NameCensus.

UK surname

Stirrup

A surname referring to an occupational surname related to stirrups or stirrup-making.

In the 1881 census there were 451 people recorded with the Stirrup surname, ranking it #7,313 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 608, ranked #8,623, down from #7,313 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Winwick, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Keppochhill, Warrington and Winchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stirrup is 736 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.8%.

1881 census count

451

Ranked #7,313

Modern count

608

2016, ranked #8,623

Peak year

1998

736 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stirrup had 451 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,313 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 608 in 2016, ranked #8,623.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 733 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Stirrup surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stirrup surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stirrup 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 254 #8,683
1861 historical 209 #11,596
1881 historical 451 #7,313
1891 historical 490 #7,550
1901 historical 655 #6,599
1911 historical 733 #5,853
1997 modern 725 #7,045
1998 modern 736 #7,212
1999 modern 721 #7,354
2000 modern 723 #7,319
2001 modern 710 #7,286
2002 modern 708 #7,444
2003 modern 686 #7,505
2004 modern 698 #7,421
2005 modern 675 #7,556
2006 modern 654 #7,766
2007 modern 667 #7,718
2008 modern 686 #7,600
2009 modern 682 #7,806
2010 modern 683 #7,933
2011 modern 649 #8,164
2012 modern 638 #8,175
2013 modern 627 #8,440
2014 modern 625 #8,533
2015 modern 612 #8,606
2016 modern 608 #8,623

Geography

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Where Stirrups are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Winwick, Manchester, Liverpool, Leigh and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Keppochhill, Warrington, Winchester and Wigan. 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 Winwick Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Leigh Lancashire
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Keppochhill Glasgow City
2 Warrington 020 Warrington
3 Winchester 010 Winchester
4 Wigan 032 Wigan
5 Wigan 036 Wigan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stirrup

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stirrup

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Stirrup is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Stirrup 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

Stirrup falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Stirrup is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Stirrup

The surname "Stirrup" is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "stigrap," which referred to the metal loop that forms part of the saddle and enables the rider to mount and dismount a horse easily.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century, when it appeared in various forms such as "Stirap," "Stirop," and "Stirrop." It is likely that the name initially referred to someone who made or repaired stirrups, as occupational surnames were common during that time.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a record of landowners and taxpayers in England, there is a mention of a "Willelmus Stiropp" in Oxfordshire. This is one of the earliest documented uses of the name in its modern spelling.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Stirrup was John Stirrup, a merchant and landowner who lived in Yorkshire in the 14th century. Records show that he owned properties in the village of Barnoldswick, near the border with Lancashire.

Another notable figure was Sir Walter Stirrup, a knight who fought in the Wars of the Roses during the 15th century. He was a loyal supporter of the House of Lancaster and was knighted by King Henry VI in 1459 for his bravery in battle.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various records from different parts of England, including the parish registers of Gloucester, where a Thomas Stirrup was listed as a yeoman farmer in 1573.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Stirrup was Captain John Stirrup, an English naval officer who served during the reign of King Charles II in the late 17th century. He was known for his exploits in the Anglo-Dutch Wars and was awarded a knighthood for his service.

Another notable figure was William Stirrup, a successful businessman and landowner who lived in Lincolnshire in the 18th century. He was a prominent member of the local gentry and served as a justice of the peace for many years.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stirrup families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stirrup 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. Lancashire leads with 358 Stirrups recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.86x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 358 6.86x
Middlesex 29 0.66x
Warwickshire 16 1.44x
Yorkshire 12 0.28x
Cheshire 11 1.13x
Anglesey 4 5.13x
Kent 4 0.27x
Durham 3 0.23x
Lanarkshire 3 0.21x
Shropshire 3 0.79x
Glamorgan 2 0.26x
Midlothian 2 0.34x
Staffordshire 2 0.13x
Hampshire 1 0.11x
Surrey 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. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 39 Stirrups recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.30x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 39 12.30x
Haydock 30 333.70x
Warrington 28 45.25x
Manchester 22 9.37x
Blackburn 21 15.12x
Pennington In Leigh 20 199.60x
Bedford 17 155.68x
Eccleston In Prescot 15 57.23x
Walton Le Dale 15 106.91x
Everton 13 7.81x
Parr 13 69.59x
Birmingham 12 3.25x
Pendleton In Salford 12 19.30x
St George Hanover 10 17.42x
Ecclesall Bierlow 9 10.15x
Salford 9 5.86x
Halliwell 8 42.11x
Kirkdale 8 9.11x
Much Woolton 8 112.99x
Hindley 7 31.45x
Little Bolton 6 8.94x
Little Hulton 6 69.44x
Newton In Makerfield 6 37.52x
Bromley London 5 5.17x
Dukinfield 5 11.14x
Latchford 5 77.52x
North Meols 5 9.78x
Oldham 5 2.97x
Royton 5 31.31x
Widnes 5 13.28x
Golborne 4 58.82x
Milverton 4 123.08x
Newton 4 9.94x
Plumstead 4 8.00x
Atherton 3 15.79x
Bradford 3 12.28x
Dodworth 3 66.23x
Govan 3 0.85x
Llangefni 3 127.12x
Lytham 3 37.64x
Madeley 3 21.52x
St George Martyr 3 40.43x
St Pancras London 3 0.85x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 0.84x
Great Bolton 2 2.89x
Harborne 2 4.20x
Islington London 2 0.47x
Over Hulton 2 135.14x
Stretford 2 6.96x
Swansea Town 2 3.18x
Tanfield 2 12.85x
West Derby 2 1.31x
Altrincham 1 5.89x
Ardwick 1 2.12x
Caterham 1 10.55x
Chelsea London 1 0.75x
Chiswick 1 4.16x
Clerkenwell London 1 0.96x
Heap 1 3.61x
Holyhead 1 6.88x
Hound 1 16.34x
Hulme 1 0.92x
Iveston 1 16.58x
Kensington London 1 0.41x
Levenshulme 1 18.62x
Pendlebury 1 9.07x
St Marylebone London 1 0.43x
Wavertree 1 5.98x
Westminster St James 1 2.21x
Whiston 1 24.57x
Whittingham 1 43.48x
Windle 1 3.40x
Worsley 1 3.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 46
Elizabeth 15
Ann 14
Ellen 13
Alice 12
Sarah 12
Margaret 11
Hannah 10
Jane 10
Emily 7
Martha 5
Catherine 4
Elizth. 4
Caroline 3
Eliza 3
Harriet 3
Maria 3
Agnes 2
Annie 2
Emma 2
Esther 2
Florence 2
Isabella 2
Louisa 2
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Celina 1
Ealean 1
Edith 1
Edna 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Ella 1
Emmeline 1
Ester 1
Fanny 1
Florance 1
Frances 1
James 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Lavinia 1
Lettice 1
Lily 1
Margret 1
Matilda 1
Myah 1
Nancy 1
Pelina 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 37
William 30
Thomas 29
James 21
Henry 9
Peter 9
Charles 7
Richard 7
Edward 6
Frederick 5
Joseph 5
Samuel 5
Arthur 4
Hugh 4
Robert 4
Walter 3
Albert 2
George 2
Ralph 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Adam 1
Alan 1
Alban 1
Albriny 1
Alfred 1
Allen 1
Benjamin 1
Benjm. 1
Chas. 1
Devereux 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Hanley 1
Herbert 1
Mark 1
Oliver 1
Reginald 1
River 1
Robt. 1
Robt.J. 1
Stephen 1
Wilifred 1
Willm. 1
Wilson 1

FAQ

Stirrup surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stirrup surname in 1881?

In 1881, 451 people were recorded with the Stirrup surname. That placed it at #7,313 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stirrup surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 608 in 2016. That gives Stirrup a modern rank of #8,623.

What does the Stirrup surname mean?

A surname referring to an occupational surname related to stirrups or stirrup-making.

What does the Stirrup map show?

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