NameCensus.

UK surname

Stemp

One of two possible transferred usages: a boundary marker or a variant of stamp (to crush or tread forcefully).

In the 1881 census there were 487 people recorded with the Stemp surname, ranking it #6,914 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 664, ranked #8,037, down from #6,914 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dorking, Abinger, Ockley, Wotton with Oakwood and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chichester, Westminster and Horsham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stemp is 900 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.3%.

1881 census count

487

Ranked #6,914

Modern count

664

2016, ranked #8,037

Peak year

1911

900 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stemp had 487 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,914 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 664 in 2016, ranked #8,037.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 900 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Stemp surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stemp surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stemp 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 222 #9,597
1861 historical 243 #10,116
1881 historical 487 #6,914
1891 historical 563 #6,744
1901 historical 769 #5,824
1911 historical 900 #4,953
1997 modern 747 #6,905
1998 modern 770 #6,968
1999 modern 779 #6,938
2000 modern 744 #7,145
2001 modern 722 #7,182
2002 modern 702 #7,492
2003 modern 677 #7,596
2004 modern 677 #7,607
2005 modern 677 #7,542
2006 modern 681 #7,534
2007 modern 686 #7,549
2008 modern 694 #7,538
2009 modern 697 #7,662
2010 modern 720 #7,612
2011 modern 704 #7,667
2012 modern 665 #7,926
2013 modern 678 #7,941
2014 modern 680 #7,962
2015 modern 668 #8,009
2016 modern 664 #8,037

Geography

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Where Stemps are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dorking, Abinger, Ockley, Wotton with Oakwood, London parishes, Dunsfold, Bramley, Shalford and Northchapel. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chichester, Westminster, Horsham and Northumberland. 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 Dorking Surrey
2 Abinger, Ockley, Wotton with Oakwood Surrey
3 London parishes London 3
4 Dunsfold, Bramley, Shalford Surrey
5 Northchapel Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chichester 005 Chichester
2 Westminster 007 Westminster
3 Chichester 004 Chichester
4 Horsham 010 Horsham
5 Northumberland 022 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stemp

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stemp

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

Stemp 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

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

Meaning and origin of Stemp

The surname Stemp is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the Old English words "stæmp" and "stempe," meaning "post" or "stump." It is believed to have first emerged in the regions of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire in England during the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Stempe" in the county of Buckinghamshire. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the area at the time of the Norman Conquest.

During the Middle Ages, variations of the name began to appear, such as "Stempp," "Stempe," and "Stemp." These slight spelling differences were common due to the inconsistencies in record-keeping and the influence of local dialects.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Stemp throughout history include John Stemp (c. 1520-1593), an English Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake for his religious beliefs during the reign of Queen Mary I. Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Stemp (1590-1653), a prominent lawyer and judge who served as the Recorder of Oxford.

In the 17th century, the Stemp family gained prominence in the village of Oddington, Oxfordshire. William Stemp (1645-1712) was a respected landowner and benefactor who donated funds for the construction of the Oddington School in 1688.

Moving into the 18th century, we find Richard Stemp (1710-1786), a renowned clockmaker from the town of Buckingham. His intricate timepieces were highly sought after and can still be found in various museums and private collections today.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Mary Stemp (1788-1865), a pioneering educator who established one of the first schools for girls in the city of Oxford. Her progressive methods and dedication to female education earned her widespread acclaim during her lifetime.

While the Stemp surname may not be among the most common in modern times, its rich history and connection to various notable figures throughout the centuries have left an indelible mark on the annals of English heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stemp families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stemp 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. Surrey leads with 269 Stemps recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.62x.

County Total Index
Surrey 269 11.62x
Sussex 81 10.11x
Kent 52 3.21x
Middlesex 40 0.84x
Lancashire 12 0.21x
Warwickshire 7 0.58x
Cambridgeshire 5 1.66x
Hampshire 5 0.51x
Hertfordshire 5 1.53x
Caernarfonshire 4 2.08x
Yorkshire 3 0.06x
Berkshire 1 0.28x
Cornwall 1 0.19x
Devon 1 0.10x
Oxfordshire 1 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cranleigh in Surrey leads with 39 Stemps recorded in 1881 and an index of 1150.44x.

Place Total Index
Cranleigh 39 1150.44x
Ewhurst 30 2068.97x
Croydon 25 19.46x
North Chapel 19 1472.87x
Stoke 19 173.99x
Wonersh 19 657.44x
Lambeth 16 3.86x
Sevenoaks 16 121.77x
Wisborough Green 14 520.45x
Kirdford 12 431.65x
Bramley 11 539.22x
Great Bookham 11 617.98x
Ealing 10 23.56x
Oldham 9 4.95x
West Wickham 9 573.25x
Abinger 8 416.67x
Dorking 8 51.48x
Walton On Thames 8 75.26x
Aston 7 2.12x
Brighton 7 4.33x
Dunsfold 7 555.56x
Epsom 7 62.06x
Kingston On Thames 7 12.59x
Brasted 6 285.71x
Newington 6 3.42x
Reigate Foreign 6 23.94x
St Anne Soho London 6 22.12x
St Pancras London 6 1.57x
Wotton 6 530.97x
Ashurst 5 833.33x
Guildford St Nicholas 5 122.25x
Higham 5 228.31x
Newdigate 5 462.96x
Otford 5 221.24x
Paddington London 5 2.86x
St Andrewthe Less 5 14.54x
Warnham 5 289.02x
Charlwood 4 180.18x
Eglwys Rhos 4 165.98x
Guildford Holy Trinity 4 90.70x
Lodsworth 4 360.36x
Slinfold 4 317.46x
Sundridge 4 148.15x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 2.44x
Hadlow 3 74.63x
Hatfield 3 45.18x
Horsham 3 19.28x
Hove 3 8.54x
Leeds 3 1.13x
Portsea 3 1.57x
Albury 2 94.79x
East Barnet 2 30.82x
Godalming 2 13.73x
Hunston 2 588.24x
Kensington London 2 0.76x
Leatherhead 2 34.48x
Rudgwick 2 109.29x
St Marylebone London 2 0.79x
Ventnor 2 21.60x
Whitechapel London 2 4.27x
Alfold 1 113.64x
Chatham 1 2.24x
Falmouth 1 5.25x
Fulham London 1 1.45x
Hambledon 1 40.82x
Hascombe 1 140.85x
Lee 1 4.25x
Ockley 1 98.04x
Plymouth Charles The 1 2.30x
Rainham 1 22.47x
Remenham 1 100.00x
Shalford 1 39.06x
Shere 1 35.71x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.05x
St Clement Danes 1 13.00x
St George Hanover 1 1.61x
St Paul Covent Garden 1 21.05x
Westminster St James 1 2.05x
Wiston 1 196.08x
Woolwich 1 1.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 23
Mary 21
Ellen 16
Alice 13
Emily 11
Eliza 9
Elizabeth 9
Emma 8
Annie 7
Charlotte 7
Harriet 6
Jane 6
Louisa 6
Edith 5
Anne 4
Caroline 4
Hannah 4
Rose 4
Susan 4
(NK) 3
Amy 3
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Lucy 3
Martha 3
Diana 2
Harriett 2
Julia 2
Maria 2
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Amey 1
Betsey 1
Eleanor 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Ethiopia 1
Faith 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
H. 1
Helena 1
Henrietta 1
Isabel 1
Jessie 1
Joanna 1
Kate 1
Leith 1
M. 1
Mara 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 31
George 26
Henry 21
William 20
John 14
Charles 13
Thomas 11
Albert 10
Alfred 9
Ernest 7
Frederick 7
Edward 6
Arthur 5
Stephen 5
Harry 4
Robert 4
Benjamin 3
David 3
Edwin 3
Jesse 3
Leonard 3
Walter 3
(NK) 2
Abraham 2
Alexander 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Job 2
Mark 2
Meshack 2
Michael 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Alick 1
Beadnell 1
Edgar 1
Ephram 1
Felix 1
Fred. 1
Geo. 1
Harvey 1
Infant 1
Joseph 1
Josias 1
Lewis 1
Maurice 1
Morris 1
Silas 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Stemp surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stemp surname in 1881?

In 1881, 487 people were recorded with the Stemp surname. That placed it at #6,914 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stemp surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 664 in 2016. That gives Stemp a modern rank of #8,037.

What does the Stemp surname mean?

One of two possible transferred usages: a boundary marker or a variant of stamp (to crush or tread forcefully).

What does the Stemp map show?

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