UK surname
A locality surname referring to someone from a thorpe or small village.
In the 1881 census there were 48 people recorded with the Thrope surname, ranking it #26,869 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5, ranked #38,264, down from #26,869 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St James Clerkenwell, Manchester and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Thrope is 160 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 89.6%.
1881 census count
48
Ranked #26,869
Modern count
5
2016, ranked #38,264
Peak year
1891
160 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Thrope surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Thrope 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 | 57 | #23,092 |
| 1861 | historical | 122 | #18,036 |
| 1881 | historical | 48 | #26,869 |
| 1891 | historical | 160 | #17,555 |
| 1901 | historical | 56 | #27,952 |
| 1911 | historical | 47 | #28,110 |
| 1997 | modern | 15 | #36,409 |
| 1998 | modern | 19 | #36,009 |
| 1999 | modern | 17 | #36,261 |
| 2000 | modern | 9 | #37,119 |
| 2001 | modern | 7 | #37,293 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 6 | #37,586 |
| 2004 | modern | 7 | #37,496 |
| 2005 | modern | 8 | #37,422 |
| 2006 | modern | 9 | #37,345 |
| 2007 | modern | 8 | #37,572 |
| 2008 | modern | 9 | #37,473 |
| 2009 | modern | 9 | #37,573 |
| 2010 | modern | 10 | #37,517 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 7 | #37,854 |
| 2013 | modern | 6 | #38,049 |
| 2014 | modern | 5 | #38,228 |
| 2015 | modern | 5 | #38,221 |
| 2016 | modern | 5 | #38,264 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St James Clerkenwell, Manchester, Lambeth, St Marylebone and Bolton-le-Moors. 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 | St James Clerkenwell | London (Central Districts) |
| 2 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Bolton-le-Moors | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Thrope 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 Thrope, 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 Thrope surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Thrope 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, Thrope 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 Thrope is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Thrope, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Thrope has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "þrop," which means a hamlet or small village. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived in a small settlement or hamlet.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1196, where a person named Robertus de Thrope was mentioned. This indicates that the surname was already in use by the late 12th century.
In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a certain William de Throp was listed. This spelling variation, "Throp," was common in medieval times and reflects the changes in pronunciation over time.
Thrope is also linked to certain place names in England, such as Thorpe, which is found in various locations across the country. These place names likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over the centuries.
Historically, there have been several notable individuals who bore the surname Thrope. One such person was John Thrope, a 14th-century English philosopher and theologian who was active in the early 1300s. Another was Sir William Thrope, a 15th-century knight and landowner who lived in Nottinghamshire between 1420 and 1492.
In the 16th century, a prominent figure named Thomas Thrope was a member of the clergy and served as the Bishop of Norwich from 1536 to 1545. Around the same time, a merchant named Richard Thrope was involved in trade with the Netherlands and is mentioned in various records from the 1520s.
Moving into the 17th century, we find records of a playwright and poet named Edward Thrope, who was born in 1613 and is known for his works such as "The Merry Wives of Windsor" and "The Taming of the Shrew."
These examples demonstrate the long history and varied backgrounds of individuals who have carried the surname Thrope over the centuries. While the name may have originated from humble beginnings in small villages, it has been borne by individuals from diverse walks of life, including clergy, nobility, merchants, and intellectuals.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Thrope 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. Durham leads with 11 Thropes recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.24x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 11 | 8.24x |
| Lancashire | 10 | 1.88x |
| Yorkshire | 9 | 2.02x |
| Surrey | 6 | 2.74x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.89x |
| Northumberland | 3 | 4.49x |
| Devon | 1 | 1.07x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.09x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 2.88x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 6 Thropes recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.33x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lambeth | 6 | 15.33x |
| Lamesley | 6 | 833.33x |
| Flixton | 5 | 1851.85x |
| Whitton | 5 | 4545.45x |
| Wortley In Bramley | 5 | 142.05x |
| Mile End Old Town | 4 | 56.50x |
| Pendleton In Salford | 4 | 63.09x |
| Elswick | 3 | 56.29x |
| Gomersal | 3 | 144.23x |
| Bradford | 1 | 9.29x |
| Middle Greenock | 1 | 105.26x |
| Romsey Extra | 1 | 181.82x |
| Salcombe Regis | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Wigan | 1 | 13.44x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Thrope 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 Thrope 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 Thrope households.
FAQ
In 1881, 48 people were recorded with the Thrope surname. That placed it at #26,869 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 5 in 2016. That gives Thrope a modern rank of #38,264.
A locality surname referring to someone from a thorpe or small village.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Thrope 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.