NameCensus.

UK surname

Turpin

Derived from a French place name meaning "little tower" or referring to someone who lived near a small tower.

In the 1881 census there were 1,597 people recorded with the Turpin surname, ranking it #2,667 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,967, ranked #3,273, down from #2,667 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Plympton St Mary and St Mary Islington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Hams, Leeds and Bath and North East Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Turpin is 2,131 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.2%.

1881 census count

1,597

Ranked #2,667

Modern count

1,967

2016, ranked #3,273

Peak year

1999

2,131 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Turpin had 1,597 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,667 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,967 in 2016, ranked #3,273.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,998 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Turpin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Turpin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Turpin 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 1,042 #2,692
1861 historical 937 #2,956
1881 historical 1,597 #2,667
1891 historical 1,584 #2,803
1901 historical 1,966 #2,695
1911 historical 1,998 #2,486
1997 modern 2,024 #3,031
1998 modern 2,110 #3,028
1999 modern 2,131 #3,025
2000 modern 2,110 #3,030
2001 modern 2,079 #3,011
2002 modern 2,108 #3,037
2003 modern 2,059 #3,046
2004 modern 2,010 #3,102
2005 modern 1,956 #3,152
2006 modern 1,941 #3,174
2007 modern 1,941 #3,200
2008 modern 1,946 #3,209
2009 modern 1,991 #3,223
2010 modern 2,043 #3,213
2011 modern 2,038 #3,191
2012 modern 1,974 #3,221
2013 modern 2,001 #3,240
2014 modern 2,002 #3,257
2015 modern 1,968 #3,277
2016 modern 1,967 #3,273

Geography

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Where Turpins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Plympton St Mary, St Mary Islington, St Matthew Bethnal Green and Plymouth St Charles the Martyr. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Hams, Leeds, Bath and North East Somerset, Isle of Wight and Cornwall. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Plympton St Mary Devon
3 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
4 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)
5 Plymouth St Charles the Martyr Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Hams 001 South Hams
2 Leeds 100 Leeds
3 Bath and North East Somerset 018 Bath and North East Somerset
4 Isle of Wight 018 Isle of Wight
5 Cornwall 035 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Turpin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Turpin

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Turpin 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

Turpin 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

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

Meaning and origin of Turpin

The surname Turpin originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "torpiner," which means "to turn" or "to twist." The name likely referred to someone who worked as a turner or woodworker, shaping objects on a lathe.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Turpin can be found in various medieval documents, such as the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in this record, suggesting that individuals bearing the surname were present in England shortly after the Norman Conquest.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Turpin was Richard Turpin, a notorious English highwayman who lived from 1705 to 1739. He gained notoriety for his daring exploits and became the subject of numerous stories and legends, further popularizing the name.

Another notable figure with the surname Turpin was François-René Turpin, a French botanist and artist who lived from 1780 to 1856. He is renowned for his intricate and beautifully detailed illustrations of plants, which were published in various scientific works.

In the literary world, Cyril Turpin was a British author and playwright who lived from 1897 to 1970. He wrote several successful plays, including "Billie," which was later adapted into a film.

The surname Turpin also has connections to the military. Sir Thomas Turpin was a British Army officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant-General and was awarded the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath for his distinguished service.

Another individual of historical significance was Pierre Turpin, a French Catholic priest and theologian who lived from 1512 to 1584. He played a prominent role in the Counter-Reformation and was known for his writings on ecclesiastical law and doctrine.

The surname Turpin has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout history, reflecting its diverse origins and the varied paths taken by those who bear this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Turpin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Turpin 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. Middlesex leads with 288 Turpins recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.84x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 288 1.84x
Devon 233 7.14x
Yorkshire 231 1.49x
Essex 146 4.72x
Kent 94 1.76x
Lancashire 77 0.41x
Surrey 76 1.00x
Durham 57 1.22x
Hertfordshire 41 3.79x
Hampshire 36 1.12x
Northumberland 32 1.37x
Glamorgan 31 1.14x
Sussex 30 1.14x
Cheshire 28 0.81x
Lincolnshire 24 0.96x
Nottinghamshire 23 1.09x
Bedfordshire 21 2.59x
Suffolk 20 1.05x
Channel Islands 15 3.23x
Buckinghamshire 11 1.16x
Dorset 10 0.97x
Cornwall 9 0.51x
Staffordshire 9 0.17x
Cambridgeshire 7 0.71x
Gloucestershire 7 0.23x
Shropshire 7 0.52x
Lanarkshire 6 0.12x
Northamptonshire 6 0.41x
Warwickshire 6 0.15x
Royal Navy 5 2.68x
Somerset 5 0.20x
Norfolk 4 0.17x
Herefordshire 3 0.47x
Oxfordshire 3 0.31x
Derbyshire 2 0.08x
Berkshire 1 0.09x
Leicestershire 1 0.06x
Monmouthshire 1 0.09x
Wiltshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 44 Turpins recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.90x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 44 2.90x
Bethnal Green London 36 5.29x
Stoke Damerel 34 14.89x
Leeds 32 3.65x
Plympton St Mary 32 169.67x
Plymouth Charles The 29 20.17x
Plymouth St Andrew 26 10.34x
St Pancras London 24 1.90x
West Ham 23 3.37x
St Marylebone London 22 2.63x
Hackney London 20 2.28x
Brighton 19 3.56x
Finchingfield 17 175.26x
Lambeth 16 1.17x
Lewisham 16 5.61x
Shoreditch London 16 2.35x
Charlton Next Woolwich 15 26.89x
St George Hanover 15 7.33x
Tottenham 15 6.01x
Dunstable 14 56.13x
Flamstead 14 140.70x
Haverhill 14 82.55x
Manchester 14 1.67x
Sherburn 14 109.63x
Portsea 13 2.06x
Swansea Town 13 5.81x
Chelsea London 12 2.54x
Liverpool 12 1.06x
Liversedge 12 17.35x
Mile End Old Town 12 4.85x
St Helier 12 7.94x
Stebbing 12 200.33x
Steeple 12 424.03x
York All Sts North 12 156.05x
Everton 11 1.86x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 11 58.11x
Battersea 10 1.73x
Elswick 10 5.37x
Greenwich 10 4.01x
Hunslet 10 4.13x
Plympton Maurice 10 162.07x
Southampton St Mary 10 4.95x
Walton Le Soken 10 135.87x
Bermondsey 9 1.93x
Bowling 9 5.85x
Brixton 9 244.57x
Limehouse London 9 5.23x
Macclesfield 9 5.85x
Monk Hesleden 9 69.23x
Monkwearmouth Shore 9 9.89x
St Clement Danes 9 35.46x
Tarrant Hinton 9 810.81x
Torbrian 9 825.69x
Ashton Under Lyne 8 1.97x
Cheshunt 8 21.18x
Cornwood 8 128.21x
Drighlington 8 35.35x
Felstead 8 75.47x
Gillingham 8 7.25x
Holy Trinity 8 2.14x
Hurdsfield 8 37.58x
Nottingham St Mary 8 1.46x
St Luke London 8 3.18x
Benwell 7 27.46x
Castleford 7 12.37x
Collierley 7 33.69x
Dartmouth St Saviour 7 75.11x
East Stonehouse 7 10.89x
Kirkdale 7 2.24x
Maldon St Peter 7 44.39x
Monw Wearmouth Shore 7 156.95x
Pennycross 7 255.47x
Plumstead 7 3.93x
Rattery 7 330.19x
Stamford St Mary 7 138.07x
Swinton In Rotherham 7 17.04x
Tadcaster West 7 56.91x
Tonbridge 7 3.63x
Toxteth Park 7 1.11x
Wellington 7 9.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 117
John 88
James 56
George 49
Thomas 36
Henry 34
Richard 26
Edward 23
Alfred 22
Charles 22
Frederick 21
Joseph 19
Robert 18
Arthur 11
Samuel 11
Walter 11
Edwin 10
Benjamin 9
Frank 9
Harry 9
Herbert 9
Ernest 8
Albert 7
Wm. 7
David 5
Sidney 5
Tom 5
Chas. 4
Edgar 3
Fred 3
Mark 3
Phillip 3
Adolphus 2
Alexander 2
Alfread 2
Andrew 2
Benj. 2
Benjn. 2
Christopher 2
Cornelius 2
Dick 2
Edmund 2
Francis 2
Frederic 2
Fredk. 2
Matthias 2
Nicholas 2
Oliver 2
Richd. 2
Sydney 2

FAQ

Turpin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Turpin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,597 people were recorded with the Turpin surname. That placed it at #2,667 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Turpin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,967 in 2016. That gives Turpin a modern rank of #3,273.

What does the Turpin surname mean?

Derived from a French place name meaning "little tower" or referring to someone who lived near a small tower.

What does the Turpin map show?

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