UK surname
A nickname referring to someone who mended or patched boots, clothes, or sails.
In the 1881 census there were 59 people recorded with the Tacker surname, ranking it #25,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3, ranked #38,594, down from #25,281 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and St Philip and Jacob. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tacker is 345 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 94.9%.
1881 census count
59
Ranked #25,281
Modern count
3
2016, ranked #38,594
Peak year
1861
345 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Tacker surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Tacker surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 105 | #16,618 |
| 1861 | historical | 345 | #7,398 |
| 1881 | historical | 59 | #25,281 |
| 1891 | historical | 262 | #12,297 |
| 1901 | historical | 79 | #25,363 |
| 1911 | historical | 67 | #26,152 |
| 1997 | modern | 4 | #38,094 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 1999 | modern | 3 | #38,318 |
| 2000 | modern | 3 | #38,248 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2003 | modern | 4 | #37,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 5 | #37,830 |
| 2005 | modern | 4 | #38,078 |
| 2006 | modern | 5 | #37,956 |
| 2007 | modern | 3 | #38,372 |
| 2008 | modern | 3 | #38,396 |
| 2009 | modern | 4 | #38,287 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 4 | #38,338 |
| 2012 | modern | 3 | #38,530 |
| 2013 | modern | 2 | #38,761 |
| 2014 | modern | 2 | #38,791 |
| 2015 | modern | 2 | #38,793 |
| 2016 | modern | 3 | #38,594 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch, St Philip and Jacob and St Leonard Bromley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | St Philip and Jacob | Gloucestershire |
| 5 | St Leonard Bromley | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Tacker surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tacker, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Tacker surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Tacker household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Tacker is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tacker is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Tacker, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Tacker is of English origin, believed to have originated in the medieval era. It is thought to be an occupational name derived from the Middle English word "tacker," meaning a thatcher, or someone who thatched roofs with straw or reeds.
The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. For example, the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296 mention a Robert le Tacker, and the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 list a Richard le Tacker.
It is possible that the name may have been influenced by or associated with certain place names, such as the village of Tachbrook in Warwickshire or the town of Tatsfield in Surrey, both of which contain elements that could be related to the occupation of thatching.
One notable historical figure bearing the surname Tacker was John Tacker, a prominent English merchant and politician who lived in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Bramber in Sussex and was involved in trade with the Low Countries.
Another individual of note was William Tacker, an English clergyman and academic who lived in the 17th century. He was a fellow of St. John's College, Oxford, and served as the rector of Wootton Wawen in Warwickshire from 1650 until his death in 1677.
In the 18th century, there was a Benjamin Tacker, an English engraver and printmaker who was active in London during the 1760s and 1770s. He is known for producing engravings of portraits and landscapes, some of which are held in collections at the British Museum.
Moving into the 19th century, we find Richard Tacker, a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He was born in 1788 and went on to become a captain in the Royal Navy, participating in several notable battles and engagements.
Finally, in the early 20th century, there was Arthur Tacker, a British artist and illustrator who was active in the 1920s and 1930s. He was known for his book illustrations and worked on publications such as "The Illustrated London News" and various children's books.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tacker surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 15 Tackers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.20x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 15 | 2.20x |
| Leicestershire | 9 | 14.10x |
| Middlesex | 9 | 1.56x |
| Surrey | 8 | 2.85x |
| Kent | 3 | 1.53x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 3.87x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 1.57x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 1.38x |
| Angus | 1 | 1.88x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 2.02x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.83x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.89x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 2.81x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.08x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.51x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 1.96x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Thurmaston North in Leicestershire leads with 9 Tackers recorded in 1881 and an index of 11250.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Thurmaston North | 9 | 11250.00x |
| Wigan | 7 | 73.38x |
| Little Bolton | 5 | 56.95x |
| Battersea | 4 | 18.89x |
| St Luke London | 4 | 43.34x |
| Basford | 3 | 83.80x |
| Paddington London | 3 | 14.18x |
| Broughton In Salford | 2 | 32.05x |
| Newington | 2 | 9.41x |
| Sittingbourne | 2 | 129.03x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 2.07x |
| Bristol St Augustine | 1 | 54.95x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 2.72x |
| Cannock | 1 | 29.50x |
| Croydon | 1 | 6.42x |
| Leamington Priors | 1 | 28.01x |
| Liff Benvie | 1 | 12.36x |
| Little Stanmore | 1 | 588.24x |
| Melksham | 1 | 113.64x |
| Midsomer Norton | 1 | 114.94x |
| Pendleton In Salford | 1 | 12.29x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 1 | 10.83x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 3.25x |
| Stanton St John | 1 | 909.09x |
| Stanwix | 1 | 250.00x |
| Stockport | 1 | 15.29x |
| Walmer | 1 | 117.65x |
| Witton Cum Twambrooks | 1 | 88.50x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Tacker surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Tacker surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Tacker households.
FAQ
In 1881, 59 people were recorded with the Tacker surname. That placed it at #25,281 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 3 in 2016. That gives Tacker a modern rank of #38,594.
A nickname referring to someone who mended or patched boots, clothes, or sails.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Tacker bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.