeples household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Steeples is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Steeples is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Steeples falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Steeples is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Steeples

The surname Steeples is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "stēpel" or "stapol," meaning a steep hill or promontory. It is believed to have originated as a topographic name, given to individuals who lived near a prominent hill or steeple-like formation.

The name can be traced back to the early medieval period in England, with some of the earliest recorded instances appearing in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 12th century. For example, a Richard de Stepeles is mentioned in the rolls from 1195.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various forms, such as Stepel, Stepill, and Steppel, reflecting the variations in spelling common during that time. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John de Stepel, who is recorded in the Curia Regis Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1220.

The surname Steeples is also found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it is recorded as Steppel. This document provides valuable insights into the distribution of the name in different regions of England during the Middle Ages.

As the name evolved, it took on various forms, such as Steeple, Steepill, and Steppill, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal variations of the time. In the 14th century, the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk, where a William Stepill is recorded in 1327.

Notable individuals with the surname Steeples include Sir Richard Steeples (1510-1578), a prominent English merchant and diplomat who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1570. Another notable bearer of the name was John Steeples (1620-1687), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious texts.

In the 17th century, the surname Steeples is found in various parish records across England, indicating its widespread distribution. One example is Thomas Steeples, who was baptized in St. Giles, Cripplegate, London, in 1634.

Other historical figures bearing the surname Steeples include Sir William Steeples (1678-1752), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the 18th century, and Charles Steeples (1802-1876), an English architect known for his work in the Gothic Revival style.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Steeples families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Steeples 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. Derbyshire leads with 144 Steeples' recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.27x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 144 37.27x
Yorkshire 36 1.47x
Leicestershire 23 8.41x
Lancashire 15 0.51x
Midlothian 9 2.72x
Middlesex 7 0.28x
Nottinghamshire 6 1.80x
Cheshire 5 0.92x
Gloucestershire 3 0.62x
Warwickshire 3 0.48x
Kent 1 0.12x
Wiltshire 1 0.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Carsington in Derbyshire leads with 26 Steeples' recorded in 1881 and an index of 13000.00x.

Place Total Index
Carsington 26 13000.00x
Leicester St Margaret 21 31.47x
Wirksworth 21 598.29x
Parwich 15 3750.00x
Pentrich 15 691.24x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 12 105.63x
Sheffield 11 14.13x
Normanton 8 245.40x
Inveresk 7 78.21x
Heage 6 294.12x
Hopton 6 6000.00x
Great Bolton 5 12.89x
Hoyland Nether 5 83.33x
Idridgehay Alton 5 2380.95x
Kirk Ireton 5 1219.51x
Middletonby Wirksworth 5 1315.79x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 4 45.05x
Bradley 4 1739.13x
Codnor Loscoe 4 130.72x
Macclesfield 4 16.52x
Paddington London 4 4.41x
Ripley 4 83.68x
Selston 4 107.53x
Tibshelf 4 210.53x
Alfreton 3 25.55x
Birmingham 3 1.45x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 6.45x
Little Bolton 3 7.97x
Matlock 3 57.80x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 1.50x
Hulland Ward 2 606.06x
Hulme 2 3.27x
Littleover 2 303.03x
Mangotsfield 2 41.49x
Alderwasley 1 303.03x
Barnsley 1 3.96x
Batley 1 4.30x
Belgrave 1 16.18x
Bollington In 1 20.62x
Bristol St George 1 4.47x
Broughton In Salford 1 3.73x
Canterbury St Margaret 1 217.39x
Chelsea London 1 1.34x
Chesterfield 1 6.91x
Gorton 1 3.63x
Hackney London 1 0.72x
Hartington Upper 1 54.35x
Heanor 1 17.30x
Holloway 1 208.33x
Leicester St Mary 1 4.52x
Measham 1 70.42x
Melksham 1 26.39x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.16x
Skircoat 1 10.37x
Snenton 1 7.65x
St Marylebone London 1 0.76x
Wentworth 1 66.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Hannah 13
Sarah 9
Ann 8
Elizabeth 8
Annie 5
Emma 5
Fanny 5
Alice 4
Eliza 4
Harriett 4
Martha 4
Caroline 3
Ellen 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Maria 2
Ada 1
Barbara 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Dolly 1
Dorothy 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Harreit 1
Harriet 1
Ilda 1
Jane 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Lillian 1
Louisa 1
Maud 1
Phoebe 1
Rosa 1
Rosanna 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 24
John 14
Thomas 12
James 11
George 9
Stephen 6
Samuel 5
Alfred 4
Joseph 4
Charles 3
Frederick 3
Henry 3
Arthur 2
Ernest 2
German 2
Herbert 2
Robert 2
Walter 2
Allen 1
Benjamin 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Harry 1
J.T. 1
Joe 1
Josiah 1
Matthew 1

FAQ

Steeples surname: questions and answers

How common was the Steeples surname in 1881?

In 1881, 253 people were recorded with the Steeples surname. That placed it at #10,980 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Steeples surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 494 in 2016. That gives Steeples a modern rank of #10,067.

What does the Steeples surname mean?

A name referring to a builder or resident of a steeple or church tower.

What does the Steeples map show?

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