NameCensus.

UK surname

Taft

Derived from a nickname for a tall or stout person, from the Middle English word "taft," meaning tallow.

In the 1881 census there were 513 people recorded with the Taft surname, ranking it #6,647 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 858, ranked #6,528, up from #6,647 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Sedgley and St Alkmund. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lichfield, North Warwickshire and Gwynedd.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Taft is 914 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 67.3%.

1881 census count

513

Ranked #6,647

Modern count

858

2016, ranked #6,528

Peak year

1999

914 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Taft had 513 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,647 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 858 in 2016, ranked #6,528.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 730 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Taft surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Taft surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Taft 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 288 #7,884
1861 historical 272 #9,167
1881 historical 513 #6,647
1891 historical 449 #8,085
1901 historical 642 #6,705
1911 historical 730 #5,868
1997 modern 814 #6,445
1998 modern 898 #6,170
1999 modern 914 #6,128
2000 modern 887 #6,237
2001 modern 870 #6,219
2002 modern 887 #6,246
2003 modern 852 #6,333
2004 modern 832 #6,456
2005 modern 835 #6,383
2006 modern 828 #6,442
2007 modern 838 #6,447
2008 modern 836 #6,519
2009 modern 869 #6,456
2010 modern 861 #6,625
2011 modern 850 #6,617
2012 modern 840 #6,586
2013 modern 858 #6,580
2014 modern 868 #6,552
2015 modern 855 #6,569
2016 modern 858 #6,528

Geography

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Where Tafts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Sedgley, St Alkmund, St Werburgh and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lichfield, North Warwickshire, Gwynedd, Tamworth and Shropshire. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Sedgley Staffordshire
3 St Alkmund Derbyshire
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lichfield 008 Lichfield
2 North Warwickshire 001 North Warwickshire
3 Gwynedd 015 Gwynedd
4 Tamworth 002 Tamworth
5 Shropshire 034 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Taft

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Taft

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Taft is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Taft is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Taft falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Taft

The surname Taft has its origins in England, where it is thought to have derived from the Old English word "toft," which referred to a homestead or a small parcel of land. This name is believed to have emerged in the 11th century or earlier, during the Anglo-Saxon period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Taft can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name was already well-established in certain regions of England by the late 11th century.

Throughout the Middle Ages and into the Early Modern period, the Taft surname appeared in various records and documents across different parts of England. It is thought to have originated as a place name, likely referring to individuals who lived near or owned a particular toft or homestead.

The surname Taft has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest was John Taft, who was born in Wiltshire, England, in the late 15th century and served as a member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Robert Taft, an English Puritan who immigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 17th century. He became a respected figure in the colony and served as a deputy to the General Court.

In the 19th century, Alphonso Taft, born in 1810 in Vermont, was a notable lawyer and politician who served as Secretary of War and Attorney General under President Ulysses S. Grant. His son, William Howard Taft, followed in his footsteps and became the 27th President of the United States, serving from 1909 to 1913.

Lorado Taft, born in 1860 in Illinois, was a famous sculptor who created numerous public monuments and memorials across the United States. His works, such as the Fountain of Time in Chicago, are widely celebrated for their artistic merit and historical significance.

While the Taft surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration and migration patterns. Today, it is found in various countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, among others.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Taft families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Taft 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. Staffordshire leads with 125 Tafts recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.44x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 125 7.44x
Derbyshire 101 12.97x
Lancashire 75 1.27x
Warwickshire 46 3.67x
Lincolnshire 23 2.89x
Nottinghamshire 23 3.43x
Yorkshire 20 0.41x
Middlesex 18 0.36x
Berkshire 13 3.48x
Cheshire 13 1.18x
Kent 10 0.59x
Leicestershire 10 1.81x
Surrey 9 0.37x
Worcestershire 6 0.92x
Hampshire 5 0.49x
Hertfordshire 3 0.87x
Sussex 2 0.24x
Devon 1 0.10x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.01x
Lanarkshire 1 0.06x
Midlothian 1 0.15x
Northamptonshire 1 0.21x
Renfrewshire 1 0.26x
Shropshire 1 0.23x
Somerset 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 22 Tafts recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.26x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 22 5.26x
Derby St Werburgh 21 46.70x
Sedgley 19 30.46x
Wolverhampton 17 13.17x
Chaddesden 16 1538.46x
Wolstanton 16 31.37x
Oldham 15 7.87x
Cookham 13 111.68x
Chorlton On Medlock 12 12.80x
Helpringham 12 750.00x
Tettenhall 12 116.85x
Toxteth Park 11 5.50x
Clifton Campville 10 757.58x
Stoke Upon Trent 10 5.62x
Beeston 9 116.88x
Gorton 9 16.22x
Litchurch 9 28.72x
Aston 8 2.32x
Budbrooke 8 625.00x
Normanton 8 121.58x
Anstey 7 321.10x
Burton Upon Trent 7 17.82x
Camberwell 7 2.20x
Ludworth 7 190.74x
Melbourne 7 131.58x
Spittlegate 7 63.64x
Stanley 7 486.11x
Uttoxeter 7 81.40x
Batley 6 12.81x
Oldbury 6 18.77x
St Pancras London 6 1.50x
West Derby 6 3.47x
Cheadle 5 23.84x
Deptford St Paul 5 3.82x
Golborne 5 65.02x
Rugby 5 29.46x
Sheffield 5 3.19x
Thornton In Bradford 5 30.47x
Wednesfield 5 20.23x
Barrow In Furness 4 4.98x
Burton Extra 4 41.54x
Nottingham St Peter 4 53.48x
Rowley Regis 4 8.55x
Sawley 4 170.21x
Soberton 4 213.90x
Tipton 4 7.78x
Derby All Sts 3 46.08x
Hitchin 3 19.38x
Hyde 3 9.26x
Islington London 3 0.62x
Long Eaton 3 29.18x
Margate St John Baptist 3 9.65x
Marple 3 39.79x
Newark Upon Trent 3 12.45x
Nottingham St Mary 3 1.73x
Paddington London 3 1.64x
Quarndon 3 315.79x
St Marylebone London 3 1.13x
West Bromwich 3 3.12x
Windley 3 937.50x
Bollin Fee 2 41.07x
Brighton 2 1.18x
Bulwell 2 13.72x
Derby St Alkmund 2 8.57x
Gate Fulford 2 17.38x
Gayton 2 500.00x
Heckington 2 66.01x
Lenton 2 12.67x
Liverpool 2 0.56x
Lullington 2 157.48x
Manchester 2 0.75x
Pleasley 2 102.04x
Welby 2 303.03x
Alconbury Weston 1 140.85x
Battersea 1 0.55x
Cheadle 1 12.41x
Derby St Peter 1 4.03x
Matlock 1 9.56x
Warwick St Mary 1 9.18x
Woking 1 6.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 35
Sarah 22
Elizabeth 18
Ann 17
Hannah 11
Eliza 8
Annie 7
Jane 7
Ada 6
Alice 6
Harriet 6
Catherine 5
Kate 5
Martha 5
Caroline 4
Edith 4
Ellen 4
Emma 4
Maria 4
Anne 3
Clara 3
Emily 3
Fanny 3
Harriett 3
Lizzie 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Agnes 2
Eleanor 2
Elizth. 2
Florence 2
Margaret 2
Marie 2
Matilda 2
Rose 2
Selina 2
Susan 2
Catharine 1
Charlotte 1
Cicely 1
E. 1
Getrude 1
Jessie 1
Juliet 1
Lilly 1
Lousia 1
M. 1
Mabel 1
Maggie 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 40
George 23
William 22
Thomas 20
Joseph 16
Henry 15
James 12
Robert 9
Samuel 9
Edwin 8
David 6
Albert 5
Walter 5
Amos 4
Charles 4
Edward 4
Frank 4
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Harry 3
Richard 3
Fred 2
Isaac 2
Matthew 2
Wm. 2
Ben 1
Bertham 1
Edmond 1
Edmund 1
Eliza 1
Ellis 1
Evans 1
Francis 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Hubert 1
Jane 1
Jas 1
Job 1
Johnothan 1
Lawrence 1
Louis 1
Norman 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Roland 1
Samel 1
Tomas 1
Uriah 1
Wiliam 1

FAQ

Taft surname: questions and answers

How common was the Taft surname in 1881?

In 1881, 513 people were recorded with the Taft surname. That placed it at #6,647 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Taft surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 858 in 2016. That gives Taft a modern rank of #6,528.

What does the Taft surname mean?

Derived from a nickname for a tall or stout person, from the Middle English word "taft," meaning tallow.

What does the Taft map show?

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