UK surname
An English occupational surname for someone who kept accounts or records, derived from the tally sticks used for accounting.
In the 1881 census there were 56 people recorded with the Tally surname, ranking it #25,733 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 29, ranked #36,059, down from #25,733 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Earlston, Kingsteignton and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tally is 168 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 48.2%.
1881 census count
56
Ranked #25,733
Modern count
29
2016, ranked #36,059
Peak year
1861
168 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Tally surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Tally surname density by area, 1861 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 | 78 | #19,840 |
| 1861 | historical | 168 | #13,895 |
| 1881 | historical | 56 | #25,733 |
| 1891 | historical | 77 | #27,169 |
| 1901 | historical | 38 | #29,914 |
| 1911 | historical | 26 | #30,547 |
| 1997 | modern | 10 | #37,060 |
| 1998 | modern | 13 | #36,679 |
| 1999 | modern | 12 | #36,806 |
| 2000 | modern | 11 | #36,879 |
| 2001 | modern | 8 | #37,124 |
| 2002 | modern | 8 | #37,206 |
| 2003 | modern | 10 | #36,964 |
| 2004 | modern | 10 | #37,096 |
| 2005 | modern | 10 | #37,180 |
| 2006 | modern | 9 | #37,345 |
| 2007 | modern | 7 | #37,687 |
| 2008 | modern | 10 | #37,371 |
| 2009 | modern | 9 | #37,573 |
| 2010 | modern | 13 | #37,215 |
| 2011 | modern | 15 | #37,030 |
| 2012 | modern | 13 | #37,169 |
| 2013 | modern | 17 | #36,857 |
| 2014 | modern | 26 | #36,244 |
| 2015 | modern | 26 | #36,228 |
| 2016 | modern | 29 | #36,059 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Earlston, Kingsteignton, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Portsmouth, Portsea and St John Hackney. 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 | Earlston | Berwick |
| 2 | Kingsteignton | Devon |
| 3 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| 4 | Portsmouth, Portsea | Hampshire |
| 5 | St John Hackney | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Tally 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 Tally, 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 Tally surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Tally 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, Tally 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 Tally is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Tally, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Tally is of English origin, originating in the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "tailler," meaning "to cut" or "to tally." The name likely referred to an occupation, possibly a wood-cutter or a tax collector who kept tallies or records.
In medieval England, the use of surnames was not widespread, and people were often identified by their occupation, location, or physical characteristics. The earliest recorded instance of the surname Tally dates back to the late 12th century in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, where a certain "William le Talliur" was mentioned.
The name Tally is associated with several historical figures throughout the centuries. One notable bearer was Sir Ralph Tally (c. 1300-1370), a prominent English landowner and knight who served as a soldier and ambassador during the reigns of Edward III and Richard II. Another was John Tally (c. 1370-1452), an English lawyer and judge who served as Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 1422 to 1435.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Tally appeared in various spellings, including Talley, Talie, and Taillie. One notable bearer from this period was Sir Thomas Tally (c. 1535-1608), an English landowner and Member of Parliament who served as Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1588.
In the 18th century, the name Tally was associated with several prominent figures in the American colonies. One was Robert Tally (c. 1680-1758), a wealthy landowner and merchant in Virginia who served as a justice of the peace and a member of the House of Burgesses. Another was William Tally (c. 1710-1782), a farmer and militia officer who fought in the French and Indian War and later served as a colonel in the Virginia militia during the American Revolutionary War.
The 19th century saw the rise of several notable individuals with the surname Tally. One was William Tally (1818-1893), an American politician and lawyer who served as a U.S. Representative from Connecticut from 1857 to 1859. Another was Thomas Tally (1830-1904), an Irish-born American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Tally Ho Carriage Company in New York City.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tally 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 Tallys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.32x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 15 | 2.32x |
| Middlesex | 11 | 2.01x |
| Monmouthshire | 6 | 15.20x |
| Derbyshire | 5 | 5.85x |
| Durham | 4 | 2.46x |
| Surrey | 3 | 1.13x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.55x |
| Aberdeenshire | 2 | 3.95x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 1.66x |
| Devon | 2 | 1.76x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 1.23x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.14x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.73x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wigan in Lancashire leads with 7 Tallys recorded in 1881 and an index of 77.35x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Wigan | 7 | 77.35x |
| Bedwellty | 6 | 86.08x |
| Bromley London | 6 | 49.96x |
| Ilkeston | 5 | 208.33x |
| Toxteth Park | 4 | 18.23x |
| Oldham | 3 | 14.35x |
| Tanfield | 3 | 155.44x |
| Aberdeen St Nicholas | 2 | 21.14x |
| Hackney London | 2 | 6.53x |
| Holy Trinity | 2 | 15.37x |
| Kensington London | 2 | 6.59x |
| Weaverham Cum Milton | 2 | 625.00x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 2.18x |
| Croydon | 1 | 6.77x |
| Dewsbury | 1 | 18.02x |
| Earsdon | 1 | 151.52x |
| East Teignmouth | 1 | 212.77x |
| Eggleston | 1 | 714.29x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 7.43x |
| Newington | 1 | 4.96x |
| Pylle | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Salford | 1 | 5.25x |
| Southwark St John | 1 | 59.88x |
| Tiverton | 1 | 51.02x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Tally 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 Tally 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 Tally households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 11 |
| Iron Worker | 3 |
| Farm Laborer | 2 |
| Architect | 1 |
| Auctioneers Porter | 1 |
| Bill Deliverer Sticker | 1 |
| Brick Burner | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Coachman | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Confectioner | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Cotton Piecer | 1 |
| Dairywoman (Ag) | 1 |
| Engine Stoker At Iron Works | 1 |
| General Lab | 1 |
| Hotel Porter Unemployed | 1 |
| Housemaid Dom | 1 |
| Lab | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer General | 1 |
| Plasterer | 1 |
| Rigger (Ship) | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 56 people were recorded with the Tally surname. That placed it at #25,733 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 29 in 2016. That gives Tally a modern rank of #36,059.
An English occupational surname for someone who kept accounts or records, derived from the tally sticks used for accounting.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Tally 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.