NameCensus.

UK surname

Tupper

An English occupational surname for a maker or seller of tubs and cups.

In the 1881 census there were 505 people recorded with the Tupper surname, ranking it #6,730 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 624, ranked #8,450, down from #6,730 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chichester, Islington and Dover.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tupper is 721 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.6%.

1881 census count

505

Ranked #6,730

Modern count

624

2016, ranked #8,450

Peak year

2000

721 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tupper had 505 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,730 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 624 in 2016, ranked #8,450.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 704 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tupper surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tupper surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tupper 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 295 #7,737
1861 historical 304 #8,340
1881 historical 505 #6,730
1891 historical 551 #6,868
1901 historical 682 #6,407
1911 historical 704 #6,060
1997 modern 683 #7,380
1998 modern 717 #7,337
1999 modern 700 #7,513
2000 modern 721 #7,339
2001 modern 685 #7,485
2002 modern 690 #7,597
2003 modern 647 #7,852
2004 modern 639 #7,931
2005 modern 615 #8,113
2006 modern 607 #8,214
2007 modern 616 #8,193
2008 modern 606 #8,343
2009 modern 616 #8,428
2010 modern 631 #8,449
2011 modern 633 #8,333
2012 modern 622 #8,354
2013 modern 636 #8,345
2014 modern 646 #8,299
2015 modern 636 #8,338
2016 modern 624 #8,450

Geography

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Where Tuppers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and Yalding, Aylesford, Burham, Mereworth, Wateringbury, Nettlestead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chichester, Islington, Dover and South Kesteven. 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 Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst Sussex
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Yalding, Aylesford, Burham, Mereworth, Wateringbury, Nettlestead Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chichester 005 Chichester
2 Islington 016 Islington
3 Dover 007 Dover
4 South Kesteven 006 South Kesteven
5 Chichester 004 Chichester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tupper

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tupper

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tupper, 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 Tupper surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Tupper 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Tupper is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tupper 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

Tupper falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Tupper

The surname Tupper originated in England and dates back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "topp" or "top", which referred to a high hill or elevated land. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near or on a hill.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Tupper surname can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which listed individuals and their landholdings in various counties across England. The name appeared as "Richard de Toppe" in Oxfordshire.

In the 14th century, the Tupper name was also documented in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, where it was spelled as "Topper". This variation in spelling was not uncommon during that time period due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

The Tupper surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded was Sir Walter Tupper, who lived in the late 14th century and was a prominent member of the gentry in Oxfordshire. He held lands in the village of Wilcote and served as a Justice of the Peace.

Another early figure with this surname was Thomas Tupper (c. 1455-1509), who was a Sheriff of Gloucestershire and held the manors of Cricklade and Chelworth in Wiltshire.

During the 16th century, the Tupper name appeared in various records, including parish registers and tax rolls. One notable individual from this period was Martin Tupper (1538-1619), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Oxfordshire.

In the 17th century, the Tupper family established themselves in Surrey, where they owned the manor of Hog's Mill in the parish of Leatherhead. One of the most prominent members of this branch was Sir Thomas Tupper (1638-1701), who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1692.

Another notable figure was Martin Farquhar Tupper (1810-1889), an English writer and author of the widely popular book "Proverbial Philosophy". He was born in London and gained fame for his didactic and moralizing poetry.

Throughout history, the Tupper surname has been associated with various place names in England, such as Tupper's Hill in Surrey and Tupper's Green in Oxfordshire, further reflecting its origins and connections to specific geographical locations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tupper families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tupper 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. Sussex leads with 154 Tuppers recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.31x.

County Total Index
Sussex 154 17.31x
Surrey 92 3.58x
Kent 90 5.00x
Middlesex 73 1.38x
Hampshire 36 3.33x
Channel Islands 26 16.63x
Essex 10 0.96x
Isle of Man 10 10.20x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.98x
Worcestershire 7 1.02x
Devon 6 0.55x
Lancashire 6 0.10x
Dorset 5 1.44x
Warwickshire 5 0.38x
Staffordshire 3 0.17x
Glamorgan 2 0.22x
Gloucestershire 2 0.19x
Yorkshire 2 0.04x
Berkshire 1 0.25x
Cheshire 1 0.09x
Lincolnshire 1 0.12x
Monmouthshire 1 0.26x
Somerset 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aylesford in Kent leads with 25 Tuppers recorded in 1881 and an index of 501.00x.

Place Total Index
Aylesford 25 501.00x
St Peter Port 25 86.42x
Broadwater 16 78.39x
Southwark St George Martyr 16 15.07x
Sutton 15 2586.21x
Bepton 13 2653.06x
Southwark Christchurch 12 48.52x
Westbourne 12 270.88x
Henfield 11 321.64x
Alkham 10 961.54x
Kensington London 10 3.41x
Ash Normandy 9 257.88x
Beaulieu 9 535.71x
Bignor 9 2647.06x
Croydon 9 6.31x
East Malling 9 209.30x
Portsea 9 4.25x
Lonan 8 134.68x
Claines 7 37.02x
Little Coggeshall 7 1060.61x
Midhurst 7 239.73x
South Bersted 7 92.47x
Brighton 6 3.34x
Canterbury Holy Cross 6 344.83x
Millbrook 6 22.03x
Nottingham St Mary 6 3.26x
Paddington London 6 3.09x
Penge 6 17.80x
Poplar London 6 6.02x
Richmond 6 16.65x
Westminster St 6 30.85x
Wimbledon 6 20.78x
Bermondsey 5 3.18x
Hackney London 5 1.69x
Oving 5 166.11x
Shaftesbury St Peter 5 308.64x
Staines 5 59.81x
Tonbridge 5 7.70x
West Chiltington 5 434.78x
Whitstable 5 56.63x
Camberwell 4 1.19x
Deptford St Paul 4 2.88x
Eastbourne 4 9.77x
Edmonton 4 9.41x
Elsted 4 1052.63x
Hastings St Mary In The 4 21.07x
Horsham 4 23.15x
Littlehampton 4 56.34x
Old Shoreham 4 888.89x
St Botolph Aldgate 4 55.56x
St George In East 4 11.15x
St Pancras London 4 0.94x
Ventnor 4 38.87x
West Malling 4 98.77x
Eling 3 27.37x
Epsom 3 23.94x
Greenwich 3 3.57x
Higham 3 123.46x
Kingston On Thames 3 4.86x
Rugby 3 16.67x
Sibertswold 3 315.79x
Southwark St John 3 18.59x
Tottenham 3 3.57x
Widley 3 155.44x
Aston 2 0.55x
Battersea 2 1.03x
Bisley 2 21.32x
Bromley London 2 1.72x
Cold Waltham 2 277.78x
Darlaston 2 8.12x
Herne 2 25.09x
Heyshott 2 246.91x
Mile End Old Town 2 2.40x
Mitcham 2 12.31x
Reigate Borough 2 33.73x
St Marylebone London 2 0.71x
Stonehouse East 2 35.91x
West Derby 2 1.09x
West Tarring 2 151.52x
Woolwich 2 3.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Elizabeth 20
Annie 16
Emily 14
Sarah 14
Ann 12
Ellen 12
Jane 9
Alice 8
Emma 7
Edith 6
Fanny 6
Louisa 6
Frances 5
Margaret 5
Eliza 4
Maria 4
Martha 4
Ada 3
Amelia 3
Beatrice 3
Betsy 3
Catherine 3
Florence 3
Harriet 3
Kate 3
Adela 2
Augusta 2
B. 2
Caroline 2
Eleanor 2
Ethel 2
Hannah 2
Harriett 2
Isabel 2
Lily 2
Lizzie 2
Lucy 2
Rosa 2
Rose 2
Bertha 1
Betsey 1
Dian 1
Dorothy 1
Drusilla 1
E.E. 1
E.M.H. 1
Elanor 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 46
John 23
George 21
Charles 18
Alfred 16
Frederick 13
Thomas 13
James 10
Henry 8
Edward 6
Arthur 5
Walter 5
Richard 4
Albert 3
Benjamin 3
Edwin 3
Frank 3
Harry 3
Martin 3
Clement 2
De 2
Ernest 2
Herbert 2
Jesse 2
Richmond 2
Courtney 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edmund 1
F. 1
Ferdinand 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Fredericks 1
Gaspard 1
Gustavia 1
Harriette 1
Hepbh. 1
Holman 1
Horace 1
Hugh 1
Jasper 1
Jonathan 1
Joseph 1
Lewis 1
Maurice 1
Moston 1
Nelson 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1

FAQ

Tupper surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tupper surname in 1881?

In 1881, 505 people were recorded with the Tupper surname. That placed it at #6,730 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tupper surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 624 in 2016. That gives Tupper a modern rank of #8,450.

What does the Tupper surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a maker or seller of tubs and cups.

What does the Tupper map show?

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