NameCensus.

UK surname

Tallis

An English surname derived from a place name referring to someone from Tallis, England.

In the 1881 census there were 281 people recorded with the Tallis surname, ranking it #10,175 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 616, ranked #8,530, up from #10,175 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bedworth, Kings Norton and Shilton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harborough, Clackmannan, Kennet and Forestmill and Blaby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tallis is 704 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 119.2%.

1881 census count

281

Ranked #10,175

Modern count

616

2016, ranked #8,530

Peak year

2000

704 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tallis had 281 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,175 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 616 in 2016, ranked #8,530.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 517 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tallis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tallis surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Tallis 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 166 #11,986
1861 historical 156 #14,813
1881 historical 281 #10,175
1891 historical 367 #9,486
1901 historical 517 #7,852
1911 historical 491 #7,928
1997 modern 673 #7,465
1998 modern 699 #7,485
1999 modern 703 #7,488
2000 modern 704 #7,456
2001 modern 690 #7,452
2002 modern 690 #7,597
2003 modern 673 #7,628
2004 modern 678 #7,601
2005 modern 676 #7,548
2006 modern 679 #7,549
2007 modern 686 #7,549
2008 modern 697 #7,512
2009 modern 677 #7,841
2010 modern 693 #7,842
2011 modern 675 #7,916
2012 modern 638 #8,175
2013 modern 649 #8,230
2014 modern 652 #8,233
2015 modern 628 #8,417
2016 modern 616 #8,530

Geography

Back to top

Where Tallis' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bedworth, Kings Norton, Shilton, Snitterfield and Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harborough, Clackmannan, Kennet and Forestmill, Blaby, Hinckley and Bosworth and Shepway. 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 Bedworth Warwickshire
2 Kings Norton Worcestershire
3 Shilton Warwickshire
4 Snitterfield Warwickshire
5 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harborough 006 Harborough
2 Clackmannan, Kennet and Forestmill Clackmannanshire
3 Blaby 012 Blaby
4 Hinckley and Bosworth 007 Hinckley and Bosworth
5 Shepway 013 Shepway

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Tallis

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Tallis

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

Tallis is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tallis falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Tallis

The surname Tallis is of English origin, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Norman French word "tailleur," meaning a cutter or tailor. This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name were likely employed as tailors or worked in a related trade involving cutting cloth or garment making.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1190, which mention a "William Taillor." The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also list a "Richard le Taylur" in Oxfordshire. These early spellings, such as "Taillor" and "Taylur," reflect the evolution of the name from its French origins to its more modern English form.

The Tallis surname is also closely associated with certain place names in England, particularly those containing the element "tall" or "tallow," which may have been derived from the Old English word "telga" meaning a stripe or strip of land. For example, the village of Talland in Cornwall and the parish of Talley in Carmarthenshire, Wales, may have contributed to the development of the surname.

One notable historical figure bearing the Tallis surname was Thomas Tallis (c. 1505-1585), an English composer who lived during the Renaissance era. He served as a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal and is renowned for his sacred choral works, including the motet "Spem in alium" and the English liturgical composition "If Ye Love Me." Tallis's legacy as a celebrated composer has contributed to the recognition and longevity of this surname.

Other individuals of historical significance with the surname Tallis include:

1. John Tallis (1791-1854), an English cartographer and publisher known for his illustrated atlases and maps. 2. William Tallis (c. 1530-1585), an English cleric and writer who served as the Bishop of Thetford. 3. Ralph Tallis (fl. 1650), an English engraver and printmaker active in the 17th century. 4. Charles Tallis (1840-1920), a British painter and illustrator known for his landscapes and maritime scenes. 5. Camilla Tallis (b. 1964), a British actress best known for her role in the television series "The Camomile Lawn."

While the Tallis surname may have originated from a specific occupation or geographic location, its bearers have made notable contributions across various fields, including music, cartography, religion, art, and acting, solidifying its place in the annals of British history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Tallis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tallis 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. Warwickshire leads with 159 Tallis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.84x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 159 22.84x
Staffordshire 23 2.47x
Lancashire 19 0.58x
Leicestershire 13 4.25x
Surrey 11 0.82x
Montgomeryshire 9 14.23x
Rutland 9 44.40x
Shropshire 7 2.94x
Worcestershire 7 1.94x
Yorkshire 5 0.18x
Derbyshire 4 0.93x
Middlesex 3 0.11x
Angus 2 0.78x
Channel Islands 2 2.45x
Cheshire 2 0.33x
Essex 2 0.37x
Flintshire 2 2.70x
Kent 2 0.21x
Berkshire 1 0.48x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 30 Tallis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.65x.

Place Total Index
Aston 30 15.65x
Bedworth 21 413.39x
Birmingham 14 6.03x
Exhall 14 1320.75x
Claverdon 11 2037.04x
Bolehall Glascote 9 305.08x
Oakham Lordshold 9 424.53x
Pendlebury 9 130.06x
Pool 9 188.68x
Sharnford 9 2093.02x
Nuneaton 8 99.26x
Shilton 8 2051.28x
Tamworth 8 160.64x
Warwick St Mary 7 115.89x
Burton Hastings 6 4000.00x
Grendon 6 1000.00x
Norton Canes 6 176.47x
Norton Lindsey 6 4285.71x
Oswestry Rural 6 164.38x
Packwood 6 2222.22x
Stoke Prior 6 270.27x
Lambeth 5 2.08x
Putney 5 39.75x
Liverpool 4 2.01x
Stapenhill 4 62.21x
Sutton Coldfield 4 54.64x
Beswick 3 35.80x
Foleshill 3 40.98x
Harborne 3 10.05x
Leeds 3 1.94x
Leicester St Margaret 3 4.02x
Burslem 2 7.49x
Chester St John Baptist 2 18.26x
Dundee 2 2.09x
Hawarden 2 34.31x
Manchester 2 1.36x
Polesworth 2 60.42x
St Helier 2 7.51x
Walthamstow 2 10.20x
Wombwell 2 25.06x
Burton Extra 1 18.73x
Coventry Holy Trinity 1 4.81x
Earley 1 28.99x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 1 13.12x
Hulme 1 1.46x
Kings Bromley 1 185.19x
Kings Norton 1 3.09x
Oswestry Town 1 13.09x
Rugby 1 10.62x
Rushall 1 18.25x
Shenstone 1 42.19x
Sittingbourne 1 13.44x
St Bride London 1 62.50x
St Marylebone London 1 0.68x
St Pancras London 1 0.45x
Stoke 1 72.99x
Stratford On Avon 1 25.91x
Sutton 1 10.28x
Thurlaston 1 200.00x
Walmer 1 24.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 17
Mary 14
Emma 11
Elizabeth 10
Eliza 8
Edith 6
Hannah 5
Jane 5
Ann 4
Louisa 4
Alice 3
Emily 3
Amelia 2
Annie 2
Beatrice 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Margaret 2
Marion 2
Martha 2
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Carry 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Emiley 1
Eunice 1
Fanney 1
Felicia 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Helen 1
Jennie 1
Kate 1
Lucinda 1
Lucy 1
Margrate 1
Matilda 1
May 1
Nellie 1
Nora 1
Pheby 1
Priscilla 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rosa 1
Rosalind 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 24
John 21
Charles 13
Thomas 10
George 8
Joseph 7
Arthur 6
Edward 5
James 4
Richard 4
Albert 3
Walter 3
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Henry 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Sidney 2
Alfred 1
Amos 1
Avis 1
Benjamin 1
Earnest 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Geo. 1
Hedly 1
Job 1
Leonard 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Wilfred 1
Willie 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Tallis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tallis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 281 people were recorded with the Tallis surname. That placed it at #10,175 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tallis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 616 in 2016. That gives Tallis a modern rank of #8,530.

What does the Tallis surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name referring to someone from Tallis, England.

What does the Tallis map show?

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