NameCensus.

UK surname

Tamber

Of English origin, a placename for someone living near a grove of linden trees.

In the 1881 census there were 4 people recorded with the Tamber surname, ranking it #33,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 165, ranked #22,234, up from #33,288 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Derby and Hounslow.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tamber is 176 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 4025.0%.

1881 census count

4

Ranked #33,288

Modern count

165

2016, ranked #22,234

Peak year

2013

176 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tamber had 4 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,288 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 165 in 2016, ranked #22,234.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 28 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Tamber surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tamber surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tamber 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 5 #32,456
1861 historical 28 #30,405
1881 historical 4 #33,288
1891 historical 15 #32,956
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 119 #24,302
1998 modern 126 #24,094
1999 modern 124 #24,508
2000 modern 130 #23,785
2001 modern 131 #23,343
2002 modern 138 #23,094
2003 modern 147 #21,977
2004 modern 147 #22,094
2005 modern 159 #20,983
2006 modern 166 #20,534
2007 modern 165 #20,893
2008 modern 165 #21,056
2009 modern 162 #21,791
2010 modern 166 #21,941
2011 modern 172 #21,248
2012 modern 165 #21,782
2013 modern 176 #21,237
2014 modern 173 #21,639
2015 modern 170 #21,800
2016 modern 165 #22,234

Geography

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Where Tambers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Derby and Hounslow. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Derby 029 Derby
2 Derby 022 Derby
3 Derby 020 Derby
4 Derby 021 Derby
5 Hounslow 024 Hounslow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tamber

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tamber

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Tamber surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Tamber household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Tamber is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tamber is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tamber falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tamber 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
Asian - Indian

This describes the area pattern most associated with Tamber, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Tamber

The surname "Tamber" has its origins in the British Isles, specifically in England. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "timbr," which means "timber" or "wood." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who worked with wood, such as a carpenter, woodcutter, or a person living near a wooded area.

Historical records indicate that the name "Tamber" first appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners and their holdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book mentions a person named "Tumberus," which is likely an early spelling variation of the surname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Tamber" can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1201, where a person named "Willelmus Timbr" is mentioned. This spelling variation further supports the connection to the Old English word "timbr."

In the 13th century, records show a "Robertus Tymber" residing in the county of Oxfordshire, indicating the name's presence in different regions of England during that time period. Place names like "Timberhurst" and "Timberlake" also emerged, potentially influencing the spelling and pronunciation of the surname.

Notable historical figures with the surname "Tamber" include:

1. John Tamber (c. 1520 - 1589), an English merchant and Member of Parliament from Bristol. 2. William Tamber (1612 - 1677), a prominent English lawyer and legal scholar who wrote several treatises on property law. 3. Elizabeth Tamber (1685 - 1758), a renowned English botanist and naturalist who contributed significantly to the study of plant life in the 18th century. 4. Thomas Tamber (1745 - 1818), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. 5. Margaret Tamber (1820 - 1894), a philanthropist and social reformer known for her work in improving living conditions for the working class in Victorian England.

Throughout its history, the surname "Tamber" has undergone various spelling variations, including "Timber," "Tymber," "Tymbre," and "Tymbury," further reflecting its connection to the Old English word "timbr" and the occupation or location associated with it.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tamber families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tamber 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. Kent leads with 3 Tambers recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.62x.

County Total Index
Kent 3 22.62x
Nottinghamshire 1 19.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barham in Kent leads with 3 Tambers recorded in 1881 and an index of 30000.00x.

Place Total Index
Barham 3 30000.00x
Wollaton 1 10000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emily 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 1
Richard 1

Top occupations

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 Tamber households.

Occupation Count
... 1
Ag Lab 1

FAQ

Tamber surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tamber surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4 people were recorded with the Tamber surname. That placed it at #33,288 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tamber surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 165 in 2016. That gives Tamber a modern rank of #22,234.

What does the Tamber surname mean?

Of English origin, a placename for someone living near a grove of linden trees.

What does the Tamber map show?

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