NameCensus.

UK surname

Tapscott

A habitational surname referring to someone who lived by a Scotch pine or coniferous tree.

In the 1881 census there were 220 people recorded with the Tapscott surname, ranking it #12,087 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 259, ranked #16,393, down from #12,087 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) and Culmstock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Devon, The Vale of Glamorgan and Plymouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tapscott is 266 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.7%.

1881 census count

220

Ranked #12,087

Modern count

259

2016, ranked #16,393

Peak year

1901

266 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tapscott had 220 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,087 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 259 in 2016, ranked #16,393.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 266 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tapscott surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tapscott surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tapscott 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 220 #9,671
1861 historical 199 #12,062
1881 historical 220 #12,087
1891 historical 252 #12,685
1901 historical 266 #12,617
1911 historical 259 #12,585
1997 modern 234 #15,939
1998 modern 248 #15,772
1999 modern 249 #15,844
2000 modern 246 #15,914
2001 modern 242 #15,832
2002 modern 250 #15,819
2003 modern 238 #16,144
2004 modern 231 #16,591
2005 modern 236 #16,286
2006 modern 231 #16,636
2007 modern 236 #16,617
2008 modern 234 #16,827
2009 modern 237 #17,052
2010 modern 253 #16,652
2011 modern 252 #16,543
2012 modern 248 #16,618
2013 modern 255 #16,551
2014 modern 258 #16,554
2015 modern 261 #16,318
2016 modern 259 #16,393

Geography

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Where Tapscotts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), Culmstock, Lympston and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Devon, The Vale of Glamorgan, Plymouth and Worthing. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
3 Culmstock Somerset
4 Lympston Devon
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Devon 013 North Devon
2 The Vale of Glamorgan 010 Vale of Glamorgan
3 Plymouth 007 Plymouth
4 The Vale of Glamorgan 013 Vale of Glamorgan
5 Worthing 004 Worthing

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tapscott

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tapscott

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Tapscott 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

Tapscott is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tapscott falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Tapscott

The surname Tapscott has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "tæppestre" and "cot," which together translate to "cottage of the female tapster." A tapster was an individual responsible for dispensing ale or other alcoholic beverages in a public house or tavern.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tapscott can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Tappecote." This suggests that the name was already established in England by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

During the 13th century, the name evolved into various spellings, such as "Tappcott," "Tappecott," and "Tappecote," reflecting the regional dialects and variations in pronunciation at the time. These early spellings often referred to specific locations or properties associated with the name.

In the 14th century, the Tapscott family had established a presence in the counties of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. The earliest known bearer of the name was William Tapscott, who was born in Gloucestershire around 1320. He was mentioned in local records as a prominent landowner and alderman in the town of Tewkesbury.

Another notable figure from this period was Sir John Tapscott (c. 1380-1452), a respected knight and military commander who served under King Henry V during the latter stages of the Hundred Years' War. He was present at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 and later served as the Sheriff of Gloucestershire.

Moving into the 16th century, the Tapscott family continued to establish themselves in various parts of England. One prominent member was Robert Tapscott (1525-1592), a wealthy merchant and landowner who served as the Mayor of Bristol in 1578.

In the 17th century, the Tapscott name gained further recognition with the birth of Sir William Tapscott (1625-1693), a renowned jurist and legal scholar. He held the esteemed position of Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, the highest judicial office in the Exchequer Court, from 1686 until his death.

During the 18th century, the Tapscott family maintained their presence in various parts of England, with some members also migrating to other parts of the British Isles and beyond. One notable figure from this era was Captain James Tapscott (1745-1820), a naval officer who served with distinction in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tapscott families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tapscott 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. Devon leads with 81 Tapscotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.13x.

County Total Index
Devon 81 18.13x
Gloucestershire 22 5.23x
Middlesex 22 1.03x
Somerset 22 6.37x
Lancashire 18 0.71x
Hampshire 15 3.41x
Surrey 15 1.43x
Warwickshire 7 1.29x
Northamptonshire 6 2.97x
Staffordshire 5 0.69x
Hertfordshire 3 2.03x
Cornwall 1 0.41x
Kent 1 0.14x
Sussex 1 0.28x
Wiltshire 1 0.53x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Toxteth Park in Lancashire leads with 10 Tapscotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.60x.

Place Total Index
Toxteth Park 10 11.60x
Millbrook 9 81.23x
Bridgewater 8 85.29x
Exeter St Mary Arches 8 1904.76x
High Ham 8 975.61x
Swimbridge 8 888.89x
Westminster St 8 101.14x
Bishops Tawton 7 503.60x
Edgbaston 7 41.72x
Lympston 7 875.00x
Plymouth Charles The 7 35.57x
St Pancras London 7 4.05x
Wotton Under Edge 7 282.26x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 15.14x
Northampton Priory St 6 49.55x
Axminster 5 239.23x
Lambeth 5 2.67x
Liverpool 5 3.23x
Tiverton 5 65.02x
Bristol St Stephen 4 366.97x
East Stonehouse 4 45.45x
Thorverton 4 588.24x
Clapham 3 11.18x
Exeter Allhallows Onthe 3 1500.00x
Harborne 3 12.92x
Portsea 3 3.48x
Topsham 3 142.18x
Uffculme 3 225.56x
West Derby 3 4.03x
Bethnal Green London 2 2.15x
Bristol St Paul In 2 17.84x
Clifton 2 9.40x
Epsom 2 39.22x
Exeter St David 2 52.36x
Handsworth 2 11.20x
Holy Trinity 2 212.77x
Milverton 2 157.48x
Newington 2 2.52x
Southampton St Mary 2 7.23x
St Albans St Peter 2 40.08x
Tottenham 2 5.85x
Warkleigh 2 1176.47x
Alverstoke 1 6.28x
Battersea 1 1.27x
Bristol St George 1 5.14x
Chard 1 23.92x
Clevedon 1 27.86x
Croydon 1 1.72x
Culmstock 1 158.73x
Exeter St Lawrence 1 294.12x
Exeter St Mary Major 1 37.17x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 9.78x
Greenwich 1 2.93x
Hove 1 6.30x
Kenwyn 1 15.75x
Kings Nympton 1 217.39x
Molland 1 270.27x
Okehampton 1 59.52x
Penge 1 7.29x
South Molton 1 40.82x
Spaxton 1 149.25x
St George Hanover 1 3.57x
Swindon 1 6.79x
Taunton St James 1 19.84x
Tormoham 1 5.29x
Watford 1 8.72x
Westminster St James 1 4.53x
Westminster St John 1 3.83x
Withycombe Rawleigh 1 42.92x
Woodbury 1 75.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Elizabeth 8
Sarah 7
Emma 5
Louisa 5
Alice 4
Ann 4
Anna 4
Eliza 4
Ellen 4
Clara 3
Edith 3
Florence 3
Annie 2
Bessie 2
Blanche 2
Caroline 2
Emily 2
Flora 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Jane 2
Charlotte 1
Dorcas 1
Edna 1
Effey 1
Eleanor 1
Elith.Ann 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Helena 1
Hilda 1
Isabella 1
Izott 1
Laura 1
Leah 1
Lucy 1
Mabello 1
Margaret 1
Marian 1
Maryan 1
Matilda 1
Maude 1
Priscilla 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 18
George 14
William 13
James 5
Edward 4
Henry 4
Robert 4
Eli 3
Samuel 3
Alfred 2
Charles 2
Fred 2
Geoe. 2
Amos 1
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Elizabeth 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Fredrk. 1
Harold 1
Isaac 1
Jas. 1
Joseph 1
Lovelace 1
Richard 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Tom 1
Wm. 1
Wm.H. 1
Wm.Leworthy 1

FAQ

Tapscott surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tapscott surname in 1881?

In 1881, 220 people were recorded with the Tapscott surname. That placed it at #12,087 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tapscott surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 259 in 2016. That gives Tapscott a modern rank of #16,393.

What does the Tapscott surname mean?

A habitational surname referring to someone who lived by a Scotch pine or coniferous tree.

What does the Tapscott map show?

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