NameCensus.

UK surname

Tamlin

A surname derived from the Scottish place name "Tam Lin" or "Tamlene", referring to someone from that location.

In the 1881 census there were 143 people recorded with the Tamlin surname, ranking it #15,955 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 144, ranked #24,390, down from #15,955 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tormoham with Torquay, St Mary Church and Swansea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, North Devon and Ceredigion.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tamlin is 193 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.7%.

1881 census count

143

Ranked #15,955

Modern count

144

2016, ranked #24,390

Peak year

1861

193 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tamlin had 143 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,955 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 144 in 2016, ranked #24,390.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 193 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Tamlin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tamlin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tamlin 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 138 #13,745
1861 historical 193 #12,371
1881 historical 143 #15,955
1891 historical 170 #16,816
1901 historical 146 #18,335
1911 historical 171 #16,461
1997 modern 162 #20,107
1998 modern 151 #21,578
1999 modern 162 #20,781
2000 modern 161 #20,822
2001 modern 157 #20,884
2002 modern 150 #21,913
2003 modern 144 #22,270
2004 modern 144 #22,379
2005 modern 140 #22,774
2006 modern 136 #23,378
2007 modern 134 #23,931
2008 modern 143 #23,160
2009 modern 145 #23,473
2010 modern 152 #23,282
2011 modern 141 #24,294
2012 modern 145 #23,780
2013 modern 149 #23,765
2014 modern 146 #24,274
2015 modern 143 #24,481
2016 modern 144 #24,390

Geography

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Where Tamlins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tormoham with Torquay, St Mary Church, Swansea, Chelsea and Plymouth St Charles the Martyr. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, North Devon, Ceredigion, Neath Port Talbot and Cardiff. 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 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
2 St Mary Church Devon
3 Swansea Glamorganshire
4 Chelsea London (West Districts)
5 Plymouth St Charles the Martyr Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 037 Cornwall
2 North Devon 010 North Devon
3 Ceredigion 009 Ceredigion
4 Neath Port Talbot 011 Neath Port Talbot
5 Cardiff 043 Cardiff

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tamlin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tamlin

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Tamlin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Tamlin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Tamlin is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tamlin 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

Tamlin falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tamlin 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 Tamlin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Tamlin

The surname Tamlin is of English origin, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English personal name "Tomlin," a diminutive form of the name "Thomas." This surname would have originally been used to identify someone as the son of Tomlin or a variation of that name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Tamlin surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it appears as "Tomelyn." The Hundred Rolls were administrative records maintained by the English government during the reign of King Edward I.

In the 14th century, the name is documented in various forms, including "Tomelyn," "Tomelyne," and "Tomelyn de Weston." The latter entry suggests that the surname may have been associated with the place name Weston, which could indicate a specific location where the family resided or originated.

During the 15th century, the surname appeared in various records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1459, where it was spelled "Tomlyn." This variation in spelling was common during this period due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

Notable individuals throughout history with the surname Tamlin include John Tamlin (c. 1450-1520), a prominent merchant and landowner in Gloucestershire, England. Another notable figure was William Tamlin (1592-1658), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Rector of Tredington in Worcestershire.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various parish registers and court records, such as the Hearth Tax Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1665, where it is listed as "Tomelyns." This record suggests that the family may have had connections to the county of Oxfordshire during this period.

Moving into the 18th century, the surname is found in the baptismal records of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, where a child named Mary Tamlin was baptized in 1732. This entry demonstrates the continued use of the surname in various parts of England.

During the 19th century, the name can be found in various census records and birth registers. One notable individual from this period was Thomas Tamlin (1804-1878), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Manchester, England, who made significant contributions to the local community.

Throughout its history, the surname Tamlin has maintained a strong presence in various regions of England, with variations in spelling and associations with specific locations. While the name has evolved over time, its origins can be traced back to the Old English personal name "Tomlin," reflecting the historical significance and enduring legacy of this surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tamlin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tamlin 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. Devon leads with 74 Tamlins recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.49x.

County Total Index
Devon 74 25.49x
Middlesex 20 1.43x
Glamorgan 15 6.18x
Cornwall 10 6.33x
Warwickshire 6 1.71x
Cheshire 4 1.30x
Lancashire 3 0.18x
Gloucestershire 2 0.73x
Somerset 2 0.89x
Sussex 2 0.85x
Berkshire 1 0.96x
Kent 1 0.21x
Royal Navy 1 6.02x
Staffordshire 1 0.21x
Yorkshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Swansea Town in Glamorgan leads with 14 Tamlins recorded in 1881 and an index of 70.32x.

Place Total Index
Swansea Town 14 70.32x
North Tawton 13 1460.67x
Stoke Damerel 13 63.98x
Plymouth Charles The 12 93.82x
Plymouth St Andrew 10 44.72x
Brixham 9 267.86x
Aston 6 6.20x
Chelsea London 6 14.28x
Newton Abbot St Mary 6 245.90x
St Pancras London 6 5.34x
Antony 5 328.95x
Runcorn 4 56.34x
Devonport 3 89.82x
Maker 3 205.48x
St George Martyr 3 127.66x
Westminster St James 3 20.92x
Bridgewater 2 32.84x
Brighton 2 4.22x
Shoreditch London 2 3.31x
Toxteth Park 2 3.57x
Barnstaple 1 21.93x
Bodmin 1 38.31x
Bristol St Paul In 1 13.72x
Bristol St Stephen 1 140.85x
Clewer 1 23.31x
Compton Gifford 1 109.89x
Dartmouth Townstall 1 84.75x
Hythe St Leonard 1 59.52x
Leeds 1 1.28x
Liverpool 1 0.99x
Plymstock 1 65.79x
Royal Navy 1 7.04x
Sampford Courtenay 1 232.56x
Sidmouth 1 60.24x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 2.00x
Tormoham 1 8.14x
Trusham 1 1250.00x
Tywardreath 1 99.01x
Ystradyfodwg 1 4.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Elizabeth 8
Alice 4
Jane 4
Ann 3
Emma 3
Sarah 3
Susan 3
Caroline 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Priscilla 2
Ada 1
Anna 1
Annie 1
Betsy 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Deliah 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elivin 1
Florence 1
George 1
Grace 1
Harriett 1
Henretta 1
Henrietta 1
Jemima 1
Judith 1
Kate 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1
Medny 1
Ophelia 1
Pheobe 1
Phoebe 1
Rosa 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 11
John 10
Thomas 5
Henry 4
Charles 3
Robert 3
Alfred 2
Frederick 2
George 2
Hugh 2
James 2
Joseph 2
Samuel 2
Aaron 1
Chas. 1
David 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Herbert 1
Richd. 1
Saml. 1
Sydney 1
Walter 1
Wilfred 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Tamlin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tamlin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 143 people were recorded with the Tamlin surname. That placed it at #15,955 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tamlin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 144 in 2016. That gives Tamlin a modern rank of #24,390.

What does the Tamlin surname mean?

A surname derived from the Scottish place name "Tam Lin" or "Tamlene", referring to someone from that location.

What does the Tamlin map show?

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