NameCensus.

UK surname

Waple

A variant spelling of the English surname Wapple, derived from a Middle English word meaning "to flutter or waver".

In the 1881 census there were 29 people recorded with the Waple surname, ranking it #29,484 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 133, ranked #25,765, up from #29,484 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harlow, Elmbridge and Cleland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Waple is 171 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 358.6%.

1881 census count

29

Ranked #29,484

Modern count

133

2016, ranked #25,765

Peak year

2002

171 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Waple had 29 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,484 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016, ranked #25,765.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 95 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Waple surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Waple surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Waple 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 22 #29,378
1861 historical 59 #26,466
1881 historical 29 #29,484
1891 historical 64 #28,781
1901 historical 92 #23,800
1911 historical 95 #23,294
1997 modern 142 #21,856
1998 modern 146 #22,031
1999 modern 142 #22,607
2000 modern 146 #22,170
2001 modern 144 #22,040
2002 modern 171 #20,177
2003 modern 158 #20,952
2004 modern 147 #22,094
2005 modern 144 #22,367
2006 modern 136 #23,378
2007 modern 132 #24,166
2008 modern 131 #24,583
2009 modern 134 #24,711
2010 modern 145 #24,031
2011 modern 144 #23,962
2012 modern 145 #23,780
2013 modern 146 #24,107
2014 modern 138 #25,218
2015 modern 132 #25,859
2016 modern 133 #25,765

Geography

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Where Waples are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harlow, Elmbridge, Cleland, Islington and Thurrock. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harlow 010 Harlow
2 Elmbridge 007 Elmbridge
3 Cleland North Lanarkshire
4 Islington 023 Islington
5 Thurrock 002 Thurrock

Forenames

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First names often paired with Waple

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Waple

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Waple surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Waple household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Waple 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

Waple is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Waple

The surname "Waple" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational surname derived from the Old English words "waepol" and "healh," meaning "a pool or stream" and "a nook or corner of land," respectively. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a pool or stream in a secluded area.

The name can be traced back to the 13th century, with early records showing various spellings such as "Wapel," "Wapele," and "Wapell." One of the earliest documented instances of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1273, which mentions a William Wapel.

During the 14th century, the surname appears in several historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which lists a John Wapel. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1332 mention a Thomas Wapel.

In the 15th century, the name is recorded in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1433, where a Richard Waple is mentioned. Another notable record from this period is the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence from the influential Paston family in Norfolk, which includes references to a John Waple in 1472.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname was Sir Robert Waple, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in Norfolk during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He served as a member of the Parliament of England in 1472 and 1478.

In the 16th century, the name is found in various parish records, including those of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, which mention a Thomas Waple who was baptized in 1586.

During the 17th century, the surname appears in the records of the Hearth Tax of 1662 for Wiltshire, where a William Waple is listed as a taxpayer. Additionally, the name is recorded in the Protestation Returns of 1641-1642 for Somerset, which includes a John Waple.

In the 18th century, one notable individual with the surname was Thomas Waple, a British architect who designed several buildings in London, including St. Mary's Church in Marylebone (1722-1724) and the Church of St. Giles-in-the-Fields (1730-1733).

Throughout history, other individuals with the surname "Waple" have made contributions in various fields, such as John Waple, a British military officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars (1770-1843), and William Waple, an English author and historian who wrote "The Book of Dignities" in 1851.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Waple families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Waple 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 19 Waples recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.72x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 19 6.72x
Surrey 7 5.08x
Northamptonshire 2 7.52x
Durham 1 1.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hammersmith London in Middlesex leads with 5 Waples recorded in 1881 and an index of 71.74x.

Place Total Index
Hammersmith London 5 71.74x
Islington London 5 18.24x
Bow London 4 111.11x
Southwark St John 4 465.12x
Newington 3 28.71x
Shoreditch London 3 24.47x
Earls Barton 2 869.57x
Hampstead London 1 22.73x
Monkwearmouth Shore 1 60.98x
St Marylebone London 1 6.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Ada 1
Ann 1
Clara 1
Elizabeth 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Louisa 1
Matilda 1
Rosa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3
Charles 2
Geo. 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Harry 1
Hurbert 1
Illidge 1
Isaac 1
James 1
Thomas 1
William 1

Top occupations

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 Waple households.

FAQ

Waple surname: questions and answers

How common was the Waple surname in 1881?

In 1881, 29 people were recorded with the Waple surname. That placed it at #29,484 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Waple surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016. That gives Waple a modern rank of #25,765.

What does the Waple surname mean?

A variant spelling of the English surname Wapple, derived from a Middle English word meaning "to flutter or waver".

What does the Waple map show?

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