NameCensus.

UK surname

Tabb

A surname of English origin, derived from a nickname meaning "one who plays the tabor" (a small drum).

In the 1881 census there were 389 people recorded with the Tabb surname, ranking it #8,122 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 341, ranked #13,425, down from #8,122 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Dennis, St Columb Major and Redruth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and Chichester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tabb is 522 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 12.3%.

1881 census count

389

Ranked #8,122

Modern count

341

2016, ranked #13,425

Peak year

1911

522 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tabb had 389 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,122 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 341 in 2016, ranked #13,425.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 522 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tabb surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tabb surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tabb 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 249 #8,816
1861 historical 288 #8,743
1881 historical 389 #8,122
1891 historical 429 #8,359
1901 historical 520 #7,818
1911 historical 522 #7,577
1997 modern 394 #11,129
1998 modern 393 #11,495
1999 modern 392 #11,624
2000 modern 402 #11,357
2001 modern 393 #11,366
2002 modern 395 #11,542
2003 modern 403 #11,210
2004 modern 400 #11,281
2005 modern 374 #11,778
2006 modern 375 #11,796
2007 modern 377 #11,900
2008 modern 370 #12,182
2009 modern 384 #12,100
2010 modern 374 #12,597
2011 modern 369 #12,600
2012 modern 353 #12,877
2013 modern 356 #13,016
2014 modern 354 #13,153
2015 modern 349 #13,189
2016 modern 341 #13,425

Geography

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Where Tabbs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Dennis, St Columb Major, Redruth, St Mewan and St Mabyn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and Chichester. 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 St Dennis Cornwall
2 St Columb Major Cornwall
3 Redruth Cornwall
4 St Mewan Cornwall
5 St Mabyn Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 019 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 024 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 030 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 035 Cornwall
5 Chichester 013 Chichester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tabb

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tabb

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Tabb is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tabb is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tabb falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Tabb

The surname Tabb has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "taebba," meaning a maker or weaver of a coarse cloth called "tabb." The name was likely an occupational surname given to those who worked in the cloth-making trade.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which lists a Richard Tabb residing in Oxfordshire. The surname also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a John Tabb is recorded as a taxpayer.

The Tabb surname can be traced to various parts of England, including Oxfordshire, Worcestershire, and Kent. In the 16th century, the name was particularly prominent in the village of Tabb's Green, located in the parish of Brasted, Kent. This location may have contributed to the widespread use of the surname in the region.

In terms of notable individuals bearing the Tabb surname, one of the earliest recorded was Sir William Tabb (c. 1415-1485), a prominent landowner and Member of Parliament for Kent during the reign of King Henry VI. Another notable figure was John Tabb (1615-1675), an early settler in Virginia who became a prosperous planter and landowner in Gloucester County.

During the 17th century, the Tabb surname also appeared in various historical records, such as the Protestation Returns of 1641-1642, which listed individuals who swore allegiance to the Protestant religion. In this document, several members of the Tabb family are recorded, including George Tabb and John Tabb from Oxfordshire, and Thomas Tabb from Kent.

Other notable individuals with the Tabb surname include John Banister Tabb (1845-1909), an American poet and educator who was one of the first prominent literary figures from the American South after the Civil War. Additionally, Wilbur Cortez Tabb (1859-1940) was a renowned American architect who designed several notable buildings in New York City, including the Manhattan Bridge Anchorage and the First Church of Christ, Scientist.

Throughout its history, the Tabb surname has been associated with various places and individuals, reflecting its English origins and contributions to various fields, including politics, literature, and architecture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tabb families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tabb 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. Cornwall leads with 198 Tabbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.27x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 198 45.27x
Devon 60 7.46x
Middlesex 30 0.78x
Channel Islands 11 9.61x
Lancashire 10 0.22x
Surrey 10 0.53x
Glamorgan 9 1.34x
Kent 9 0.68x
Northumberland 9 1.57x
Hampshire 8 1.01x
Somerset 7 1.13x
Leicestershire 6 1.40x
Caernarfonshire 5 3.20x
Gloucestershire 5 0.66x
Worcestershire 3 0.59x
Yorkshire 3 0.08x
Durham 2 0.17x
Essex 2 0.26x
Midlothian 2 0.39x
Royal Navy 2 4.35x
Cheshire 1 0.12x
Lincolnshire 1 0.16x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.19x
Warwickshire 1 0.10x
Wiltshire 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Slapton in Devon leads with 18 Tabbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 2195.12x.

Place Total Index
Slapton 18 2195.12x
St Mewan 18 1333.33x
Saltash 13 383.48x
Plymouth St Andrew 12 19.37x
Redruth 11 88.92x
St Austell 11 73.58x
Padstow 9 309.28x
St John Near Swansea 9 108.17x
St Mabyn 9 1343.28x
St Merryn 9 1250.00x
Colan 8 2500.00x
Lanlivery 8 434.78x
St Gluvias Penryn 8 228.57x
St Tudy 8 1159.42x
Helston 7 153.85x
St Endellion 7 460.53x
Advent 6 2068.97x
Kenwyn 6 52.45x
Lyncombe Widcombe 6 36.86x
Plymouth Charles The 6 16.94x
St Enoder 6 402.68x
Stoke Damerel 6 10.66x
Ardwick 5 12.09x
Bristol St George 5 14.27x
Cury 5 877.19x
Enfield 5 19.72x
Gwennap 5 60.61x
Jesmond 5 61.80x
Lambeth 5 1.48x
Lanteglos By Fowey 5 280.90x
Llanbeblig 5 31.55x
Sheepshed 5 85.18x
St Peter 5 151.52x
St Teath 5 190.11x
East Stonehouse 4 25.25x
Ratcliffe London 4 18.75x
Shoreditch London 4 2.39x
Southampton St Mary 4 8.03x
St Columb Major 4 110.19x
St Marylebone London 4 1.94x
Whitechapel London 4 10.50x
Blackley 3 37.31x
Bodmin 3 41.44x
Camborne 3 16.65x
Dartmouth St Saviour 3 130.43x
Devonport 3 32.47x
Elswick 3 6.54x
Fawley 3 119.52x
Ladock 3 241.94x
Lee 3 15.67x
Mile End Old Town 3 4.92x
Rochester St Margaret 3 21.58x
St Stephen In Brannel 3 75.19x
Stoulton 3 612.24x
Tavistock 3 32.75x
Bodmin St Mabyn 2 833.33x
Clerkenwell London 2 2.19x
Croydon 2 1.91x
Hackney London 2 0.92x
Lanteglos 2 99.01x
Luxulyan 2 136.99x
Merther 2 606.06x
North Leith 2 8.35x
Royal Navy 2 5.08x
St Blazey 2 52.08x
St Brelade 2 68.03x
St Clement 2 43.86x
St Helier 2 5.37x
St Lawrence 2 64.10x
St Mary Magdalene 2 62.31x
West Ham 2 1.19x
Westoe 2 3.07x
Barton Upon Irwell 1 2.90x
Bulford 1 217.39x
Edgbaston 1 3.31x
Elston 1 163.93x
Ilkley 1 15.97x
Lostwithel 1 80.65x
Tonbridge 1 2.10x
Toxteth Park 1 0.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 38
Elizabeth 20
Ellen 10
Ann 8
Jane 8
Eliza 7
Emma 5
Sarah 5
Annie 4
Caroline 4
Edith 4
Emily 4
Susan 4
Alice 3
Ethel 3
Florence 3
Kate 3
Margaret 3
Martha 3
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Betsy 2
Charlotte 2
Dora 2
Elizth. 2
Fanny 2
Harriet 2
Henrietta 2
Laura 2
Maud 2
Rosina 2
Carrie 1
Catherine 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizbth. 1
Eunice 1
Felie 1
Harriett 1
Ida 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
Katie 1
Lavinia 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Mable 1
Madelina 1
Treiza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 33
William 29
James 19
Thomas 14
Richard 10
Frederick 7
Henry 6
Samuel 6
Charles 5
Joseph 5
George 4
Robert 4
Alfred 3
Arthur 2
Edward 2
Francis 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Howard 2
Stephen 2
Sydney 2
A.G. 1
Alexander 1
Ashley 1
David 1
Elias 1
Ernest 1
Ezekiel 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Gregory 1
Herbert 1
Johnathan 1
Josephs 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Michael 1
Nicholas 1
Percy 1
Richd 1
Saml. 1
Simon 1
Tom 1
Walter 1
Wilfred 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Robson 1
Woodman 1

FAQ

Tabb surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tabb surname in 1881?

In 1881, 389 people were recorded with the Tabb surname. That placed it at #8,122 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tabb surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 341 in 2016. That gives Tabb a modern rank of #13,425.

What does the Tabb surname mean?

A surname of English origin, derived from a nickname meaning "one who plays the tabor" (a small drum).

What does the Tabb map show?

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