On the website
http://www.homestead.com/gorltrawl/TRAFROAD.html you will find a reference to a James Popay, a tailor, living in Lovewell Place in Gorleston. This site examines the lives of the fisherfolk in the town and has an interesting history of their lives. It seems that Popay is a very common name in these parts - many more live round here than any other part of the UK. The local phone book is testament to this!
The Public records Office and registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths may shed some light on your enquiries. I went there some years ago but did not have time to delve deeply.