NameCensus.

UK surname

Tamblin

Tamblin is an English surname derived from a medieval nickname for a lively or energetic person.

In the 1881 census there were 122 people recorded with the Tamblin surname, ranking it #17,602 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 182, ranked #20,890, down from #17,602 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Columb Major, Duloe and Fowey. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tamblin is 253 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.2%.

1881 census count

122

Ranked #17,602

Modern count

182

2016, ranked #20,890

Peak year

1911

253 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tamblin had 122 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,602 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 182 in 2016, ranked #20,890.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 253 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Tamblin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tamblin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tamblin 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 95 #17,707
1861 historical 55 #27,007
1881 historical 122 #17,602
1891 historical 138 #19,411
1901 historical 209 #14,712
1911 historical 253 #12,776
1997 modern 197 #17,792
1998 modern 200 #18,114
1999 modern 198 #18,343
2000 modern 206 #17,880
2001 modern 214 #17,211
2002 modern 209 #17,803
2003 modern 199 #18,195
2004 modern 203 #18,061
2005 modern 207 #17,731
2006 modern 191 #18,825
2007 modern 184 #19,485
2008 modern 195 #18,958
2009 modern 196 #19,274
2010 modern 203 #19,264
2011 modern 196 #19,538
2012 modern 194 #19,606
2013 modern 199 #19,584
2014 modern 188 #20,503
2015 modern 188 #20,417
2016 modern 182 #20,890

Geography

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Where Tamblins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Columb Major, Duloe, Fowey, Liskeard, St Cleer and Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. 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 St Columb Major Cornwall
2 Duloe Cornwall
3 Fowey Cornwall
4 Liskeard, St Cleer Cornwall
5 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 024 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 019 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 036 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 034 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 030 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tamblin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tamblin

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Tamblin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Tamblin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Tamblin is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tamblin is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tamblin 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 Tamblin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Tamblin

The surname Tamblin originated in England during the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the Old English 'tun' meaning a farmstead or village, and 'ball' meaning a rounded hill or valley. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a small settlement in a valley.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Tambalun'. This entry refers to a landowner in the county of Somerset. Other early spellings include Tambalyn, Tambelyn, and Tambelyne.

In the 13th century, records show the name Tamblin was prevalent in the counties of Somerset, Dorset, and Devon in southwest England. The name is closely associated with the town of Taunton in Somerset, where a prominent Tamblin family resided.

A notable early bearer of the name was Sir John Tamblin (c.1320-1389), a knight and landowner from Taunton. He fought in the Hundred Years' War and was awarded lands for his service to the Crown.

During the 16th century, the Tamblin family prospered as successful merchants and traders in the nearby port city of Bristol. Richard Tamblin (1525-1592) was a wealthy merchant and alderman in Bristol, known for his philanthropy.

In the 17th century, the name Tamblin spread to other parts of England as families migrated. William Tamblin (1645-1718) was a respected clergyman and author from Oxfordshire.

The 18th century saw the rise of the Tamblin family in London. Thomas Tamblin (1762-1835) was a prominent banker and financier, while his brother James Tamblin (1765-1842) was a successful merchant and member of Parliament.

As the name evolved over time, several variations emerged, such as Tamblyn, Tambling, and Tamblen. These variants were often used interchangeably by different branches of the same family.

Throughout its history, the surname Tamblin has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, merchants, clergymen, and members of Parliament, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of those who have borne this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tamblin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tamblin 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. Cornwall leads with 78 Tamblins recorded in 1881 and an index of 57.42x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 78 57.42x
Devon 14 5.61x
Yorkshire 11 0.93x
Gloucestershire 8 3.40x
Lancashire 2 0.14x
Somerset 2 1.04x
Surrey 2 0.34x
Essex 1 0.42x
Glamorgan 1 0.48x
Kent 1 0.24x
Middlesex 1 0.08x
Pembrokeshire 1 2.62x
Royal Navy 1 6.99x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Duloe in Cornwall leads with 22 Tamblins recorded in 1881 and an index of 5500.00x.

Place Total Index
Duloe 22 5500.00x
Liskeard 16 704.85x
Stansfield 11 251.14x
St Cleer 8 677.97x
Plymouth Charles The 7 63.64x
St Germans 7 736.84x
Bristol St Augustine 6 157.89x
Sheviock 6 2608.70x
St Martins 6 4000.00x
Tormoham 4 37.84x
Fowey 3 483.87x
Cheltenham 2 11.02x
Lambeth 2 1.91x
Lansallos 2 689.66x
Morval 2 714.29x
Antony 1 76.34x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.92x
Bridgewater 1 19.08x
Cardiff St Mary 1 8.69x
East Looe 1 181.82x
Hawkridge 1 2500.00x
Kirkdale 1 4.18x
Lanreath 1 434.78x
Lanteglos By Fowey 1 181.82x
Liverpool 1 1.16x
Milford Haven 1 322.58x
Northam 1 54.95x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 5.20x
Prittlewell 1 30.49x
Ramsgate 1 14.97x
Royal Navy 1 8.18x
St Clement 1 70.42x
St Winnow 1 217.39x
Tamerton Foliott 1 208.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Emma 6
Elizabeth 5
Ann 4
Caroline 4
Jane 4
Ellen 3
Martha 3
Beatrice 2
Christian 2
Emily 2
Selina 2
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Annie 1
Catherine 1
Cathrine 1
Edward 1
Eliza 1
Flora 1
Grace 1
Lavinia 1
M.A. 1
Mabel 1
Maria 1
Mitilda 1
Rosina 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 12
John 8
Alfred 4
George 4
Samuel 4
Thomas 4
Charles 3
Robert 3
Benjamin 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
James 2
Absalom 1
Amos 1
D. 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Herbert 1
Joseph 1
Oscar 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Tom 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Tamblin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tamblin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 122 people were recorded with the Tamblin surname. That placed it at #17,602 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tamblin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 182 in 2016. That gives Tamblin a modern rank of #20,890.

What does the Tamblin surname mean?

Tamblin is an English surname derived from a medieval nickname for a lively or energetic person.

What does the Tamblin map show?

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