NameCensus.

UK surname

Stopford

An English surname originating from a place name referring to a "stopford" or road barrier.

In the 1881 census there were 633 people recorded with the Stopford surname, ranking it #5,604 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 534, ranked #9,515, down from #5,604 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Manchester and Ashton-under-Lyne. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bournemouth, Stockport and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stopford is 766 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 15.6%.

1881 census count

633

Ranked #5,604

Modern count

534

2016, ranked #9,515

Peak year

1901

766 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stopford had 633 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,604 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 534 in 2016, ranked #9,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 766 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Stopford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stopford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stopford 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 454 #5,427
1861 historical 428 #6,002
1881 historical 633 #5,604
1891 historical 687 #5,701
1901 historical 766 #5,842
1911 historical 694 #6,121
1997 modern 606 #8,087
1998 modern 631 #8,095
1999 modern 630 #8,160
2000 modern 617 #8,267
2001 modern 601 #8,290
2002 modern 607 #8,387
2003 modern 602 #8,313
2004 modern 597 #8,375
2005 modern 578 #8,495
2006 modern 560 #8,706
2007 modern 547 #8,941
2008 modern 553 #8,924
2009 modern 563 #8,999
2010 modern 588 #8,923
2011 modern 570 #9,019
2012 modern 521 #9,589
2013 modern 540 #9,483
2014 modern 534 #9,613
2015 modern 540 #9,465
2016 modern 534 #9,515

Geography

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Where Stopfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Manchester and Ashton-under-Lyne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bournemouth, Stockport, Kirklees, Stroud and Manchester. 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 Manchester Lancashire
2 Ashton-under-Lyne Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bournemouth 018 Bournemouth
2 Stockport 012 Stockport
3 Kirklees 049 Kirklees
4 Stroud 003 Stroud
5 Manchester 015 Manchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stopford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stopford

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Stopford, 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 Stopford surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Stopford 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, Stopford 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

Stopford 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

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

Meaning and origin of Stopford

The surname Stopford originated in England, specifically in the county of Cheshire. It is believed to have emerged in the late 12th or early 13th century, derived from the Old English words "stopp" meaning a stump or post, and "ford" referring to a shallow river crossing.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Stopford name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Cheshire from 1260, where a Robert de Stopford is listed as a landowner in the area. This suggests that the family had already established itself in the region by that time.

The Stopford name is also associated with the historic township of Stopford in Cheshire, which likely took its name from the same linguistic roots. This connection to a specific place further reinforces the name's origins in that part of England.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named William de Stopford was recorded as serving as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Wigan in 1324 and 1325. This early appearance of the name in official records underscores its longevity and significance within English history.

During the 15th century, the Stopford family maintained a presence in Cheshire, with records indicating that a John Stopford held lands in the area in 1459. This continuity suggests that the family had established itself as a respected local lineage over several generations.

One of the most prominent individuals bearing the Stopford name was Sir Robert Stopford (1768-1847), a British naval officer who played a significant role in the Napoleonic Wars. He achieved the rank of Admiral and was also a Member of Parliament for Ipswich from 1835 to 1837.

Another notable figure was Sir Montagu Stopford (1892-1971), a British Army officer who served in both World Wars and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his military service. He later became the Governor of Malta from 1949 to 1953.

The Stopford surname has also been associated with several places and placenames throughout England, such as Stopford Hall in Cheshire, Stopford Brook in Derbyshire, and the former Stopford Manor in Yorkshire, reflecting the family's historical presence and influence across various regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stopford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stopford 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 420 Stopfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.71x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 420 5.71x
Cheshire 78 5.70x
Middlesex 35 0.57x
Yorkshire 33 0.54x
Surrey 24 0.80x
Derbyshire 9 0.93x
Staffordshire 9 0.43x
Northamptonshire 6 1.03x
Buckinghamshire 4 1.07x
Warwickshire 4 0.26x
Worcestershire 4 0.49x
Royal Navy 3 4.06x
Hampshire 2 0.16x
Kent 1 0.05x
Lincolnshire 1 0.10x
Oxfordshire 1 0.26x
Somerset 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Denton in Lancashire leads with 62 Stopfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 380.60x.

Place Total Index
Denton 62 380.60x
Ashton Under Lyne 48 29.88x
Gorton 47 68.03x
Droylsden 32 133.44x
Oldham 29 12.22x
Preston 20 10.17x
Hyde 19 47.09x
Newton 19 33.54x
Haughton 16 149.25x
Bradford 14 40.70x
Castleton 14 19.07x
Dukinfield 14 22.16x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 13 22.74x
Manchester 13 3.93x
St George Hanover 13 16.08x
Newton In Ashton Under 10 74.13x
Bootle Cum Linacre 9 15.42x
Chorlton On Medlock 9 7.71x
Wolverhampton 9 5.60x
Beswick 8 42.55x
Bramhall 8 141.34x
Chadderton 8 22.27x
Richmond 8 18.92x
Cheetham 7 12.77x
North Meols 7 9.73x
Reigate Foreign 7 21.42x
Saddleworth 7 14.78x
Stockport 7 9.95x
Tintwistle 7 95.76x
Upholland 7 74.31x
Heap 6 15.39x
Stansfield 6 26.56x
Buxton 5 60.90x
Farington 5 116.82x
Royton 5 22.24x
Rusholme 5 25.51x
Tichmarsh 5 255.10x
Worsley 5 11.04x
Atherstone 4 50.13x
Dudley 4 4.07x
Monks Coppenhall 4 7.75x
Openshaw 4 11.62x
Princes Risborough 4 79.68x
St Luke London 4 4.03x
Bowling 3 4.93x
Broughton In Salford 3 4.46x
Clerkenwell London 3 2.05x
Crompton 3 14.33x
Croydon 3 1.79x
Glossop Dale 3 6.61x
Islington London 3 0.50x
Newington 3 1.31x
Royal Navy 3 4.75x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 2.41x
St Pancras London 3 0.60x
Altrincham 2 8.37x
Blackrod 2 21.91x
Great Boughton 2 42.46x
Hampton London 2 19.65x
Hulme 2 1.30x
Liverpool 2 0.45x
Macclesfield 2 3.29x
St Gilesin Fields 2 55.40x
St Marylebone London 2 0.60x
Wigan 2 1.95x
Withington 2 8.45x
Acton 1 2.75x
Alverstoke 1 2.18x
Brereton Cum Smethwick 1 76.92x
Deptford St Paul 1 0.61x
Fulshaw 1 39.68x
Halifax 1 1.11x
Nether Alderley 1 82.64x
Portsea 1 0.40x
Salford 1 0.46x
Sheffield 1 0.51x
Shevington 1 29.76x
Stoke Newington London 1 2.07x
Thurlstone 1 16.53x
Westminster St 1 4.38x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 52
Sarah 31
Elizabeth 30
Ann 18
Jane 17
Alice 16
Ellen 12
Martha 12
Emma 10
Hannah 7
Annie 6
Eliza 6
Louisa 4
Maria 4
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Charlotte 3
Clara 3
Eleanor 3
Harriet 3
Lucy 3
Nancy 3
Selina 3
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Annette 2
Bertha 2
Betty 2
Eda 2
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Emily 2
Esther 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Lilly 2
Margaret 2
May 2
Rachel 2
Rebecca 2
Ruth 2
Sophia 2
Susannah 2
Edna 1
Eesther 1
Elena 1
Elisabeth 1
Horatio 1
Isabella 1
Thistler 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 46
William 32
John 31
Joseph 18
Samuel 16
Thomas 12
Robert 11
Alfred 8
Walter 8
Charles 7
Joshua 7
Edward 6
Abraham 5
Edwin 5
Arthur 4
Ernest 4
George 4
Henry 4
Frank 3
Fred 3
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Thos. 3
Albert 2
Cephas 2
Francis 2
Herbert 2
Ira 2
Joe 2
Leigh 2
Moses 2
Ralph 2
Richard 2
Benjm.H. 1
Christopher 1
Cyril 1
Daniel 1
Edna 1
Frederic 1
Galvin 1
Geo. 1
Geo.H. 1
Geo.Hy. 1
Gerald 1
Jas.Wm. 1
Jno. 1
Jonathon 1
Keble 1
Levi 1
Lionel 1

FAQ

Stopford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stopford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 633 people were recorded with the Stopford surname. That placed it at #5,604 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stopford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 534 in 2016. That gives Stopford a modern rank of #9,515.

What does the Stopford surname mean?

An English surname originating from a place name referring to a "stopford" or road barrier.

What does the Stopford map show?

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