NameCensus.

UK surname

Tapner

In the 1881 census there were 124 people recorded with the Tapner surname, ranking it #17,429 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 142, ranked #24,625, down from #17,429 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes and St James Clerkenwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bridgend, Mendip and Horsham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tapner is 173 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.5%.

1881 census count

124

Ranked #17,429

Modern count

142

2016, ranked #24,625

Peak year

1911

173 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tapner had 124 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,429 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016, ranked #24,625.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 173 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tapner surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tapner surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tapner 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 103 #16,835
1861 historical 108 #19,856
1881 historical 124 #17,429
1891 historical 113 #22,162
1901 historical 158 #17,507
1911 historical 173 #16,361
1997 modern 132 #22,821
1998 modern 137 #22,922
1999 modern 141 #22,702
2000 modern 146 #22,170
2001 modern 141 #22,344
2002 modern 138 #23,094
2003 modern 129 #23,783
2004 modern 127 #24,224
2005 modern 132 #23,623
2006 modern 134 #23,590
2007 modern 147 #22,510
2008 modern 151 #22,323
2009 modern 151 #22,816
2010 modern 159 #22,577
2011 modern 151 #23,204
2012 modern 134 #25,059
2013 modern 140 #24,779
2014 modern 142 #24,734
2015 modern 143 #24,481
2016 modern 142 #24,625

Geography

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Where Tapners are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes, St James Clerkenwell and South Bersted and Bognor. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bridgend, Mendip, Horsham, Bridge of Allan and University and Chichester. 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 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St James Clerkenwell London (Central Districts)
5 South Bersted and Bognor Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bridgend 007 Bridgend
2 Mendip 013 Mendip
3 Horsham 016 Horsham
4 Bridge of Allan and University Stirling
5 Chichester 010 Chichester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tapner

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tapner

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Tapner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Tapner household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Tapner 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

Tapner is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tapner 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 Tapner is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Tapner families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tapner 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. Sussex leads with 75 Tapners recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.78x.

County Total Index
Sussex 75 36.78x
Middlesex 19 1.57x
Surrey 15 2.55x
Lancashire 5 0.35x
Kent 3 0.73x
Durham 2 0.56x
Hampshire 2 0.81x
Berkshire 1 1.10x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.37x
Gloucestershire 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 18 Tapners recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.75x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 18 43.75x
New Shoreham 13 1065.57x
Lambeth 8 7.59x
Littlehampton 7 429.45x
Pagham 7 1944.44x
Boxgrove 6 2000.00x
Willesden 6 52.63x
Ardwick 5 38.64x
Arundel 5 438.60x
Islington London 5 4.27x
South Bersted 5 289.02x
Clerkenwell London 4 14.01x
Horsham 3 75.76x
Oving 3 434.78x
Westhampnett 3 1363.64x
Battersea 2 4.49x
Camberwell 2 2.59x
Cheam 2 317.46x
Deptford St Paul 2 6.28x
Hampstead London 2 10.62x
St Giles 2 88.89x
Aldingbourn 1 322.58x
Aylesbury 1 30.86x
Battle 1 72.46x
Berkeley Ham Stone 1 909.09x
Chichester St Andrew 1 476.19x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 25.06x
Houghton 1 1250.00x
Meon Stoke 1 500.00x
Reigate Foreign 1 15.67x
Romsey Infra 1 119.05x
Sonning 1 100.00x
Southwick 1 92.59x
St Marylebone London 1 1.55x
St Sepulchre London 1 56.50x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Tapner surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tapner surname in 1881?

In 1881, 124 people were recorded with the Tapner surname. That placed it at #17,429 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tapner surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016. That gives Tapner a modern rank of #24,625.

What does the Tapner map show?

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