NameCensus.

UK surname

Warcup

A locational surname referring to someone from a place with a lookout or watchtower.

In the 1881 census there were 168 people recorded with the Warcup surname, ranking it #14,380 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 247, ranked #16,955, down from #14,380 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hornsea with Burton, London parishes and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kingston upon Hull, Sunderland and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Warcup is 265 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.0%.

1881 census count

168

Ranked #14,380

Modern count

247

2016, ranked #16,955

Peak year

2014

265 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Warcup had 168 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,380 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 247 in 2016, ranked #16,955.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 187 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Warcup surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Warcup surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Warcup 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 121 #15,049
1861 historical 102 #20,797
1881 historical 168 #14,380
1891 historical 187 #15,679
1901 historical 165 #17,085
1911 historical 185 #15,686
1997 modern 210 #17,104
1998 modern 216 #17,257
1999 modern 211 #17,662
2000 modern 212 #17,554
2001 modern 215 #17,159
2002 modern 220 #17,249
2003 modern 220 #17,033
2004 modern 210 #17,644
2005 modern 221 #17,028
2006 modern 227 #16,842
2007 modern 231 #16,835
2008 modern 235 #16,777
2009 modern 238 #17,002
2010 modern 245 #17,013
2011 modern 258 #16,284
2012 modern 239 #17,027
2013 modern 262 #16,273
2014 modern 265 #16,247
2015 modern 253 #16,669
2016 modern 247 #16,955

Geography

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Where Warcups are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hornsea with Burton, London parishes, St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford, Driffield and Sculcoates. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kingston upon Hull, Sunderland, Northumberland and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 Hornsea with Burton Yorkshire, East Riding
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)
4 Driffield Yorkshire, East Riding
5 Sculcoates Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kingston upon Hull 031 Kingston upon Hull, City of
2 Sunderland 033 Sunderland
3 Northumberland 002 Northumberland
4 Kingston upon Hull 030 Kingston upon Hull, City of
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 008 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Warcup

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Warcup

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Warcup is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Warcup is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Warcup falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Warcup

The surname Warcup has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period, specifically the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from a location or a topographic feature, as many English surnames did during that era.

One possible derivation is from the Old English words "waer" and "copp," which together could mean "watchful hill" or "hill with a lookout." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near or was associated with a specific hill or elevated vantage point used for keeping watch.

Another theory traces the name back to the Old English words "wær" and "cuppe," which could translate to "wary cup" or "cautious cup." This could potentially indicate a connection to a person involved in the production or distribution of cups or vessels, perhaps requiring vigilance or caution in their trade.

The earliest known record of the Warcup surname appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1327, where a John de Warcop is mentioned. This variant spelling suggests a potential link to the village of Warcop in Cumbria, which could be the place of origin for this particular family.

In the 16th century, a notable bearer of the name was Sir Edmund Warcup (1499-1572), a prominent English lawyer and judge who served as a Justice of the Common Pleas during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another individual of note was William Warcup (1628-1683), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Taunton and was known for his religious writings.

The Warcup name also appears in various historical records from Yorkshire, such as the Parish Registers of Barnoldswick, where a Thomas Warcup was mentioned in 1585.

In the 18th century, John Warcup (1736-1807) was a renowned English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and the calculation of planetary orbits.

During the 19th century, a notable bearer of the Warcup name was Robert Warcup (1813-1892), a British engineer and inventor who is credited with developing an early version of the internal combustion engine.

These examples illustrate the historical presence and significance of the Warcup surname across various regions of England, spanning several centuries and encompassing various professions and achievements.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Warcup families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Warcup 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. Yorkshire leads with 127 Warcups recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.82x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 127 7.82x
Kent 20 3.58x
Durham 16 3.28x
Glamorgan 3 1.05x
Gloucestershire 1 0.31x
Norfolk 1 0.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Flamborough in Yorkshire leads with 31 Warcups recorded in 1881 and an index of 3924.05x.

Place Total Index
Flamborough 31 3924.05x
Deptford St Paul 20 46.38x
Great Driffield 16 480.48x
Dringhoe Upton Brough 9 10000.00x
Houghton Le Spring 9 267.06x
Bridlington 8 215.05x
Hornsea 8 776.70x
Beeford 7 1750.00x
Hilderthorpe 7 853.66x
West Auckland 6 337.08x
West Ayton 6 2307.69x
Beverley St Martin 5 184.50x
Eccleshill 4 101.27x
Hipperholme Cum 4 56.10x
Holbeck 4 37.17x
Leeds 4 4.36x
Burton Pidsea 3 1500.00x
Neath 3 51.64x
Wortley In Bramley 3 23.33x
Brandesburton 2 465.12x
Tunstall In Patrington 2 2857.14x
Beverley St Mary 1 42.19x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 1 34.13x
Dersingham 1 175.44x
Gateshead 1 2.74x
Lockton 1 454.55x
Roos 1 333.33x
Wakefield 1 8.02x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Sarah 11
Ann 8
Hannah 8
Jane 6
Elizabeth 5
Ellen 5
Ada 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Kate 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Amy 1
Annie 1
Barbary 1
Beatrice 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Janet 1
Leanisa 1
Mabel 1
Minnie 1
Selina 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 16
William 8
George 6
Thomas 5
Robert 4
Tom 4
Charles 3
Herbert 3
James 3
Cockcroft 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
Henry 2
Richard 2
Vickerman 2
Benjamin 1
Bolton 1
Cockroft 1
Colleen 1
Edward 1
Emanuel 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Horton 1
Isaac 1
Leonard 1
Levi 1
Pearson 1
Percy 1
Simon 1
Stephenson 1

FAQ

Warcup surname: questions and answers

How common was the Warcup surname in 1881?

In 1881, 168 people were recorded with the Warcup surname. That placed it at #14,380 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Warcup surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 247 in 2016. That gives Warcup a modern rank of #16,955.

What does the Warcup surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a place with a lookout or watchtower.

What does the Warcup map show?

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