UK surname
An English occupational surname referring to someone who played the harp or made harps.
In the 1881 census there were 26 people recorded with the Tharpe surname, ranking it #29,911 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12, ranked #37,385, down from #29,911 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Eccles and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tharpe is 155 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 53.8%.
1881 census count
26
Ranked #29,911
Modern count
12
2016, ranked #37,385
Peak year
1891
155 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Tharpe surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Tharpe surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 35 | #27,037 |
| 1861 | historical | 92 | #22,112 |
| 1881 | historical | 26 | #29,911 |
| 1891 | historical | 155 | #17,920 |
| 1901 | historical | 34 | #30,281 |
| 1911 | historical | 16 | #31,804 |
| 1997 | modern | 9 | #37,214 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 10 | #37,072 |
| 2000 | modern | 9 | #37,119 |
| 2001 | modern | 8 | #37,124 |
| 2002 | modern | 8 | #37,206 |
| 2003 | modern | 8 | #37,248 |
| 2004 | modern | 8 | #37,346 |
| 2005 | modern | 8 | #37,422 |
| 2006 | modern | 8 | #37,481 |
| 2007 | modern | 8 | #37,572 |
| 2008 | modern | 8 | #37,597 |
| 2009 | modern | 10 | #37,446 |
| 2010 | modern | 10 | #37,517 |
| 2011 | modern | 11 | #37,397 |
| 2012 | modern | 12 | #37,292 |
| 2013 | modern | 12 | #37,342 |
| 2014 | modern | 10 | #37,567 |
| 2015 | modern | 12 | #37,371 |
| 2016 | modern | 12 | #37,385 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Eccles, Lambeth, St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford and Tottenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | Eccles | Lancashire |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Tottenham | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Tharpe surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tharpe, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Tharpe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Tharpe household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Tharpe is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tharpe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Tharpe, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Tharpe is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "throp," which referred to a small village or hamlet. It's possible that the name was initially used to identify someone who lived in such a settlement.
In the Domesday Book, a survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, there are several references to places with names similar to Tharpe, such as Throp and Thropp. These entries suggest that the name was already in use at the time and may have been associated with specific locations.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the surname Tharpe was John Thorpe, a notable English architect and surveyor who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was responsible for designing several significant buildings, including the Banqueting House in London.
Another notable figure with the surname Tharpe was Sir Robert Thorpe, a prominent English judge who served as the Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 1356 to 1368. He played a crucial role in the legal and judicial systems of his time.
In the 18th century, William Tharpe (1735-1809) was a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War. He was involved in several significant naval battles and received recognition for his bravery and leadership.
The surname Tharpe has also been associated with several notable writers and artists. One example is Marcellus Tharpe (1855-1931), an American painter known for his landscapes and portraits, who was active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Another individual with the surname Tharpe was Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1915-1973), an influential American singer, songwriter, and guitarist who was a pioneer of rock and roll music. She is often referred to as the "Godmother of Rock and Roll" for her contributions to the genre.
While the surname Tharpe has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. Despite variations in spelling, such as Tharp and Thorp, the name's connection to the Old English word "throp" remains a significant part of its history and origin.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tharpe surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Kent leads with 17 Tharpes recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.65x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 17 | 19.65x |
| Buckinghamshire | 4 | 26.09x |
| Norfolk | 4 | 10.26x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.39x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Deptford St Paul in Kent leads with 8 Tharpes recorded in 1881 and an index of 119.94x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Deptford St Paul | 8 | 119.94x |
| Sturry | 5 | 5000.00x |
| Emneth | 4 | 4444.44x |
| Hoo | 4 | 3636.36x |
| Olney | 4 | 1904.76x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 30.21x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Tharpe surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Tharpe surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Tharpe households.
FAQ
In 1881, 26 people were recorded with the Tharpe surname. That placed it at #29,911 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 12 in 2016. That gives Tharpe a modern rank of #37,385.
An English occupational surname referring to someone who played the harp or made harps.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Tharpe bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.