NameCensus.

UK surname

Taff

A Welsh toponymic surname derived from the River Taff, indicating someone who lived near or originated from that area.

In the 1881 census there were 135 people recorded with the Taff surname, ranking it #16,515 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 154, ranked #23,293, down from #16,515 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tipton otherwise Tibington, Ockendon, South and Rowley Regis. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sheffield and North East Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Taff is 173 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.1%.

1881 census count

135

Ranked #16,515

Modern count

154

2016, ranked #23,293

Peak year

1891

173 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Taff had 135 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,515 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 154 in 2016, ranked #23,293.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 173 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Taff surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Taff surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Taff 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 69 #21,148
1861 historical 93 #22,009
1881 historical 135 #16,515
1891 historical 173 #16,600
1901 historical 132 #19,469
1911 historical 149 #17,937
1997 modern 133 #22,705
1998 modern 136 #23,013
1999 modern 125 #24,366
2000 modern 128 #24,015
2001 modern 122 #24,366
2002 modern 130 #23,903
2003 modern 135 #23,155
2004 modern 144 #22,379
2005 modern 135 #23,297
2006 modern 136 #23,378
2007 modern 138 #23,478
2008 modern 135 #24,123
2009 modern 139 #24,161
2010 modern 148 #23,697
2011 modern 149 #23,408
2012 modern 151 #23,166
2013 modern 155 #23,108
2014 modern 161 #22,728
2015 modern 156 #23,106
2016 modern 154 #23,293

Geography

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Where Taffs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tipton otherwise Tibington, Ockendon, South, Rowley Regis, Walthamstow, Low Leyton and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sheffield and North East Lincolnshire. 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 Tipton otherwise Tibington Staffordshire
2 Ockendon, South Essex
3 Rowley Regis Staffordshire
4 Walthamstow, Low Leyton Essex
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sheffield 014 Sheffield
2 Sheffield 075 Sheffield
3 Sheffield 045 Sheffield
4 North East Lincolnshire 012 North East Lincolnshire
5 Sheffield 039 Sheffield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Taff

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Taff

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Taff surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Taff household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Taff 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

Taff 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

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

Meaning and origin of Taff

The surname "Taff" originated in Wales and has its roots in the Welsh language. It is believed to have derived from the Welsh word "taf," which means "river" or "stream." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a river or a stream.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname date back to the 13th century. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Rhys ap Taff, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Carmarthenshire in 1284. Another early reference is found in the Charters of Margam Abbey, which mentions a person named Ioruard Taff in 1346.

The name "Taff" is also closely associated with the River Taff, which flows through Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The river's name is thought to be derived from the same Welsh word "taf," indicating a possible connection between the surname and the geographic location.

In the 16th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as "Tayff" and "Taf." One notable individual from this period was John Taf, a Welsh poet who lived in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He is known for his poetic works in the Welsh language.

Another prominent figure with the surname "Taff" was John Taff, a Welsh clergyman and academic who lived in the 17th century. He was born in 1612 and served as the Bishop of St. Asaph from 1675 until his death in 1695.

In the 18th century, the surname "Taff" gained further recognition with individuals like William Taff (1709-1776), a Welsh clergyman and author. He was known for his works on Welsh history and literature.

During the 19th century, the name became more widespread, and several notable individuals bore the surname "Taff." One such person was John Camillus Taff (1814-1888), an English-born Catholic priest who served in Australia.

Another notable figure from this period was John Taff Davies (1847-1917), a Welsh historian and writer. He wrote extensively on Welsh history and culture, contributing significantly to the preservation of Welsh heritage.

Throughout its history, the surname "Taff" has been closely associated with Wales and the Welsh language. While its origins can be traced back to the 13th century, the name continues to be prevalent in Wales and among people of Welsh descent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Taff families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Taff 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 36 Taffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.73x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 36 2.73x
Lancashire 18 1.15x
Surrey 14 2.18x
Staffordshire 11 2.47x
Cheshire 9 3.10x
Essex 7 2.69x
Warwickshire 6 1.81x
Derbyshire 5 2.43x
Kent 5 1.11x
Yorkshire 5 0.38x
Shropshire 4 3.52x
Berkshire 3 3.04x
Lanarkshire 3 0.70x
Norfolk 3 1.48x
Durham 2 0.51x
Hertfordshire 1 1.10x
Leicestershire 1 0.69x
Northamptonshire 1 0.81x
Somerset 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tipton in Staffordshire leads with 10 Taffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 73.48x.

Place Total Index
Tipton 10 73.48x
Bromley London 8 27.61x
Dukinfield 8 59.57x
Southwark Christchurch 7 113.45x
Lowick 6 3529.41x
Mile End Old Town 6 28.87x
Walthamstow 6 64.17x
Caton 5 1020.41x
Salford 5 10.88x
Hackney London 4 5.42x
Holy Trinity 4 12.75x
Lewisham 4 16.69x
Alfreton 3 47.92x
Birmingham 3 2.71x
Govan 3 2.85x
Great Yarmouth 3 17.89x
Newington 3 6.17x
Reading St Giles 3 30.93x
St Andrew Holborn 3 67.26x
St George Hanover 3 17.45x
Stoke Newington London 3 29.24x
Alveley 2 444.44x
Aston 2 2.19x
Bermondsey 2 5.10x
Bow London 2 11.93x
Clerkenwell London 2 6.44x
Leintwardine 2 363.64x
Burton Upon Trent 1 9.62x
Chiswick 1 13.91x
Clifton In York 1 36.63x
East Ham 1 20.75x
Edgbaston 1 9.71x
Farnham 1 20.04x
Gateshead 1 3.41x
Great Chart 1 294.12x
Great Glenn 1 256.41x
Hammersmith London 1 3.08x
Hitchin 1 24.39x
Holmesfield 1 454.55x
Kensington London 1 1.37x
Kirkdale 1 3.81x
Limehouse London 1 6.92x
Liverpool 1 1.05x
Macclesfield 1 7.74x
Merriott 1 161.29x
Newbottle 1 46.73x
Peterborough 1 11.15x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 3.78x
St Marylebone London 1 1.42x
Turnditch 1 714.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Eliza 4
Elizabeth 4
Hannah 4
Emma 3
Margaret 3
Ann 2
Anne 2
Annie 2
Ellen 2
Florence 2
Jane 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Annetta 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Dinah 1
Eleanor 1
Emily 1
Emmie 1
Fanny 1
Georgina 1
Hanah 1
Infant 1
Isabella 1
Letti 1
Lilian 1
Lilly 1
May 1
Olive 1
Rosanna 1
Rosetta 1
Susan 1
Susanah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
George 5
John 5
Alfred 4
Henry 4
James 4
Charles 3
Frederick 3
Richard 3
Arthur 2
Charley 2
David 2
Ebenezer 2
Francis 2
Joseph 2
Thomas 2
Thos. 2
Abraham 1
Bernard 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Enoch 1
Hugh 1
Infant 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Robert 1

FAQ

Taff surname: questions and answers

How common was the Taff surname in 1881?

In 1881, 135 people were recorded with the Taff surname. That placed it at #16,515 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Taff surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 154 in 2016. That gives Taff a modern rank of #23,293.

What does the Taff surname mean?

A Welsh toponymic surname derived from the River Taff, indicating someone who lived near or originated from that area.

What does the Taff map show?

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