NameCensus.

UK surname

Tambling

A surname derived from a nickname for someone who frequently stumbled or tripped.

In the 1881 census there were 120 people recorded with the Tambling surname, ranking it #17,756 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 176, ranked #21,298, down from #17,756 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Talland (incl. Looe Island) and Duloe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tewkesbury, Havant and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tambling is 178 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.7%.

1881 census count

120

Ranked #17,756

Modern count

176

2016, ranked #21,298

Peak year

1911

178 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tambling had 120 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,756 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 176 in 2016, ranked #21,298.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 178 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Tambling surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tambling surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Tambling 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 78 #19,840
1861 historical 100 #21,103
1881 historical 120 #17,756
1891 historical 146 #18,664
1901 historical 134 #19,288
1911 historical 178 #16,073
1997 modern 147 #21,393
1998 modern 147 #21,935
1999 modern 159 #21,030
2000 modern 163 #20,657
2001 modern 165 #20,199
2002 modern 163 #20,767
2003 modern 147 #21,977
2004 modern 151 #21,720
2005 modern 156 #21,221
2006 modern 166 #20,534
2007 modern 166 #20,811
2008 modern 168 #20,828
2009 modern 173 #20,869
2010 modern 166 #21,941
2011 modern 164 #21,900
2012 modern 167 #21,598
2013 modern 173 #21,486
2014 modern 171 #21,812
2015 modern 173 #21,542
2016 modern 176 #21,298

Geography

Back to top

Where Tamblings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Talland (incl. Looe Island), Duloe, St Martin and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tewkesbury, Havant and 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Talland (incl. Looe Island) Cornwall
3 Duloe Cornwall
4 St Martin Cornwall
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tewkesbury 007 Tewkesbury
2 Havant 017 Havant
3 Cornwall 035 Cornwall
4 Havant 016 Havant
5 Havant 015 Havant

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Tambling

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Tambling

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Tambling 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

Tambling 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

Tambling falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tambling is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Tambling

The surname Tambling is of English origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "tæmbling" or "tæmblen," which referred to a person who was a tamer of animals, particularly horses or hawks used for hunting.

The earliest recorded mention of the Tambling surname dates back to the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a John Tamelyng was listed in Norfolk. This suggests that the name was initially concentrated in the East Anglian region of England.

Variations in spelling were common in medieval times, and the Tambling name also appeared as Tambling, Tamelyn, Tamlin, and Tamelyng in various historical documents from the 13th to the 16th centuries.

In the 14th century, the Tambling surname was found in the Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire, indicating its presence in that county. The 1379 Poll Tax Records also list several individuals with the surname Tambling, including William Tameling in Yorkshire.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Tambling family established roots in various parts of England, including Lancashire, Cheshire, and Staffordshire. One notable bearer of the name was Richard Tambling, a Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake in Wigan, Lancashire, in 1555 during the reign of Queen Mary I.

In the 18th century, the Tambling surname appeared in the parish records of Lincolnshire, where Samuel Tambling (1706-1788) was a prominent landowner and farmer. Another notable figure was John Tambling (1778-1856), a renowned engraver and artist from London.

The 19th century saw the Tambling family spread further across England, with members residing in counties such as Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Warwickshire. One notable individual was John Tambling (1808-1890), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Birmingham.

While the Tambling surname is primarily associated with England, it has also been found in other parts of the world, likely due to migration. For example, Thomas Tambling (1822-1892) was a prominent American banker and businessman who was born in England but later settled in New York City.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Tambling families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tambling 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 71 Tamblings recorded in 1881 and an index of 53.14x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 71 53.14x
Somerset 27 14.21x
Gloucestershire 8 3.46x
Middlesex 6 0.51x
Glamorgan 4 1.95x
Devon 3 1.22x
Royal Navy 1 7.11x
Yorkshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cannington in Somerset leads with 21 Tamblings recorded in 1881 and an index of 3750.00x.

Place Total Index
Cannington 21 3750.00x
Duloe 13 3333.33x
St Winnow 9 1956.52x
West Looe 9 2571.43x
East Looe 8 1481.48x
Feock 8 952.38x
Bristol St George 7 65.36x
St Blazey 7 598.29x
Pelynt 6 2222.22x
St Pancras London 6 6.32x
St Germans 5 537.63x
Bridgewater 4 77.52x
Llandough Juxta Cardiff 4 1904.76x
Talland 2 645.16x
Woodleigh 2 2500.00x
Antony 1 77.52x
Ashcott 1 344.83x
Cheltenham 1 5.60x
Dittisham 1 416.67x
Liskeard 1 44.64x
Madron Penzance 1 20.58x
Newington 1 31.06x
Norton St Philip 1 476.19x
Royal Navy 1 8.32x
St Cleer 1 86.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 9
Mary 7
Ann 3
Eliza 3
Maria 3
Ada 2
Anne 2
Caroline 2
Emily 2
Fanny 2
Jane 2
Laura 2
Agness 1
Amelia 1
Bessie 1
Clara 1
Dorcas 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Florance 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Mabel 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Rachael 1
Rebecca 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Winnifred 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Tambling surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tambling surname in 1881?

In 1881, 120 people were recorded with the Tambling surname. That placed it at #17,756 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tambling surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 176 in 2016. That gives Tambling a modern rank of #21,298.

What does the Tambling surname mean?

A surname derived from a nickname for someone who frequently stumbled or tripped.

What does the Tambling map show?

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