NameCensus.

UK surname

Topp

A surname of English origin, referring to someone who lived at the top of a hill or summit.

In the 1881 census there were 678 people recorded with the Topp surname, ranking it #5,310 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 789, ranked #6,999, down from #5,310 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Forgue, London parishes and Bedworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire West and Chester, Wiltshire and West Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Topp is 947 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.4%.

1881 census count

678

Ranked #5,310

Modern count

789

2016, ranked #6,999

Peak year

1901

947 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Topp had 678 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,310 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 789 in 2016, ranked #6,999.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 947 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Topp surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Topp surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Topp 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 479 #5,198
1861 historical 466 #5,573
1881 historical 678 #5,310
1891 historical 736 #5,392
1901 historical 947 #4,944
1911 historical 863 #5,145
1997 modern 898 #5,972
1998 modern 910 #6,106
1999 modern 908 #6,156
2000 modern 892 #6,215
2001 modern 870 #6,219
2002 modern 906 #6,168
2003 modern 867 #6,246
2004 modern 854 #6,328
2005 modern 826 #6,443
2006 modern 812 #6,534
2007 modern 822 #6,545
2008 modern 822 #6,589
2009 modern 828 #6,703
2010 modern 856 #6,652
2011 modern 828 #6,750
2012 modern 807 #6,791
2013 modern 811 #6,866
2014 modern 808 #6,936
2015 modern 795 #6,969
2016 modern 789 #6,999

Geography

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Where Topps are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Forgue, London parishes, Bedworth and Sturminster Newton Castle. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire West and Chester, Wiltshire and West Dorset. 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 Forgue Aberdeen
2 London parishes London 1
3 Bedworth Warwickshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Sturminster Newton Castle Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire West and Chester 046 Cheshire West and Chester
2 Wiltshire 026 Wiltshire
3 Wiltshire 037 Wiltshire
4 Wiltshire 054 Wiltshire
5 West Dorset 011 West Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Topp

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Topp

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Topp 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

Topp 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

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

Meaning and origin of Topp

The surname Topp is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "top" or "topp," which means "hilltop" or "summit." It is believed to have originated as a descriptive nickname for someone who lived on or near a hilltop or a prominent elevated location.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Topp can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there are entries for individuals with the surname Topp, such as William del Topp and Robert del Topp.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Topp was also found in various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1327, where a Richard atte Toppe is mentioned. The "atte" prefix was commonly used at the time to indicate a location or descriptive name.

One noteworthy individual bearing the surname Topp was Sir William Topp, a renowned English lawyer and judge who lived during the 16th century (c. 1512 - 1572). He served as a Justice of the King's Bench and played a significant role in legal matters during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent figure was Nicholas Topp, an English clergyman who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries (c. 1570 - 1640). He served as the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, and was a respected scholar and theologian of his time.

In the 17th century, the surname Topp was also found in various parts of Scotland, where it was sometimes spelled as "Tope" or "Topt." One notable Scottish individual with this surname was George Tope (c. 1630 - 1670), a merchant and burgess of Aberdeen.

The surname Topp has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Topp's Green in Hertfordshire and Topp's Farm in Lincolnshire. These place names likely originated from individuals or families bearing the surname Topp who resided in those areas.

Throughout history, the surname Topp has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including clergymen, lawyers, merchants, and landowners. While the surname may not be as common today as it once was, it remains a part of the rich tapestry of English surnames, with its origins rooted in the old descriptive naming practices of medieval times.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Topp families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Topp 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 85 Topps recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.07x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 85 1.07x
Dorset 80 18.27x
Aberdeenshire 73 11.81x
Hampshire 70 5.12x
Wiltshire 62 10.51x
Middlesex 55 0.82x
Surrey 52 1.60x
Warwickshire 43 2.56x
Banffshire 20 14.45x
Hertfordshire 17 3.70x
Midlothian 17 1.90x
Sussex 13 1.16x
Berkshire 12 2.40x
Channel Islands 12 6.07x
Leicestershire 9 1.22x
Worcestershire 7 0.80x
Angus 6 0.97x
Somerset 6 0.56x
Yorkshire 6 0.09x
Derbyshire 5 0.48x
Durham 5 0.25x
Staffordshire 5 0.22x
Gloucestershire 3 0.23x
Bedfordshire 2 0.58x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.47x
Devon 2 0.14x
Fife 2 0.51x
Northamptonshire 2 0.32x
Orkney 2 2.72x
Shropshire 2 0.35x
Brecknockshire 1 0.75x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.25x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.75x
Kent 1 0.04x
Lanarkshire 1 0.05x
Northumberland 1 0.10x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sturminster in Dorset leads with 30 Topps recorded in 1881 and an index of 705.88x.

Place Total Index
Sturminster 30 705.88x
Bedworth 24 195.44x
Farnworth 21 44.27x
Forgue 21 378.38x
Kearsley 18 108.04x
Lambeth 18 3.09x
West Lavington 18 636.04x
New Machar 16 461.10x
Little Bolton 15 14.73x
St Pancras London 15 2.79x
Gillingham 12 159.36x
Mere 11 164.18x
Ryde 11 37.44x
Hertford St Andrew 10 176.06x
Islington London 10 1.55x
Hinckley 9 51.28x
Poole St James 9 54.71x
Aberdeen Old Machar 8 6.20x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 8 6.92x
Milton 8 235.29x
Fordyce 7 70.28x
Penton Grafton 7 660.38x
Petworth 7 104.17x
Southampton All Sts 7 29.84x
Sowe 7 231.02x
Worsley 7 14.34x
Camberwell 6 1.41x
Dundee 6 2.60x
Fraserburgh 6 34.50x
Guildford St Mary 6 150.00x
Liberton 6 43.48x
Longfleet 6 118.34x
Salisbury St Martin 6 97.72x
Stratton St Margaret 6 66.30x
Battersea 5 2.04x
Bellchalwell 5 1282.05x
Bermondsey 5 2.52x
Chelsea London 5 2.49x
Clewer 5 24.37x
Deskford 5 252.53x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 1.39x
Eling 5 36.10x
Farnham 5 19.78x
Lymington 5 49.75x
South Stoneham 5 16.85x
St Marylebone London 5 1.40x
St Peter Port 5 13.67x
Alverstoke 4 8.08x
Auchterless 4 81.47x
Bromsgrove 4 13.64x
Buckland 4 242.42x
Corley 4 579.71x
Ebbesborne Wake 4 645.16x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 4 18.92x
Fordington 4 42.42x
Gamrie 4 25.89x
Gateshead 4 2.69x
Leeds 4 1.07x
Little Hulton 4 30.51x
Mappowder 4 769.23x
Ringwood 4 45.71x
Southampton St Mary 4 4.65x
St Martin 4 33.03x
Tutbury 4 72.86x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 4 17.55x
Westbury 4 29.05x
Westminster St 4 16.26x
Berkhampstead 3 29.01x
Bockleton 3 600.00x
Bourton 3 156.25x
Codford St Mary 3 379.75x
Derby St Peter 3 9.02x
Great Bolton 3 2.86x
Lowton 3 55.66x
Rotherhithe 3 3.64x
St George Hanover 3 3.44x
St Sampson 3 33.67x
Wincanton 3 54.25x
Yeovil 3 13.75x
Newburgh 2 39.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 34
Sarah 26
Elizabeth 20
Eliza 17
Ann 12
Alice 10
Annie 8
Emily 8
Emma 8
Ellen 7
Jane 7
Ada 6
Martha 6
Fanny 5
Louisa 5
Amy 4
Charlotte 4
Hannah 4
Kate 4
Catherine 3
Edith 3
Frances 3
Harriett 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Agnes 2
Betsy 2
Eleanor 2
Elizebeth 2
Florence 2
Julia 2
Margarett 2
Maud 2
Naomi 2
Rebecca 2
Rosina 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Ursula 2
Alma 1
Caroline 1
Christina 1
Elizth.F. 1
Ellena 1
Ester 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Isabelle 1
Jessie 1
Johanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 32
William 31
George 23
James 20
Charles 15
Henry 15
Frederick 13
Joseph 9
Thomas 9
Edward 7
Robert 7
Edwin 6
Frank 6
Richard 6
Walter 6
Samuel 5
Albert 4
Benjamin 4
Daniel 4
Arthur 3
Edmund 3
Herbert 3
Isaac 3
Sidney 3
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Frederic 2
Nathaniel 2
Peter 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Carnolese 1
Danl. 1
David 1
Douglas 1
Edgar 1
Elijah 1
Geo.Hall 1
Harry 1
Hugh 1
Hy. 1
Jason 1
Jasper 1
Lewis 1
Maurice 1
Phillip 1
Robt.Francis 1
Theophilus 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Topp surname: questions and answers

How common was the Topp surname in 1881?

In 1881, 678 people were recorded with the Topp surname. That placed it at #5,310 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Topp surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 789 in 2016. That gives Topp a modern rank of #6,999.

What does the Topp surname mean?

A surname of English origin, referring to someone who lived at the top of a hill or summit.

What does the Topp map show?

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