NameCensus.

UK surname

Tanna

A surname of Scandinavian origin, referring to a person from a place called Tanna.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Tanna surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 838, ranked #6,658, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harrow, Leicester and Oadby and Wigston.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tanna is 900 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41800.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

838

2016, ranked #6,658

Peak year

2010

900 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tanna had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 838 in 2016, ranked #6,658.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 23 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Tanna surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tanna surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tanna 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 4 #32,658
1861 historical 23 #31,039
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1891 historical 8 #33,550
1901 historical 11 #32,907
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 683 #7,380
1998 modern 688 #7,582
1999 modern 708 #7,452
2000 modern 729 #7,270
2001 modern 720 #7,204
2002 modern 785 #6,883
2003 modern 781 #6,787
2004 modern 790 #6,745
2005 modern 783 #6,711
2006 modern 784 #6,733
2007 modern 816 #6,583
2008 modern 840 #6,494
2009 modern 873 #6,429
2010 modern 900 #6,382
2011 modern 866 #6,526
2012 modern 847 #6,548
2013 modern 863 #6,560
2014 modern 844 #6,692
2015 modern 843 #6,662
2016 modern 838 #6,658

Geography

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Where Tannas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harrow, Leicester, Oadby and Wigston and Croydon. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harrow 004 Harrow
2 Leicester 010 Leicester
3 Leicester 006 Leicester
4 Oadby and Wigston 009 Oadby and Wigston
5 Croydon 009 Croydon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tanna

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tanna

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Tanna surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Tanna household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Tanna is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tanna 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

Tanna falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tanna is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Tanna

The surname Tanna has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the northern regions of the country. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "tanna," which means "thin" or "slender." The name likely emerged as a descriptive nickname for someone with a thin or slender physique.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Tanna can be traced back to the 16th century in various historical documents and records from the region. One notable example is the mention of a person named Tanna Mal in the "Akbar Nama," a biographical account of the Mughal emperor Akbar, written in the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the name Tanna appeared in the "Ain-i-Akbari," a detailed administrative document compiled during the reign of Akbar, which listed several individuals with this surname serving as officials or landowners.

During the 18th century, the name Tanna gained prominence with the rise of the Tanna family, a influential clan based in the region of Rajasthan. The family played a significant role in the political and military affairs of the region during that time.

One of the most notable figures from this family was Maharaja Tanna Singh (1720-1788), who ruled the princely state of Tanna in present-day Rajasthan. He was known for his military prowess and his efforts in expanding the territory under his control.

Another prominent figure bearing the surname Tanna was Pandit Tanna Ram (1802-1876), a renowned scholar and author from Punjab. He wrote several works on Vedic literature and philosophy, making significant contributions to the preservation and study of ancient Indian texts.

In the 19th century, the name Tanna was also associated with the town of Tanna in the Indian state of Maharashtra. This town, also known as Thane, was an important trading center during the British colonial period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Tanna in English records can be found in the "East India Register and Directory" from 1835, which listed a person named Bhaee Tanna as a merchant operating in the city of Calcutta (now Kolkata).

Throughout history, the surname Tanna has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including rulers, scholars, merchants, and landowners, primarily originating from the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tanna families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tanna 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. Cheshire leads with 1 Tannas recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.47x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 1 23.47x
Middlesex 1 5.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Paddington London in Middlesex leads with 1 Tannas recorded in 1881 and an index of 140.85x.

Place Total Index
Paddington London 1 140.85x
Tranmere 1 625.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Marie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Tanna households.

Occupation Count
Barman (Inn Serv) 1
Nurse 1

FAQ

Tanna surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tanna surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Tanna surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tanna surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 838 in 2016. That gives Tanna a modern rank of #6,658.

What does the Tanna surname mean?

A surname of Scandinavian origin, referring to a person from a place called Tanna.

What does the Tanna map show?

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