NameCensus.

UK surname

Toppin

A surname indicating one who lived on a hilltop or in a high place.

In the 1881 census there were 271 people recorded with the Toppin surname, ranking it #10,449 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 290, ranked #15,099, down from #10,449 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Carlisle St Cuthbert, London parishes and Watford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Eden, Gravesham and Wycombe.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Toppin is 297 in 2006. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.0%.

1881 census count

271

Ranked #10,449

Modern count

290

2016, ranked #15,099

Peak year

2006

297 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Toppin had 271 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,449 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 290 in 2016, ranked #15,099.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 285 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Toppin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Toppin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Toppin 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 202 #10,323
1861 historical 170 #13,763
1881 historical 271 #10,449
1891 historical 285 #11,515
1901 historical 209 #14,712
1911 historical 167 #16,692
1997 modern 272 #14,451
1998 modern 283 #14,442
1999 modern 279 #14,670
2000 modern 274 #14,796
2001 modern 273 #14,614
2002 modern 286 #14,442
2003 modern 278 #14,540
2004 modern 292 #14,109
2005 modern 286 #14,242
2006 modern 297 #14,004
2007 modern 292 #14,313
2008 modern 276 #14,994
2009 modern 277 #15,260
2010 modern 297 #14,841
2011 modern 285 #15,140
2012 modern 294 #14,705
2013 modern 291 #15,067
2014 modern 293 #15,095
2015 modern 295 #14,935
2016 modern 290 #15,099

Geography

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Where Toppins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Carlisle St Cuthbert, London parishes, Watford, Prestwich and Skelton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Eden, Gravesham, Wycombe and Waltham Forest. 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 Carlisle St Cuthbert Cumberland
2 London parishes London 3
3 Watford Hertfordshire
4 Prestwich Lancashire
5 Skelton Cumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Eden 001 Eden
2 Gravesham 003 Gravesham
3 Wycombe 011 Wycombe
4 Waltham Forest 009 Waltham Forest
5 Eden 004 Eden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Toppin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Toppin

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Toppin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Toppin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Toppin is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Toppin is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Toppin falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Toppin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Toppin

The surname Toppin is of English origin, derived from a topographical name referring to someone who lived at the top or summit of a hill. It is believed to have originated in the north of England during the medieval period, with some of the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century.

One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, which lists a Thomas del Topyn. This spelling variation, using the Old English preposition 'del' meaning 'of the', suggests that the name was initially a descriptive one, referring to a person's place of residence.

In the 15th century, the surname appears in various records with different spellings, such as Toppyn, Toppynge, and Topping, reflecting the phonetic nature of medieval English orthography. One notable example is John Toppyng, who was recorded as a resident of Wakefield, Yorkshire, in 1459.

The Toppin surname can also be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded as a place name, 'Toppin', in the county of Derbyshire. This suggests that some bearers of the surname may have derived their name from a specific location, further reinforcing the topographical origins of the name.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Toppin surname. One of the earliest was Sir William Toppin (c. 1490-1558), a prominent English landowner and member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. Another was John Toppin (1638-1718), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds.

In the 19th century, Robert Toppin (1818-1895) was a celebrated English architect and civil engineer, known for his work on several notable buildings, including the Liverpool Overhead Railway. Additionally, William Toppin (1844-1926) was a successful businessman and philanthropist from Yorkshire, who made significant contributions to the development of the city of Bradford.

More recently, a notable bearer of the Toppin surname is the American professional basketball player Obi Toppin (born 1998), who currently plays for the New York Knicks in the NBA. His name, which combines his Nigerian heritage with the English surname, exemplifies the multicultural nature of modern society and the enduring legacy of surnames like Toppin.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Toppin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Toppin 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. Cumberland leads with 94 Toppins recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.00x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 94 41.00x
Surrey 30 2.31x
Lancashire 22 0.70x
Northumberland 16 4.04x
Yorkshire 16 0.61x
Middlesex 14 0.53x
Durham 12 1.51x
Kirkcudbrightshire 12 31.13x
Kent 10 1.10x
Angus 9 3.65x
Ayrshire 7 3.51x
Devon 6 1.08x
Wiltshire 6 2.55x
Hertfordshire 4 2.18x
Essex 3 0.57x
Westmorland 3 5.13x
Cheshire 2 0.34x
Derbyshire 2 0.48x
Gloucestershire 1 0.19x
Lanarkshire 1 0.12x
Norfolk 1 0.24x
Royal Navy 1 3.15x
Shropshire 1 0.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Skelton in Cumberland leads with 19 Toppins recorded in 1881 and an index of 2878.79x.

Place Total Index
Skelton 19 2878.79x
Camberwell 14 8.23x
Oldham 13 12.75x
Arbroath 9 110.02x
Brandon 9 18000.00x
Caldewgate 8 63.69x
Minnigaff 8 551.72x
Shoreham 8 620.16x
Bowness 7 786.52x
Marske In Guisbrough 7 149.25x
Middleton In Teesdale 7 334.93x
Aspatria 6 272.73x
Crosscanonby 6 79.16x
Dawlish 6 145.28x
Gamblesby 6 2400.00x
Rickergate 6 123.71x
Cliffe Pypard 5 704.23x
Ford 5 344.83x
Lambeth 5 2.15x
Low Holme 5 387.60x
Preston 5 5.91x
Chertsey 4 47.73x
Hammersmith London 4 6.10x
Kilbirnie 4 83.51x
Langwathby 4 1290.32x
St Cuthbert W O 4 35.81x
Troqueer 4 79.05x
Twickenham 4 35.03x
Watford 4 28.11x
Wigton 4 116.28x
Cumrew 3 2727.27x
Eston 3 52.17x
Newington 3 3.05x
Putney 3 24.71x
Workington 3 22.85x
Bishopwearmouth 2 2.94x
Cheetham 2 8.49x
Colchester St Giles 2 38.54x
Dalston 2 112.99x
Islington London 2 0.77x
Kendal 2 18.67x
Maybole 2 32.95x
Normanby In 2 28.37x
Selby 2 36.30x
St Cuthbert Within 2 75.19x
St George Hanover 2 5.75x
Wetheral 2 65.79x
Adel Cum Eccup 1 91.74x
Ainstable 1 243.90x
Allendale 1 27.25x
Ayr 1 10.63x
Butterwick Old Acres 1 1666.67x
Chittoe 1 555.56x
Cleator 1 10.48x
Clifton 1 3.79x
Conside Knitsley 1 16.23x
Derby St Werburgh 1 4.15x
Feltham 1 37.59x
Govan 1 0.47x
Hexham 1 16.31x
Kirkland 1 80.00x
Lazonby 1 169.49x
Lewisham 1 2.06x
Milton In Gravesend 1 7.34x
Nether Denton 1 344.83x
Norwich St Swithin 1 140.85x
Orton 1 243.90x
Penrith 1 11.81x
Royal Navy 1 3.69x
Sedburgh 1 90.91x
St Marylebone London 1 0.70x
Staveley 1 13.51x
Stockport 1 3.31x
Thornton Hough 1 238.10x
Toxteth Park 1 0.93x
Walthamstow 1 5.29x
Wandsworth 1 3.90x
Westoe 1 2.23x
Westward 1 104.17x
Wrockwardine 1 19.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Sarah 13
Elizabeth 10
Margaret 8
Jane 7
Hannah 6
Ann 5
Annie 5
Ellen 5
Alice 4
Eleanor 3
Emily 2
Emma 2
Ada 1
Anna 1
Barbra 1
Beatrice 1
Blanche 1
Cin...ilia 1
Deborah 1
Dinah 1
Dora 1
Edith 1
Eliz. 1
Georgianna 1
Harriet 1
Helena 1
Henrietta 1
Inez 1
Isabella 1
Jeanette 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Margeret 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Maryann 1
Mildred 1
Minnie 1
Nora 1
Ruth 1
Sophia 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 19
John 17
George 7
Joseph 6
Robert 6
Thomas 6
Edward 5
James 5
Alfred 4
Walter 4
Frederick 3
Herbert 3
Isaac 3
Alexander 2
Arthur 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Barnfather 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1
Edmond 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Greville 1
Henry 1
Jas.Hoyle 1
Jos. 1
Leonard 1
Robt. 1
Septimus 1
Tom 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Toppin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Toppin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 271 people were recorded with the Toppin surname. That placed it at #10,449 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Toppin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 290 in 2016. That gives Toppin a modern rank of #15,099.

What does the Toppin surname mean?

A surname indicating one who lived on a hilltop or in a high place.

What does the Toppin map show?

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