NameCensus.

UK surname

Tamblyn

A surname potentially derived from the Welsh place name Tal-y-llyn, meaning "end of the lake".

In the 1881 census there were 348 people recorded with the Tamblyn surname, ranking it #8,791 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 362, ranked #12,810, down from #8,791 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tamblyn is 410 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.0%.

1881 census count

348

Ranked #8,791

Modern count

362

2016, ranked #12,810

Peak year

1891

410 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tamblyn had 348 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,791 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 362 in 2016, ranked #12,810.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 410 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Tamblyn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tamblyn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tamblyn 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 258 #8,568
1861 historical 284 #8,845
1881 historical 348 #8,791
1891 historical 410 #8,694
1901 historical 386 #9,708
1911 historical 403 #9,238
1997 modern 356 #12,021
1998 modern 365 #12,175
1999 modern 373 #12,054
2000 modern 390 #11,623
2001 modern 379 #11,676
2002 modern 398 #11,478
2003 modern 381 #11,667
2004 modern 373 #11,859
2005 modern 359 #12,143
2006 modern 353 #12,363
2007 modern 354 #12,489
2008 modern 347 #12,786
2009 modern 364 #12,584
2010 modern 357 #13,036
2011 modern 353 #13,004
2012 modern 350 #12,965
2013 modern 363 #12,815
2014 modern 364 #12,876
2015 modern 362 #12,825
2016 modern 362 #12,810

Geography

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Where Tamblyns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Columb Major, Lanreath, St Agnes, Newlyn and St Columb Minor. 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 Lanreath Cornwall
3 St Agnes Cornwall
4 Newlyn Cornwall
5 St Columb Minor Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 028 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 016 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 023 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 024 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 030 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tamblyn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tamblyn

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Tamblyn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Tamblyn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Tamblyn is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Tamblyn is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tamblyn 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 Tamblyn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Tamblyn

The surname Tamblyn originated in Cornwall, England, and it is believed to have derived from the Cornish place name "Tamblyn" or "Tammelyn," which translates to "the homestead in the deep valley." This name is believed to have been in use as early as the 13th century.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Tamblyn can be found in the "Assize Rolls of Cornwall" from 1284, where a person named Roger de Tamblyn was mentioned. Additionally, the "Feet of Fines of Cornwall" from 1327 references a John de Tamblyn.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Tamlyn," "Tamelyn," and "Tamblyn." One notable figure from this period was John Tamblyn, who was born in 1530 and served as the Mayor of Bodmin, Cornwall, in 1573.

In the 17th century, the name continued to be prevalent in Cornwall, with several individuals bearing the surname appearing in parish records. One such individual was William Tamblyn, born in 1642, who was a prominent landowner in the area.

The 18th century saw the name spreading beyond Cornwall, with some Tamblyns migrating to other parts of England and even to the American colonies. An example is Thomas Tamblyn, born in 1725, who was a merchant and landowner in Virginia.

Moving into the 19th century, the Tamblyn surname was well-established in Cornwall and beyond. Notable individuals from this period include Sir Lewis Tamblyn (1809-1892), a British naval officer and explorer, and Reuben Tamblyn (1841-1917), a Cornish poet and writer.

Throughout history, the Tamblyn name has been associated with various professions, including landowners, merchants, poets, and military figures. While the name originated in Cornwall, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and exploration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tamblyn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tamblyn 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 299 Tamblyns recorded in 1881 and an index of 77.58x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 299 77.58x
Glamorgan 12 2.02x
Devon 11 1.55x
Middlesex 10 0.29x
Somerset 5 0.91x
Staffordshire 3 0.26x
Flintshire 2 2.19x
Gloucestershire 2 0.30x
Warwickshire 2 0.23x
Lancashire 1 0.02x
Royal Navy 1 2.46x
Yorkshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Enoder in Cornwall leads with 38 Tamblyns recorded in 1881 and an index of 2900.76x.

Place Total Index
St Enoder 38 2900.76x
Lanreath 22 3333.33x
St Agnes 20 370.37x
St Austell 20 151.86x
St Columb Major 19 593.75x
Newlyn 16 969.70x
St Blazey 16 473.37x
St Pinnock 12 2068.97x
Perranzabuloe 11 331.33x
Redruth 10 91.74x
Kenwyn 9 89.29x
Gulval 8 322.58x
Gwennap 8 110.04x
St Breock 8 384.62x
Buckfastleigh 7 214.07x
Ladock 7 642.20x
Liskeard 7 108.53x
Probus 7 443.04x
St Cleer 7 209.58x
St Columb Minor 7 216.05x
St Dominick 7 721.65x
Pelynt 6 769.23x
Pillaton 6 1538.46x
Cwmdu 5 69.25x
Kensington London 5 2.64x
Llantwit Vairdre 4 60.06x
St Neot 4 263.16x
Winford 4 363.64x
Bodmin 3 47.02x
Cannock 3 14.96x
Fowey 3 169.49x
Lanlivery 3 185.19x
Plymouth Charles The 3 9.61x
Sheviock 3 461.54x
Swansea Lower 3 99.34x
Aston 2 0.85x
Chelsea London 2 1.95x
Crantock 2 500.00x
Fulham London 2 4.05x
Llanasa 2 63.09x
St Keyne 2 1052.63x
Winterbourne 2 54.20x
Barrow In Furness 1 1.82x
Cornelly 1 909.09x
Devonport 1 12.29x
Kea 1 34.84x
Lansallos 1 119.05x
Mawgan In Meneage 1 100.00x
Padstow 1 39.06x
Royal Navy 1 2.88x
Skinningrove 1 48.31x
St Clement 1 24.88x
St Decumans 1 188.68x
St Pancras London 1 0.36x
Talland 1 109.89x
Truro St Mary 1 30.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 35
Elizabeth 21
Jane 8
Ann 7
Eliza 7
Ellen 6
Emily 5
Sarah 5
Annie 4
Bessie 4
Louisa 4
Maria 4
Charlotte 3
Fanny 3
Mabel 3
Anne 2
Bertha 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Emma 2
Eva 2
Gertrude 2
Grace 2
Hannah 2
Johannah 2
Julia 2
Minnie 2
Nannie 2
Philippa 2
Rebecca 2
Alice 1
Amy 1
Beatrice 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elinor 1
Eth. 1
Harriett 1
Jenefor 1
Jessey 1
Kitty 1
Lavinia 1
Letitia 1
Lilian 1
Lillie 1
Louise 1
Loveday 1
Lydia 1
Marjorie 1
Tryphona 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 32
John 21
Thomas 19
Alfred 9
Joseph 8
Richard 5
Frank 4
George 4
James 4
Jeremiah 4
Samuel 4
Francis 3
Arthur 2
Charles 2
David 2
Edward 2
Frederick 2
Henry 2
Jonathan 2
Jonathon 2
Albert 1
Benjamin 1
Charley 1
Chas. 1
Cobden 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Ewart 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Jas.Thos. 1
Jno. 1
Josiah 1
Llewellyn 1
Matthew 1
Nathan 1
Orlando 1
Percy 1
Petherick 1
Reginald 1
Richd. 1
Rockrod 1
Sam 1
Sampson 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1
W. 1

FAQ

Tamblyn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tamblyn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 348 people were recorded with the Tamblyn surname. That placed it at #8,791 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tamblyn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 362 in 2016. That gives Tamblyn a modern rank of #12,810.

What does the Tamblyn surname mean?

A surname potentially derived from the Welsh place name Tal-y-llyn, meaning "end of the lake".

What does the Tamblyn map show?

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