NameCensus.

UK surname

Tant

A nickname for a boastful or overconfident person, derived from the Middle English word "tant" meaning "bold" or "strong."

In the 1881 census there were 185 people recorded with the Tant surname, ranking it #13,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 367, ranked #12,669, up from #13,506 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Debden, Chesterford, Great and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Murrayburn and Wester Hailes North, Broxbourne and Chelmsford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tant is 416 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 98.4%.

1881 census count

185

Ranked #13,506

Modern count

367

2016, ranked #12,669

Peak year

1998

416 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tant had 185 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,506 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 367 in 2016, ranked #12,669.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 326 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Tant surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tant surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tant 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 155 #12,604
1861 historical 152 #15,126
1881 historical 185 #13,506
1891 historical 263 #12,261
1901 historical 326 #10,990
1911 historical 297 #11,524
1997 modern 400 #11,013
1998 modern 416 #11,037
1999 modern 414 #11,156
2000 modern 379 #11,855
2001 modern 375 #11,774
2002 modern 385 #11,771
2003 modern 377 #11,762
2004 modern 378 #11,757
2005 modern 366 #11,964
2006 modern 354 #12,339
2007 modern 357 #12,413
2008 modern 362 #12,384
2009 modern 367 #12,501
2010 modern 376 #12,548
2011 modern 370 #12,576
2012 modern 357 #12,757
2013 modern 361 #12,861
2014 modern 370 #12,712
2015 modern 363 #12,793
2016 modern 367 #12,669

Geography

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Where Tants are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Debden, Chesterford, Great, London parishes, Edinburgh and Enfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Murrayburn and Wester Hailes North, Broxbourne, Chelmsford, Uttlesford and Barking and Dagenham. 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 Debden Essex
2 Chesterford, Great Essex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Enfield Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Murrayburn and Wester Hailes North City of Edinburgh
2 Broxbourne 001 Broxbourne
3 Chelmsford 018 Chelmsford
4 Uttlesford 005 Uttlesford
5 Barking and Dagenham 014 Barking and Dagenham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tant

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tant

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Tant surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Tant household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Tant is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tant 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

Tant falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Tant

The surname TANT has its origins in France, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "tant," meaning "so much" or "so great." This name likely originated as a nickname or descriptive name given to someone who was particularly boastful or prone to exaggeration.

In the 12th century, the name appeared in various records and manuscripts across northern France, particularly in the regions of Normandy and Picardy. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name was found in the Cartulaire de l'abbaye de Saint-Père de Chartres, a medieval manuscript from the 1160s.

During the 13th century, the name TANT began to spread to other parts of France, including the Île-de-France region around Paris. In 1289, a man named Robert TANT was mentioned in the Registres de la Cour des Comptes, a historical record of financial accounts from the French royal court.

The TANT surname has also been associated with several place names in France, such as Tanterville in Normandy and Tantonville in the Meurthe-et-Moselle region. These place names likely originated from the surname itself or from similar Old French words.

One notable bearer of the TANT surname was Jacques TANT (c. 1550-1615), a French Catholic priest and theologian from Rouen. He was a prolific writer and published several works on religious subjects, including a defense of the doctrine of transubstantiation.

Another significant figure was Pierre TANT (1590-1660), a French mathematician and astronomer from Normandy. He made important contributions to the study of comets and published a treatise on astronomical observations in 1639.

In the 18th century, the TANT surname gained prominence with Jean-Baptiste TANT (1728-1792), a French politician and lawyer from Besançon. He served as a deputy in the Estates-General and played a role in the early stages of the French Revolution.

The name also appeared in the literary world with Marie-Louise TANT (1789-1858), a French novelist and playwright from Paris. She wrote several popular works of fiction and was known for her comedic plays.

Lastly, a notable bearer of the TANT surname in the 19th century was Edmond TANT (1833-1901), a French artist and engraver from Bordeaux. He was renowned for his intricate etchings and engravings, many of which depicted scenes from French history and literature.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tant families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tant 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. Essex leads with 71 Tants recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.72x.

County Total Index
Essex 71 19.72x
Middlesex 27 1.48x
Lancashire 16 0.74x
Surrey 16 1.80x
Hertfordshire 12 9.54x
Cambridgeshire 9 7.79x
Midlothian 7 2.86x
Fife 4 3.70x
Flintshire 4 8.16x
Lanarkshire 4 0.68x
Sussex 4 1.30x
Suffolk 3 1.35x
Royal Navy 2 9.20x
Yorkshire 2 0.11x
Argyllshire 1 1.97x
Gloucestershire 1 0.28x
Kent 1 0.16x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.41x
Oxfordshire 1 0.89x
Warwickshire 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Debden in Essex leads with 26 Tants recorded in 1881 and an index of 5098.04x.

Place Total Index
Debden 26 5098.04x
West Ham 12 15.09x
Great Chesterford 10 1754.39x
Newmarket All Sts 8 941.18x
Newton 8 47.96x
Wimbledon 8 80.16x
Henham 7 1372.55x
Brent Pelham 6 4000.00x
Islington London 6 3.39x
East Barnet 5 200.80x
Edinburgh High Church 5 326.80x
Bothwell 4 25.00x
Brighton 4 6.45x
Lambeth 4 2.51x
Nannerch 4 1818.18x
South Mimms 4 160.00x
St Andrews 4 81.47x
Tottenham 4 13.77x
Berden 3 1304.35x
Chickney 3 10000.00x
Hulme 3 6.64x
Liverpool 3 2.28x
Manuden 3 666.67x
Newmarket St Mary 3 175.44x
St George Hanover 3 12.60x
Bridlington 2 48.31x
Edinburgh Newington 2 454.55x
Epsom 2 46.19x
Great Hallingbury 2 512.82x
Kensington London 2 1.97x
Newport 2 317.46x
Paddington London 2 2.98x
Royal Navy 2 10.76x
Saffron Walden 2 52.63x
St Giles In Fields 2 31.80x
Bishop Stortford 1 23.81x
Bothamsall 1 625.00x
Chesterton 1 28.09x
Clifton 1 5.53x
Croydon 1 2.03x
Enfield 1 8.35x
Jura 1 200.00x
Leamington Priors 1 8.83x
Lee 1 11.06x
Mile End Old Town 1 3.47x
North Meols 1 4.72x
Oldham 1 1.43x
Oxford St Ebbe 1 30.12x
St Marylebone London 1 1.03x
St Pancras London 1 0.68x
Stansted Mountfitchet 1 109.89x
Sutton 1 15.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Elizabeth 6
Sarah 6
Emily 5
Alice 4
Ann 4
Fanny 4
Hannah 4
Eliza 3
Jane 3
Louisa 3
Matilda 3
Susan 3
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Emma 2
Martha 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Amilah 1
Caroline 1
Ellen 1
Elzabeth 1
Esther 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Jessie 1
Lucy 1
Maggie 1
Maria 1
Marrian 1
Minnie 1
Phyllis 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1
Violta 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 14
William 12
Charles 7
James 7
John 6
Thomas 6
Frederick 3
Henry 3
Albert 2
David 2
Joseph 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Cornelius 1
Evan 1
Fred 1
G.H. 1
Harry 1
Heny 1
Nathan 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Walter 1
Wm.A. 1
Wm.F. 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Tant surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tant surname in 1881?

In 1881, 185 people were recorded with the Tant surname. That placed it at #13,506 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tant surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 367 in 2016. That gives Tant a modern rank of #12,669.

What does the Tant surname mean?

A nickname for a boastful or overconfident person, derived from the Middle English word "tant" meaning "bold" or "strong."

What does the Tant map show?

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