NameCensus.

UK surname

Topps

A surname derived from a topographic reference to a high point or hill.

In the 1881 census there were 200 people recorded with the Topps surname, ranking it #12,836 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 190, ranked #20,262, down from #12,836 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stapleford, Pickworth and Muston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Anglesey, South Derbyshire and Fareham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Topps is 263 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 5.0%.

1881 census count

200

Ranked #12,836

Modern count

190

2016, ranked #20,262

Peak year

1911

263 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Topps had 200 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,836 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 190 in 2016, ranked #20,262.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 263 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Topps surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Topps surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Topps 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 97 #17,484
1861 historical 84 #23,058
1881 historical 200 #12,836
1891 historical 208 #14,496
1901 historical 241 #13,417
1911 historical 263 #12,473
1997 modern 189 #18,267
1998 modern 204 #17,896
1999 modern 199 #18,293
2000 modern 201 #18,152
2001 modern 192 #18,388
2002 modern 192 #18,767
2003 modern 194 #18,463
2004 modern 199 #18,260
2005 modern 187 #18,924
2006 modern 183 #19,326
2007 modern 184 #19,485
2008 modern 183 #19,735
2009 modern 193 #19,463
2010 modern 197 #19,640
2011 modern 202 #19,154
2012 modern 197 #19,408
2013 modern 199 #19,584
2014 modern 201 #19,641
2015 modern 199 #19,640
2016 modern 190 #20,262

Geography

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Where Topps' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stapleford, Pickworth, Muston, Hough-on-the-Hill, with Brandon and Gelston and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Isle of Anglesey, South Derbyshire, Fareham, Melton and Coventry. 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 Stapleford Derbyshire
2 Pickworth Lincolnshire
3 Muston Lincolnshire
4 Hough-on-the-Hill, with Brandon and Gelston Lincolnshire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isle of Anglesey 007 Isle of Anglesey
2 South Derbyshire 004 South Derbyshire
3 Fareham 007 Fareham
4 Melton 001 Melton
5 Coventry 042 Coventry

Forenames

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First names often paired with Topps

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Topps

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Topps surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Topps 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Topps is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Topps is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Topps falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Topps 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 Topps, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Topps

The surname Topps is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "top," which referred to a hilltop or summit. This name likely originated in the medieval period as a descriptive name for someone who lived near or on a prominent hill or elevated land.

The earliest recorded instances of the Topps surname can be found in various English historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries. For example, the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1279 mention a William atte Toppe, suggesting the name's connection to a specific topographical feature.

Throughout history, the Topps surname has been associated with various notable individuals. One of the earliest recorded figures was John Topps, a merchant and alderman in the city of York, who lived in the late 15th century.

Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas Topps, born in 1571, who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1614. He played a significant role in the city's governance and was involved in various charitable endeavors during his lifetime.

In the 18th century, Edmond Topps (1718-1778) was a renowned architect who designed several churches and public buildings in and around London. His work significantly contributed to the architectural landscape of the city during that period.

The 19th century saw the rise of Thomas Topps (1806-1891), a prominent industrialist and manufacturer of textile machinery in Lancashire, England. His innovations in textile machinery played a crucial role in the development of the industrial revolution.

One of the most notable figures with the Topps surname was Sir William Topps (1857-1942), a British diplomat and politician. He served as the Governor of Madras Presidency in British India and later as a Member of Parliament for the Conservative Party.

While the Topps surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. Over time, variations in spelling, such as Topp, Toppe, and Toppes, have also emerged, reflecting regional variations and linguistic adaptations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Topps families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Topps 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. Lincolnshire leads with 51 Topps' recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.35x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 51 16.35x
Leicestershire 30 13.87x
Gloucestershire 21 5.49x
Norfolk 16 5.33x
Surrey 15 1.58x
Middlesex 13 0.67x
Yorkshire 12 0.62x
Nottinghamshire 11 4.18x
Wiltshire 8 4.64x
Warwickshire 5 1.02x
Cheshire 4 0.93x
Lancashire 4 0.17x
Worcestershire 4 1.57x
Cambridgeshire 3 2.43x
Berkshire 1 0.68x
Hampshire 1 0.25x
Suffolk 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Muston in Leicestershire leads with 23 Topps' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10952.38x.

Place Total Index
Muston 23 10952.38x
Tetbury 12 553.00x
Great Yarmouth 9 36.22x
Pickworth 9 6000.00x
Carshalton 8 219.78x
Chelsea London 8 13.61x
Stratton St Margaret 8 301.89x
Carlton Scroop 7 4666.67x
Dewsbury 7 35.30x
Sedgebrook 7 4666.67x
Stapleford 6 280.37x
Birmingham 5 3.05x
Clapham 5 20.50x
New Sleaford 5 250.00x
Sheffield 5 8.12x
Somerby 5 1388.89x
Upton St Leonards 5 515.46x
Brant Broughton 4 888.89x
Dukinfield 4 20.10x
Great Badminton 4 1212.12x
Hough On Hill Brandon 4 2666.67x
Market Rasen 4 229.89x
Spittlegate 4 92.81x
Upwell 4 285.71x
Outwell 3 517.24x
Overton 3 1363.64x
South Elkington 3 1250.00x
Wisbech St Peter 3 48.39x
Worcester Blockhouse 3 214.29x
Aldershot 1 7.46x
Belton 1 78.74x
Bottesford 1 112.36x
Bray 1 23.26x
Carlton Upon Trent 1 769.23x
Caterham 1 23.81x
Caythorpe 1 166.67x
East Ravendale 1 1428.57x
Gorleston 1 16.56x
Kensington London 1 0.92x
Lambeth 1 0.59x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.90x
Little Hale 1 416.67x
Newark Upon Trent 1 10.58x
Paddington London 1 1.39x
Ratcliffe Upon Trent 1 151.52x
Ruddington 1 56.82x
Shoreditch London 1 1.18x
St George Hanover 1 3.93x
St Marylebone London 1 0.96x
Toxteth Park 1 1.28x
Weston 1 434.78x
Worcester St Martin 1 29.07x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 15
John 14
Thomas 12
George 8
Henry 6
James 4
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Samuel 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Howard 2
Robert 2
Alexander 1
Alfrd 1
Bruce 1
Charles 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Frederic 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Jeffrey 1
Simeon 1
Stanley 1
Walter 1
Wm.Edward 1

FAQ

Topps surname: questions and answers

How common was the Topps surname in 1881?

In 1881, 200 people were recorded with the Topps surname. That placed it at #12,836 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Topps surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 190 in 2016. That gives Topps a modern rank of #20,262.

What does the Topps surname mean?

A surname derived from a topographic reference to a high point or hill.

What does the Topps map show?

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