NameCensus.

UK surname

Tamlyn

A locational surname originating from areas named Tamlyn or variants thereof.

In the 1881 census there were 288 people recorded with the Tamlyn surname, ranking it #9,988 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 212, ranked #18,843, down from #9,988 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to North Molton, Highbray, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and St Martin. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Uttlesford, Kensington and Chelsea and North Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tamlyn is 288 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 26.4%.

1881 census count

288

Ranked #9,988

Modern count

212

2016, ranked #18,843

Peak year

1881

288 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tamlyn had 288 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,988 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 212 in 2016, ranked #18,843.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 288 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Tamlyn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tamlyn surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Tamlyn 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 194 #10,662
1861 historical 191 #12,467
1881 historical 288 #9,988
1891 historical 255 #12,552
1901 historical 274 #12,370
1911 historical 256 #12,688
1997 modern 229 #16,168
1998 modern 252 #15,584
1999 modern 231 #16,646
2000 modern 237 #16,331
2001 modern 232 #16,314
2002 modern 246 #15,988
2003 modern 225 #16,808
2004 modern 211 #17,590
2005 modern 204 #17,893
2006 modern 206 #17,945
2007 modern 214 #17,688
2008 modern 220 #17,544
2009 modern 217 #18,070
2010 modern 218 #18,375
2011 modern 208 #18,783
2012 modern 212 #18,481
2013 modern 219 #18,385
2014 modern 216 #18,705
2015 modern 212 #18,842
2016 modern 212 #18,843

Geography

Back to top

Where Tamlyns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around North Molton, Highbray, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Martin, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton and Tawstock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Uttlesford, Kensington and Chelsea, North Devon and South Gloucestershire. 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 North Molton, Highbray Devon
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 St Martin Pembrokeshire
4 Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton Devon
5 Tawstock Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Uttlesford 008 Uttlesford
2 Kensington and Chelsea 006 Kensington and Chelsea
3 North Devon 005 North Devon
4 South Gloucestershire 019 South Gloucestershire
5 South Gloucestershire 031 South Gloucestershire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Tamlyn

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Tamlyn

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tamlyn, 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 Tamlyn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Tamlyn 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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Tamlyn 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

Tamlyn is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tamlyn falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Tamlyn

The surname Tamlyn is of English origin and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English words "tame" meaning "to tame or subdue" and "lyn" meaning "a small lake or pool". This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a tame or subdued body of water.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1203, where one Robert Tamelyn is mentioned. Another early reference is in the Assize Court Rolls of Yorkshire in 1286, which include a Thomas Tamelyn. These early records indicate that the name was initially concentrated in the northern counties of England.

The name has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Tamlyn End in Hertfordshire and Tamlyn Green in Surrey. These place names likely derived from the surname itself, suggesting that the name was well-established in these areas by the time the locations were named.

One notable bearer of the Tamlyn surname was Sir John Tamlyn, a member of the English gentry who lived in the late 15th century. He was a landowner in Oxfordshire and served as a justice of the peace during the reign of Henry VII.

Another prominent figure was Richard Tamlyn, born in 1612, who was an English clergyman and author. He served as the Rector of St. Margaret's Church in Hertfordshire and published several religious works during his lifetime.

In the 18th century, there was a William Tamlyn, born in 1732, who was a renowned clockmaker in London. His intricate timepieces are still highly prized by collectors today.

Eliza Tamlyn, born in 1805, was a notable writer and poet from Cornwall. She published several collections of poetry and was praised for her vivid descriptions of the Cornish landscape.

Lastly, one of the most famous bearers of the Tamlyn surname was Sir John Tamlyn, born in 1858, who was a British military officer and explorer. He led several expeditions to Africa and was instrumental in mapping previously uncharted regions of the continent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Tamlyn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tamlyn 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 133 Tamlyns recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.82x.

County Total Index
Devon 133 22.82x
Glamorgan 32 6.56x
Lancashire 15 0.45x
Gloucestershire 14 2.55x
Middlesex 13 0.46x
Cornwall 11 3.47x
Hampshire 11 1.92x
Somerset 10 2.22x
Pembrokeshire 7 7.87x
Shropshire 7 2.89x
Sussex 7 1.48x
Berkshire 6 2.86x
Monmouthshire 6 2.96x
Surrey 5 0.37x
Derbyshire 2 0.46x
Kent 2 0.21x
Staffordshire 2 0.21x
Renfrewshire 1 0.46x
Royal Navy 1 3.00x
Warwickshire 1 0.14x
Yorkshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Eastdown in Devon leads with 13 Tamlyns recorded in 1881 and an index of 3823.53x.

Place Total Index
Eastdown 13 3823.53x
Marwood 13 1688.31x
Swansea Town 11 27.53x
Northam 10 235.29x
Plymouth Charles The 10 38.96x
Whalley 10 206.61x
North Molton 9 789.47x
Paracombe 9 2432.43x
Tiverton 9 89.64x
Mangotsfield 8 146.25x
Stoke Rivers 8 4210.53x
Brighton 7 7.35x
Pilton 7 364.58x
Southampton All Sts 7 71.07x
Wellington 7 51.51x
Barnstaple 6 65.57x
Bishops Tawton 6 329.67x
Dartmouth St Saviour 6 361.45x
Haverfordwest St Martin 6 363.64x
Kensington London 6 3.85x
St Woollos 6 26.56x
Bridgewater 5 40.88x
Cardiff St Mary 5 18.62x
Easthampstead 5 442.48x
Liverpool 5 2.48x
Roath 5 22.58x
St Agnes 5 112.61x
Bethnal Green London 4 3.29x
Braunton 4 202.02x
Bristol St Mary Le Port 4 4000.00x
Clase 4 22.06x
Swansea St Thomas 4 81.63x
Tormoham 4 16.22x
Christchurch 3 24.12x
Newington 3 2.90x
Stoke Pero 3 6000.00x
Tawstock 3 291.26x
Twitchen 3 1500.00x
Bratton Fleming 2 400.00x
Brendon 2 833.33x
Clifton 2 7.20x
Devonport 2 29.85x
East Putford 2 1333.33x
Llandaff 2 12.33x
Paddington London 2 1.94x
Saltash 2 81.30x
St Germans 2 90.50x
Stapenhill 2 30.67x
Wolverhampton 2 2.75x
Bedminster 1 2.36x
Bermondsey 1 1.20x
Berrynarbor 1 151.52x
Chislehurst 1 19.53x
Cruwys Morchard 1 172.41x
Edgbaston 1 4.57x
Exmoor 1 333.33x
Holy Trinity Less 1 166.67x
Inverkip 1 19.57x
Leeds 1 0.64x
Lynton 1 86.21x
Menheniot 1 75.76x
Newchurch 1 76.92x
Oystermouth 1 26.53x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.23x
Rochester St Margaret 1 9.93x
Royal Navy 1 3.51x
Sherwill 1 256.41x
St Gluvias Penryn 1 39.37x
Streatham 1 4.81x
Tenby St Mary Out 1 588.24x
Woolhampton 1 212.77x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Elizabeth 19
Annie 8
Ann 6
Eliza 5
Ellen 5
Florence 5
Alice 4
Emily 4
Jane 4
Maria 4
Sarah 4
Susan 4
Emma 3
Grace 3
Hannah 3
Martha 3
Beatrice 2
Clara 2
Helen 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Leah 2
Louisa 2
Prudance 2
Carrie 1
Catherine 1
Charlot 1
E. 1
Eliza. 1
Elizth. 1
Ema 1
Eva 1
Florance 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Helena 1
Jeanie 1
Lilly 1
Louise 1
Lucey 1
Madaline 1
Margaret 1
Margeret 1
Margret 1
Maryan 1
Matilda 1
Nellie 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 24
William 17
James 9
Alfred 5
George 5
Henry 5
Richard 5
Charles 4
Edward 4
Robert 4
Amos 3
Peter 3
Thomas 3
Walter 3
Christopher 2
Daniel 2
Frederick 2
Josiah 2
Philip 2
Anthony 1
Arthur 1
Cuthbert 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Ellias 1
Frank 1
Fredk.J. 1
G.L. 1
Geo. 1
Harding 1
Jos. 1
Joseph 1
Richd.Or 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1
Symon 1
W.H. 1
W.N. 1
Willm.J. 1
Wm.Edwin 1

FAQ

Tamlyn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tamlyn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 288 people were recorded with the Tamlyn surname. That placed it at #9,988 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tamlyn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 212 in 2016. That gives Tamlyn a modern rank of #18,843.

What does the Tamlyn surname mean?

A locational surname originating from areas named Tamlyn or variants thereof.

What does the Tamlyn map show?

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