NameCensus.

UK surname

Tappenden

An English surname derived from a place name referring to someone who lived near a boundary stream.

In the 1881 census there were 371 people recorded with the Tappenden surname, ranking it #8,417 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 666, ranked #8,017, up from #8,417 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Walthamstow, Low Leyton, London parishes and Ashford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gosport, Maidstone and Thanet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tappenden is 752 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 79.5%.

1881 census count

371

Ranked #8,417

Modern count

666

2016, ranked #8,017

Peak year

2000

752 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tappenden had 371 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,417 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 666 in 2016, ranked #8,017.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 537 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Tappenden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tappenden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tappenden 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 237 #9,152
1861 historical 202 #11,906
1881 historical 371 #8,417
1891 historical 422 #8,483
1901 historical 503 #8,015
1911 historical 537 #7,421
1997 modern 729 #7,021
1998 modern 737 #7,200
1999 modern 735 #7,256
2000 modern 752 #7,089
2001 modern 727 #7,146
2002 modern 739 #7,190
2003 modern 708 #7,309
2004 modern 694 #7,456
2005 modern 676 #7,548
2006 modern 665 #7,678
2007 modern 665 #7,735
2008 modern 661 #7,805
2009 modern 667 #7,919
2010 modern 671 #8,050
2011 modern 674 #7,927
2012 modern 678 #7,806
2013 modern 695 #7,763
2014 modern 678 #7,979
2015 modern 677 #7,932
2016 modern 666 #8,017

Geography

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Where Tappendens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Walthamstow, Low Leyton, London parishes, Ashford, Portsmouth, Portsea and Hawkinge, Folkestone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gosport, Maidstone, Thanet, East Northamptonshire and Canterbury. 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 Walthamstow, Low Leyton Essex
2 London parishes London 3
3 Ashford Kent
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Hawkinge, Folkestone Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gosport 005 Gosport
2 Maidstone 011 Maidstone
3 Thanet 015 Thanet
4 East Northamptonshire 002 East Northamptonshire
5 Canterbury 020 Canterbury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tappenden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tappenden

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Tappenden is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tappenden is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tappenden falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Tappenden

The surname Tappenden is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the place name Tappenden, which is a hamlet located in the county of Kent, England. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English words "tæpp" meaning "tap" or "spigot" and "denu" meaning "valley," suggesting it may have referred to a settlement in a valley where there was a tap or spring.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Tappenden can be found in the Feet of Fines records for Kent in 1236, where a person named William de Tappendene is documented. The spelling variations in early records include Tappenden, Tappindene, and Tappenden.

In the 14th century, the Tappenden family held land and property in the Kent area. Records from this time period indicate that a John Tappenden was a landowner in the parish of Goudhurst, Kent, in 1327.

During the 16th century, there are references to a notable figure named Thomas Tappenden (1548-1612) who was a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Canterbury, Kent. He served as the Mayor of Canterbury in 1595.

In the 17th century, a notable individual with the surname Tappenden was Richard Tappenden (1628-1692), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Staveley in Derbyshire.

Another notable bearer of the surname was John Tappenden (1720-1789), an English clockmaker and inventor from Cranbrook, Kent. He is known for his contributions to the development of precision timekeeping devices.

In the 19th century, there are records of a William Tappenden (1811-1889) who was a prominent farmer and landowner in the parish of Goudhurst, Kent, carrying on the family's long-standing connection to the area.

While the surname Tappenden is not as widespread as some other English surnames, it has a rich history rooted in the county of Kent and has been documented for over seven centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tappenden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tappenden 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. Kent leads with 209 Tappendens recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.93x.

County Total Index
Kent 209 16.93x
Middlesex 63 1.74x
Surrey 35 1.98x
Sussex 31 5.08x
Essex 22 3.08x
Staffordshire 7 0.57x
Durham 2 0.19x
Devon 1 0.13x
Hampshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ashford in Kent leads with 25 Tappendens recorded in 1881 and an index of 207.81x.

Place Total Index
Ashford 25 207.81x
Bromley London 14 17.58x
Hackney London 12 5.91x
Chiswick 11 55.64x
Folkestone 11 45.93x
Camberwell 10 4.33x
Lee 10 55.77x
Tottenham 10 17.35x
Mayfield 9 249.31x
Orpington 9 238.10x
Strood 9 127.84x
Walthamstow 9 35.01x
Battersea 8 6.01x
Chartham 8 259.74x
Islington London 8 2.28x
Lewisham 8 12.15x
Monkton 8 1739.13x
Charlton 7 85.37x
Chatham 7 20.61x
Hastingleigh 7 2500.00x
Hastings St Mary In The 7 53.76x
Maidstone 7 19.03x
Ramsgate 7 34.72x
West Ham 7 4.44x
Buckland In Dover 6 146.70x
Canterbury Holy Cross 6 504.20x
Leyton 6 48.74x
Bromley 5 26.57x
Faversham 5 42.48x
Newington 5 3.74x
Canterbury St Alphage 4 303.03x
Canterbury St Mildred 4 136.52x
Handsworth 4 13.28x
Lewes St John Southover 4 97.56x
Margate St John Baptist 4 17.69x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 5.49x
Ulcombe 4 493.83x
Boughton Under Blean 3 144.93x
Burton Upon Trent 3 10.50x
Dartford 3 23.75x
Ewhurst 3 220.59x
Hernhill 3 322.58x
Kennington 3 326.09x
Marden 3 103.45x
Penge 3 12.98x
Staplegate 3 937.50x
Bishopwearmouth 2 2.16x
Chilham 2 113.64x
Croydon 2 2.04x
Erith 2 16.43x
Ickham Well 2 281.69x
Lambeth 2 0.63x
Lewes All Sts 2 82.30x
Speldhurst 2 31.80x
Teddington London 2 24.39x
Ticehurst 2 53.62x
Willesborough 2 60.24x
Worth 2 45.15x
Aldershot 1 4.02x
Brighton 1 0.81x
Canterbury St Mary 1 12.06x
Charing 1 59.88x
Cranbrook 1 19.12x
Deal 1 9.50x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.05x
Fulham London 1 1.91x
Littlebourne 1 106.38x
Milton In Milton 1 19.05x
Minster In Thanet 1 38.91x
New Brentford 1 52.36x
Rochester St Margaret 1 7.68x
St George Hanover 1 2.12x
St Peters 1 17.51x
Stone In Dartford 1 31.55x
Sutton Valence 1 71.43x
Tonbridge 1 2.25x
Tormoham 1 3.14x
West Farleigh 1 208.33x
Whatlington 1 212.77x
Woolwich 1 2.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Sarah 15
Elizabeth 13
Caroline 11
Annie 7
Eliza 6
Jane 6
Ann 5
Emma 5
Louisa 5
Ada 4
Alice 4
Emily 4
Maria 4
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Fanny 3
Frances 3
Rose 3
Susan 3
Ellen 2
Harriet 2
Hester 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Lizzie 2
May 2
Minnie 2
Rosina 2
Susanah 2
Albert 1
Catherine 1
Ceteamer 1
Clara 1
Constance 1
Emely 1
Florence 1
Floretta 1
Georgina 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Hellen 1
Laura 1
Lillian 1
Lily 1
M.A. 1
Mabel 1
Mable 1
Martha 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 23
George 21
Henry 19
Edward 11
John 11
Thomas 11
Charles 9
James 9
Frederick 7
Richard 7
Arthur 6
Harry 6
Alfred 5
Edwin 5
Ernest 5
Richd. 4
Albert 3
Walter 3
Felix 2
Fredk. 2
Joseph 2
Benjamin 1
Cubison 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Geo.Danl. 1
H.G. 1
H.J. 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Infant 1
Kate 1
Lawrence 1
Leonard 1
Percy 1
Stephen 1
Sydney 1
Victoria 1

FAQ

Tappenden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tappenden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 371 people were recorded with the Tappenden surname. That placed it at #8,417 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tappenden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 666 in 2016. That gives Tappenden a modern rank of #8,017.

What does the Tappenden surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name referring to someone who lived near a boundary stream.

What does the Tappenden map show?

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