NameCensus.

UK surname

Tansey

A habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "burnt clearing" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 462 people recorded with the Tansey surname, ranking it #7,183 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,056, ranked #5,522, up from #7,183 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tamworth, Monkwearmouth and Hinckley (incl. Hydes Pastures). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland, Pembrokeshire and Salford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tansey is 1,097 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 128.6%.

1881 census count

462

Ranked #7,183

Modern count

1,056

2016, ranked #5,522

Peak year

2010

1,097 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tansey had 462 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,183 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,056 in 2016, ranked #5,522.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 574 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Tansey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tansey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tansey 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 200 #10,403
1861 historical 179 #13,127
1881 historical 462 #7,183
1891 historical 446 #8,123
1901 historical 530 #7,728
1911 historical 574 #7,069
1997 modern 1,021 #5,393
1998 modern 1,075 #5,358
1999 modern 1,074 #5,384
2000 modern 1,068 #5,389
2001 modern 1,046 #5,382
2002 modern 1,046 #5,481
2003 modern 1,021 #5,507
2004 modern 1,013 #5,537
2005 modern 1,011 #5,500
2006 modern 1,028 #5,434
2007 modern 1,045 #5,415
2008 modern 1,052 #5,421
2009 modern 1,076 #5,422
2010 modern 1,097 #5,453
2011 modern 1,071 #5,492
2012 modern 1,048 #5,504
2013 modern 1,072 #5,496
2014 modern 1,085 #5,471
2015 modern 1,076 #5,447
2016 modern 1,056 #5,522

Geography

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Where Tanseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tamworth, Monkwearmouth, Hinckley (incl. Hydes Pastures), Manchester and Stanton Stoney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sunderland, Pembrokeshire and Salford. 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 Tamworth Staffordshire
2 Monkwearmouth Durham
3 Hinckley (incl. Hydes Pastures) Leicestershire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Stanton Stoney Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sunderland 008 Sunderland
2 Pembrokeshire 012 Pembrokeshire
3 Salford 011 Salford
4 Sunderland 005 Sunderland
5 Sunderland 021 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tansey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tansey

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tansey, 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 Tansey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Tansey 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Tansey 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

Tansey 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

Tansey 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 Tansey 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 Tansey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Tansey

The surname Tansey is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic word "tanas" meaning "thin" or "slender". It is believed to have originated as a descriptive nickname for a person of a slender or thin build.

The name can be traced back to the early 12th century in Ireland, where it was first recorded in County Roscommon. Some of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Tadhg Tansey, a prominent Irish chieftain who lived in the 13th century. He was a member of the powerful O'Conor dynasty and held significant influence in the region of Connacht.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Cloyne, which were taxation records for the Diocese of Cloyne in County Cork. This suggests that the Tansey family had spread to other parts of Ireland by that time.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Tansey surname was particularly prevalent in County Sligo, where it was associated with the baronies of Carbury and Leyny. Several notable individuals from this period bore the name, including Richard Tansey, a prominent landowner and member of the Irish Parliament in the late 16th century.

Another notable figure was Bonaventure Tansey, a Franciscan friar and historian who lived in the late 17th century. He was the author of several works on Irish history and genealogy, including the "Genealogical History of Ireland".

In the 18th century, the Tansey name gained prominence in County Mayo, where it was associated with the town of Ballina. One of the most famous bearers of the name from this period was James Tansey, a renowned Irish scholar and mathematician who lived from 1718 to 1795.

The 19th century saw the Tansey name continue to spread throughout Ireland, with members of the family establishing themselves in various professions and industries. One notable individual was Patrick Tansey, a successful businessman and philanthropist from County Roscommon, who lived from 1812 to 1890.

Throughout history, the Tansey surname has also been found in various spellings, such as Tansee, Tansy, and Tauncy, reflecting the regional variations and phonetic adaptations that occurred over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tansey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tansey 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. Lancashire leads with 141 Tanseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.67x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 141 2.67x
Yorkshire 68 1.54x
Leicestershire 51 10.32x
Durham 45 3.39x
Cheshire 33 3.35x
Warwickshire 26 2.31x
Midlothian 13 2.18x
Surrey 12 0.55x
Staffordshire 11 0.73x
Northamptonshire 9 2.15x
Huntingdonshire 7 7.91x
Middlesex 7 0.16x
Nottinghamshire 7 1.17x
Derbyshire 6 0.86x
Somerset 6 0.84x
Gloucestershire 4 0.46x
Hampshire 3 0.33x
Kent 3 0.20x
Shropshire 2 0.52x
Dorset 1 0.34x
Flintshire 1 0.83x
Northumberland 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoney Stanton in Leicestershire leads with 38 Tanseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2500.00x.

Place Total Index
Stoney Stanton 38 2500.00x
Widnes 36 94.36x
Monkwearmouth Shore 28 108.15x
Liverpool 24 7.47x
Wardleworth 15 49.62x
Huddersfield 13 20.20x
Manchester 13 5.46x
West Derby 13 8.40x
Horton In Bradford 12 17.40x
Bishopwearmouth 9 7.91x
Bolehall Glascote 9 189.08x
Macclesfield 9 20.58x
Bradford 8 7.48x
Brightside Bierlow 7 8.08x
Chester St John Baptist 7 39.57x
Edinburgh New North 7 134.62x
Monks Coppenhall 7 18.85x
Alfreton 6 28.30x
Bath St James 6 80.21x
Castleton 6 11.36x
Currie 6 163.93x
Greasley 6 44.25x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 10.45x
Manningham 6 11.03x
Newington 6 3.64x
Wakefield 6 17.69x
Ashton Under Lyne 5 4.32x
Camberwell 5 1.76x
Chilvers Coton 5 108.23x
Hugglescote 5 68.78x
Mancetter 5 154.80x
Northampton St Giles 5 31.31x
Prescot 5 52.25x
Snitterfield 5 403.23x
Stockport 5 9.87x
Brington 4 1481.48x
Rainhill 4 117.99x
Sheffield 4 2.84x
Tottington Lower End 4 15.91x
Birkenhead 3 3.82x
Bowling 3 6.86x
Caldecot 3 5000.00x
Chartham 3 79.16x
Etton 3 1428.57x
Gorton 3 6.03x
Handsworth 3 25.68x
Sapcote 3 283.02x
Shoreditch London 3 1.55x
Stoke Upon Trent 3 1.88x
Tamworth 3 37.27x
Belgrave 2 17.94x
Burslem 2 4.64x
Cainham 2 111.73x
Chelsea London 2 1.49x
Cheltenham 2 2.97x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 2.38x
Coventry St Michael 2 5.54x
Hulme 2 1.81x
Scarborough 2 4.98x
Warrington 2 3.19x
Wotton Ville 2 240.96x
Aldershot 1 3.27x
Astley 1 24.51x
Burbage 1 38.76x
Huyton With Roby 1 16.13x
Kibblestone 1 312.50x
Killerby 1 714.29x
Kingswinford 1 1.83x
Kirkdale 1 1.12x
Mansfield 1 4.81x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 1 11.47x
Newcastle Under Lyme 1 3.76x
Portsea 1 0.56x
Somerford Booths 1 303.03x
St Marylebone London 1 0.42x
Staindrop 1 49.75x
Standground 1 49.75x
Weymouth 1 18.05x
Withington 1 5.87x
Woking 1 7.64x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 39
Thomas 29
Michael 22
James 20
Patrick 16
William 12
Joseph 7
George 6
Charles 5
Hugh 5
Albert 4
Henry 4
Lawrence 4
Martin 4
Timothy 4
Alfred 3
Edward 3
Francis 3
Matthew 3
Owen 3
Peter 3
Walter 3
Arthur 2
Cornelius 2
Harry 2
Malachi 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Bernett 1
Daniel 1
Dennis 1
Eli 1
Elisha 1
Frank 1
Fred. 1
Frederick 1
Herbert 1
Jams 1
Jethro 1
Job 1
Laban 1
Laurence 1
Michc. 1
Miles 1
Partrick 1
Patsey 1
Robert 1
Roger 1
Terence 1

FAQ

Tansey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tansey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 462 people were recorded with the Tansey surname. That placed it at #7,183 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tansey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,056 in 2016. That gives Tansey a modern rank of #5,522.

What does the Tansey surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "burnt clearing" in Old English.

What does the Tansey map show?

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