UK surname
Derived from a village name, possibly related to the Old English word "tæt" meaning cheerful or bright.
In the 1881 census there were 131 people recorded with the Taite surname, ranking it #16,824 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 76, ranked #33,304, down from #16,824 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Dunbar, South Knapdale and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Taite is 131 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 42.0%.
1881 census count
131
Ranked #16,824
Modern count
76
2016, ranked #33,304
Peak year
1881
131 bearers
Map years
2
1881 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Taite surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Taite surname density by area, 1881 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 | 94 | #17,837 |
| 1861 | historical | 64 | #25,747 |
| 1881 | historical | 131 | #16,824 |
| 1891 | historical | 69 | #28,188 |
| 1901 | historical | 100 | #22,863 |
| 1911 | historical | 63 | #26,537 |
| 1997 | modern | 70 | #30,618 |
| 1998 | modern | 71 | #30,869 |
| 1999 | modern | 80 | #30,152 |
| 2000 | modern | 83 | #29,809 |
| 2001 | modern | 82 | #29,714 |
| 2002 | modern | 81 | #30,294 |
| 2003 | modern | 88 | #29,506 |
| 2004 | modern | 83 | #30,352 |
| 2005 | modern | 76 | #31,267 |
| 2006 | modern | 74 | #31,850 |
| 2007 | modern | 68 | #32,760 |
| 2008 | modern | 68 | #33,047 |
| 2009 | modern | 69 | #33,257 |
| 2010 | modern | 71 | #33,401 |
| 2011 | modern | 74 | #33,151 |
| 2012 | modern | 72 | #33,502 |
| 2013 | modern | 74 | #33,483 |
| 2014 | modern | 75 | #33,473 |
| 2015 | modern | 75 | #33,425 |
| 2016 | modern | 76 | #33,304 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Dunbar, South Knapdale, London parishes and Paddington. 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 | Dunbar | Haddington |
| 2 | South Knapdale | Argyll |
| 3 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 4 | Paddington | London (West Districts) |
| 5 | London parishes | London 3 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Taite 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 Taite, 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 Taite surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Taite 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, Taite 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 Taite is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Taite, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Taite is of English origin and is derived from the Old English word "tát," which means "tattered" or "ragged." This suggests that the name may have been originally a descriptive nickname for someone who wore tattered or ragged clothing.
The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the late 13th century, with mentions in various records such as the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it appears as "Tate." This spelling variation is believed to be an anglicized form of the original Old English word.
In the 14th century, the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where it is recorded as "Tate." This suggests that the name was present in different regions of England during this period, potentially indicating the migration of families bearing this surname.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Tate, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1394. This historical record provides evidence of the surname's continued use and presence in various parts of England.
The Taite surname has also been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was Sir Henry Tate (1819-1899), a renowned English sugar merchant and philanthropist. He founded the Tate Gallery, which later became part of the Tate museums in London.
Another notable bearer of the name was Ralph Tate (1840-1901), an English naturalist and geologist. He made significant contributions to the study of paleontology and was recognized for his work on the fossil fauna of the Yorkshire Lias.
In the realm of literature, Nahum Tate (1652-1715) was an Irish poet and playwright who served as the Poet Laureate of England from 1692 to 1715. He is best known for his adaptations of Shakespeare's plays and his contributions to the development of English drama.
The name Taite has also been associated with several notable figures in the United States. One such individual was James Tate (1943-2015), an American poet and academic who won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1992 for his collection "Selected Poems."
Another prominent American with this surname was John Tate (1925-2019), a renowned mathematician who made significant contributions to the fields of algebraic number theory and arithmetic geometry. He was awarded the prestigious Wolf Prize in Mathematics in 2010.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Taite 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. Durham leads with 25 Taites recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.78x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 25 | 6.78x |
| Sussex | 12 | 5.75x |
| East Lothian | 10 | 60.94x |
| Surrey | 10 | 1.66x |
| Argyllshire | 8 | 23.20x |
| Staffordshire | 8 | 1.91x |
| Yorkshire | 8 | 0.65x |
| Caernarfonshire | 7 | 13.97x |
| Lanarkshire | 7 | 1.75x |
| Northumberland | 7 | 3.80x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 0.40x |
| Worcestershire | 5 | 3.09x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.27x |
| Midlothian | 3 | 1.81x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 0.96x |
| Nottinghamshire | 2 | 1.20x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 0.94x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.41x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 0.93x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dunbar in East Lothian leads with 10 Taites recorded in 1881 and an index of 434.78x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Dunbar | 10 | 434.78x |
| Bishop Auckland | 9 | 182.19x |
| Brighton | 8 | 18.99x |
| Knapdale South | 8 | 677.97x |
| Llanbeblig | 7 | 137.80x |
| Old Monkland | 7 | 44.03x |
| Wolverhampton | 7 | 21.77x |
| Camberwell | 6 | 7.58x |
| Birtley | 5 | 333.33x |
| Bridlington | 5 | 177.94x |
| Oldbury | 5 | 62.81x |
| Evenwood Barony | 4 | 320.00x |
| Morpeth | 4 | 184.33x |
| Broom | 3 | 967.74x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 3 | 4.49x |
| Poplar London | 3 | 12.83x |
| Preston | 3 | 82.19x |
| Throston | 3 | 422.54x |
| Birmingham | 2 | 1.92x |
| Chirton | 2 | 47.96x |
| Croydon | 2 | 5.97x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 1.85x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 2 | 4.63x |
| Arlecdon | 1 | 35.21x |
| Burslem | 1 | 8.35x |
| Byker | 1 | 10.98x |
| Chester Le Street | 1 | 35.34x |
| Chetwynd | 1 | 285.71x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 3.42x |
| Clifton | 1 | 8.14x |
| Everton | 1 | 2.13x |
| Horton In Bradford | 1 | 5.22x |
| Hunmanby | 1 | 175.44x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 1.45x |
| Leamington | 1 | 48.31x |
| Leeds | 1 | 1.44x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.12x |
| Preston | 1 | 2.54x |
| Shoreham | 1 | 0.00x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 2.01x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Taite 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 Taite 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 Taite households.
FAQ
In 1881, 131 people were recorded with the Taite surname. That placed it at #16,824 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 76 in 2016. That gives Taite a modern rank of #33,304.
Derived from a village name, possibly related to the Old English word "tæt" meaning cheerful or bright.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Taite 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.