NameCensus.

UK surname

Stimpson

Derived from the personal name "Stephen" combined with the diminutive suffix "-son," indicating "son of Stephen."

In the 1881 census there were 1,347 people recorded with the Stimpson surname, ranking it #3,040 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,102, ranked #3,075, down from #3,040 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Abingdon St Helen, Abingdon St Nicholas, London parishes and Peterborough St John the Baptist. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Holland, South Norfolk and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stimpson is 2,318 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.1%.

1881 census count

1,347

Ranked #3,040

Modern count

2,102

2016, ranked #3,075

Peak year

1999

2,318 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stimpson had 1,347 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,040 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,102 in 2016, ranked #3,075.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,935 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Stimpson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stimpson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stimpson 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 905 #3,039
1861 historical 539 #4,868
1881 historical 1,347 #3,040
1891 historical 1,216 #3,534
1901 historical 1,752 #2,962
1911 historical 1,935 #2,566
1997 modern 2,125 #2,905
1998 modern 2,263 #2,848
1999 modern 2,318 #2,806
2000 modern 2,309 #2,794
2001 modern 2,233 #2,827
2002 modern 2,271 #2,839
2003 modern 2,193 #2,869
2004 modern 2,210 #2,856
2005 modern 2,120 #2,923
2006 modern 2,120 #2,926
2007 modern 2,120 #2,956
2008 modern 2,127 #2,970
2009 modern 2,175 #2,983
2010 modern 2,241 #2,966
2011 modern 2,213 #2,959
2012 modern 2,130 #3,005
2013 modern 2,175 #2,996
2014 modern 2,163 #3,036
2015 modern 2,138 #3,036
2016 modern 2,102 #3,075

Geography

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Where Stimpsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Abingdon St Helen, Abingdon St Nicholas, London parishes, Peterborough St John the Baptist and Marcham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Holland, South Norfolk, Central Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire and Vale of White Horse. 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 Abingdon St Helen, Abingdon St Nicholas Berkshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Peterborough St John the Baptist Northamptonshire
5 Marcham Berkshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Holland 011 South Holland
2 South Norfolk 010 South Norfolk
3 Central Bedfordshire 010 Central Bedfordshire
4 Huntingdonshire 003 Huntingdonshire
5 Vale of White Horse 003 Vale of White Horse

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stimpson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stimpson

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

Stimpson 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

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

Meaning and origin of Stimpson

The surname Stimpson is believed to have originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational surname, derived from a place name or a landmark feature. One theory suggests that the name is derived from the Old English word "stimp," meaning a stump or a tree trunk, combined with the suffix "-son," which denotes "son of." This would indicate that the name may have referred to someone who lived near a prominent stump or tree trunk.

Another possible origin of the name is that it could be a variation of the surname "Stevenson," which has a similar pronunciation. Stevenson is a well-known surname that originated in Scotland and is derived from the given name "Steven" or "Stevin," meaning "crown" or "garland."

Historical records indicate that the Stimpson surname appears in various medieval documents and records, although specific references are scarce. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1221, where a person named William Stimpson is mentioned.

In the 14th century, the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire, where a John Stimpson is listed as a taxpayer. This suggests that the Stimpson family had established themselves in the region by that time.

Notable individuals with the surname Stimpson include:

1. William Stimpson (1832-1872), an American naturalist and zoologist known for his contributions to the study of marine invertebrates. 2. Henry Adolphus Stimpson (1837-1892), an English Anglican bishop who served as the Bishop of Huron in Canada. 3. Katharine Stimpson (born 1936), an American feminist scholar and academic who has written extensively on women's studies and gender issues. 4. Edwin Stimpson (1888-1971), an American actor and theater director who had a successful career on Broadway and in Hollywood films. 5. Reverend John Stimpson (1820-1891), an English clergyman and author who wrote several books on religious subjects.

While the Stimpson surname is not among the most common surnames, it has a long history and can be traced back to various parts of England, particularly in the regions of Gloucestershire and Cambridgeshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stimpson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stimpson 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. Norfolk leads with 290 Stimpsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.40x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 290 14.40x
Middlesex 172 1.31x
Berkshire 151 15.36x
Yorkshire 112 0.86x
Suffolk 79 4.95x
Surrey 72 1.13x
Cambridgeshire 51 6.15x
Bedfordshire 49 7.22x
Nottinghamshire 43 2.44x
Lincolnshire 40 1.91x
Northamptonshire 38 3.08x
Hertfordshire 33 3.65x
Kent 32 0.72x
Huntingdonshire 24 9.23x
Warwickshire 22 0.67x
Buckinghamshire 21 2.65x
Staffordshire 20 0.45x
Rutland 19 19.75x
Leicestershire 11 0.76x
Northumberland 11 0.56x
Oxfordshire 10 1.24x
Glamorgan 9 0.39x
Lancashire 7 0.05x
Essex 6 0.23x
Durham 5 0.13x
Hampshire 5 0.19x
Somerset 4 0.19x
Derbyshire 3 0.15x
Sussex 2 0.09x
Cheshire 1 0.03x
Devon 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Abingdon St Helen in Berkshire leads with 32 Stimpsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 111.30x.

Place Total Index
Abingdon St Helen 32 111.30x
Marcham 31 878.19x
St Pancras London 30 2.84x
Lambeth 23 2.01x
Beccles 19 73.99x
East Dereham 19 74.66x
Chelsea London 17 4.31x
Cromer 17 237.43x
Islington London 17 1.34x
Pudsey 16 23.06x
Standon 16 172.23x
Dunstable 15 71.98x
Old Newton 15 488.60x
Battersea 14 2.90x
Langford 14 251.35x
Lewisham 14 5.87x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 13 35.93x
Garford 13 849.67x
Skegby 13 120.15x
Brightside Bierlow 12 4.71x
Clophill 12 241.45x
St George In East 12 13.47x
Wacton 12 1142.86x
Whinburgh 12 1188.12x
St Swithin Lincoln 11 33.40x
Woodbridge 11 53.92x
Aston 10 1.10x
Langley 10 724.64x
Newington 10 2.07x
Southwark St George Martyr 10 3.79x
Walsoken 10 82.58x
Wolverton 10 61.01x
Bethnal Green London 9 1.58x
Bromley London 9 3.12x
Cardiff St John 9 12.08x
Fletton 9 108.30x
Ingham 9 439.02x
Norwich St Lawrence 9 327.27x
Nottingham St Mary 9 1.97x
Tipton 9 6.65x
Wiggenhall St German 9 378.15x
Boughton 8 754.72x
Burnham Thorpe 8 503.14x
Eriswell 8 404.04x
Guisbrough 8 28.20x
Hanslope 8 112.36x
Hitchin 8 19.63x
Holme 8 666.67x
Langham 8 261.44x
Loddon 8 154.44x
Moulton St Michael 8 496.89x
Necton 8 224.72x
Scarning 8 267.56x
St Marylebone London 8 1.14x
Aldeby 7 243.06x
Beeston With Bittering 7 309.73x
Cannock 7 9.07x
Cropwell Butler 7 289.26x
Edgbaston 7 6.83x
Elton 7 192.31x
Forncett St Peter 7 252.71x
Kensington London 7 0.96x
Leeds 7 0.95x
Middlesbrough 7 4.14x
Mile End Old Town 7 3.39x
Northampton St Sepulchre 7 11.17x
Peterborough 7 7.85x
Sheffield 7 1.69x
Shoreditch London 7 1.23x
St Andrewthe Less 7 7.38x
Swinton In Rotherham 7 20.39x
Tilehurst 7 35.23x
Whitefriars Precinct 7 334.93x
Woodstone 7 170.32x
Fulham London 6 3.16x
Fyfield 6 397.35x
Great Chesterford 6 146.70x
Morton On Hill 6 923.08x
St Martin Lincoln 6 30.86x
Wallsend 6 9.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 77
Elizabeth 53
Sarah 51
Alice 31
Emma 28
Ann 27
Ellen 24
Annie 21
Jane 19
Eliza 18
Hannah 15
Emily 12
Martha 12
Harriet 11
Caroline 10
Charlotte 10
Catherine 9
Harriett 9
Susan 9
Ada 8
Clara 8
Edith 8
Louisa 8
Agnes 7
Fanny 7
Florence 7
Kate 7
Margaret 7
Maria 6
Rose 6
Anne 5
Laura 5
Lucy 5
Sophia 5
Anna 4
Gertrude 4
Jessie 4
Lizzie 4
Maud 4
Amelia 3
Amy 3
Elizth. 3
Esther 3
Frances 3
Lily 3
Naomi 3
Rachel 3
Rebecca 3
Lydia 2
M.A. 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 84
John 67
George 62
James 36
Charles 27
Thomas 26
Henry 24
Arthur 19
Frederick 19
Robert 18
Joseph 17
Samuel 17
Alfred 16
Walter 15
Edward 14
Richard 11
Albert 10
Harry 8
Stephen 8
Benjamin 7
Fredk. 6
Fredrick 6
Frank 5
Herbert 5
Edwin 4
Wm. 4
Barnard 3
Chas. 3
Elijah 3
Ernest 3
Geo. 3
Jesse 3
Robt. 3
Tom 3
Andrew 2
Bennet 2
Brice 2
Daniel 2
Ed. 2
Edmund 2
Fred 2
Fredick 2
Horace 2
Infant 2
Jonathan 2
Josiah 2
Lennard 2
Leonard 2
Sydney 2
Willm. 2

FAQ

Stimpson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stimpson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,347 people were recorded with the Stimpson surname. That placed it at #3,040 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stimpson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,102 in 2016. That gives Stimpson a modern rank of #3,075.

What does the Stimpson surname mean?

Derived from the personal name "Stephen" combined with the diminutive suffix "-son," indicating "son of Stephen."

What does the Stimpson map show?

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