UK surname
An occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "tournen," meaning to turn or shape wood.
In the 1881 census there were 4 people recorded with the Turpen surname, ranking it #33,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #33,288 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Winchester St John, Southminster, Mayland, Steeple and Lewisham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Turpen is 108 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 75.0%.
1881 census count
4
Ranked #33,288
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1861
108 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Turpen surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Turpen surname density by area, 1861 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 | 27 | #28,467 |
| 1861 | historical | 108 | #19,856 |
| 1881 | historical | 4 | #33,288 |
| 1891 | historical | 86 | #25,951 |
| 1901 | historical | 4 | #33,876 |
| 1911 | historical | 18 | #31,542 |
| 2014 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2015 | modern | 1 | #39,021 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Winchester St John, Southminster, Mayland, Steeple, Lewisham, St Dunstan Stepney and St Leonard Bromley. 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 | Winchester St John | Hampshire |
| 2 | Southminster, Mayland, Steeple | Essex |
| 3 | Lewisham | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | St Leonard Bromley | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Turpen 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 Turpen, 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 Turpen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Turpen 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, Turpen 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 Turpen is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Turpen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Turpen has its origins in the Old French word "tourpen," which means "ring-shaped cake." This name likely originated in the Normandy region of France during the medieval period, possibly as an occupational surname for a baker or seller of ring-shaped pastries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists a Robert Turpen as a landholder in Oxfordshire, England. This suggests that the name had already been established in Normandy and was brought to England after the Norman Conquest in 1066.
During the Middle Ages, the name appears to have spread across various regions of England, with records showing instances in counties such as Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire. Variations in spelling were common, with forms like Turpyn, Turpine, and Turpenne appearing in historical documents.
In the 14th century, a notable figure with the surname Turpen was John Turpen (c. 1300-1370), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Bristol, England. He served as a bailiff and was involved in local governance during a time when Bristol was a thriving port city.
Another prominent individual was Sir William Turpen (c. 1440-1510), a knight from Wiltshire who fought in the Wars of the Roses and was later appointed Sheriff of Wiltshire in 1492 by King Henry VII.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Turpen spread to other parts of the British Isles, with records showing instances in Scotland and Ireland. One notable example is Robert Turpen (1560-1630), a Scottish clergyman and author who served as the minister of Elgin Cathedral.
In the 18th century, the Turpen surname began to appear in North America, likely carried by early settlers from England and Scotland. One notable figure was Samuel Turpen (1725-1792), a colonial-era farmer and landowner in Virginia who served as a militia captain during the American Revolutionary War.
Throughout its history, the Turpen surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Turpen's Green in Oxfordshire, England, and Turpen's Hill in Somerset, England, further solidifying its connection to specific geographic locations.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Turpen 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. Kent leads with 1 Turpens recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.54x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 1 | 7.54x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 2.17x |
| Surrey | 1 | 5.28x |
| Sussex | 1 | 15.27x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 1 Turpens recorded in 1881 and an index of 75.76x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Brighton | 1 | 75.76x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 40.32x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 140.85x |
| West Derby | 1 | 74.07x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Turpen surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Caroline | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Turpen 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 Turpen households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Cook Domestic | 1 |
| Solicitors Clirk | 1 |
| Traveller Fancy Goods | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 4 people were recorded with the Turpen surname. That placed it at #33,288 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Turpen a modern rank of #39,061.
An occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "tournen," meaning to turn or shape wood.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Turpen 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.