NameCensus.

UK surname

Tarbuck

An English surname originating as a place name and referring to a small stream.

In the 1881 census there were 497 people recorded with the Tarbuck surname, ranking it #6,805 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 678, ranked #7,909, down from #6,805 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Wigan and Great Budworth (Witton with Twambrook), Davenham (Leftwich). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Walsall, St. Helens and South Staffordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tarbuck is 698 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.4%.

1881 census count

497

Ranked #6,805

Modern count

678

2016, ranked #7,909

Peak year

2000

698 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tarbuck had 497 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,805 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 678 in 2016, ranked #7,909.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 647 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Tarbuck surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tarbuck surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tarbuck 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 224 #9,534
1861 historical 263 #9,423
1881 historical 497 #6,805
1891 historical 506 #7,356
1901 historical 599 #7,081
1911 historical 647 #6,468
1997 modern 668 #7,513
1998 modern 675 #7,689
1999 modern 697 #7,542
2000 modern 698 #7,506
2001 modern 694 #7,425
2002 modern 692 #7,585
2003 modern 686 #7,505
2004 modern 674 #7,634
2005 modern 646 #7,807
2006 modern 656 #7,745
2007 modern 656 #7,806
2008 modern 656 #7,860
2009 modern 686 #7,759
2010 modern 698 #7,797
2011 modern 695 #7,733
2012 modern 669 #7,886
2013 modern 698 #7,745
2014 modern 693 #7,837
2015 modern 686 #7,846
2016 modern 678 #7,909

Geography

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Where Tarbucks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Wigan, Great Budworth (Witton with Twambrook), Davenham (Leftwich), West Derby and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Walsall, St. Helens, South Staffordshire and Wigan. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Wigan Lancashire
3 Great Budworth (Witton with Twambrook), Davenham (Leftwich) Cheshire
4 West Derby Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Walsall 014 Walsall
2 St. Helens 015 St. Helens
3 St. Helens 020 St. Helens
4 South Staffordshire 007 South Staffordshire
5 Wigan 009 Wigan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tarbuck

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tarbuck

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Tarbuck surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Tarbuck household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Tarbuck is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Tarbuck 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

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

Meaning and origin of Tarbuck

The surname Tarbuck is of English origin, traced back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from a topographic name, referring to a person who lived near a tar pit or a tar-producing area. The name is thought to be a combination of the Old English words "teoru" (tar) and "bucc" (a buck or male deer).

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where it appears as "Terbuck." This suggests that the name was already established in northern England by the 12th century. Other early spellings include "Tarboc," "Tarbuk," and "Tarbukke."

The Tarbuck name is closely associated with the county of Lancashire, particularly the town of Ormskirk. Some historical records indicate that the family may have originated from this area or had a strong presence there. For instance, a Robert Tarbuck is mentioned in the Lancashire Inquests from 1310.

In the 16th century, the Tarbuck family held lands and properties in the parish of Huyton, near Liverpool. Records from this time show variations in the spelling, such as "Tarbocke" and "Tarbock." One notable figure from this period is Richard Tarbock (c. 1530-1604), a Catholic recusant who was imprisoned for his faith.

The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, does not directly mention the Tarbuck name, as it primarily focused on landowners and their holdings. However, it is possible that the name's origins can be traced back to the Norman Conquest or even earlier, as the tar industry was already established in parts of England during that time.

Other notable individuals with the Tarbuck surname include:

1. John Tarbuck (1790-1868), an English artist and engraver known for his landscapes and architectural works. 2. Edward Lance Tarbuck (1838-1913), a British geologist and author of several textbooks on geology and mineralogy. 3. Nathaniel Tarbuck (1792-1857), an English Quaker minister and writer who published works on religious topics. 4. George Tarbuck (1867-1938), a British trade unionist and Labour Party politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Liverpool Scotland. 5. Edward John Tarbuck (1883-1963), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Lancashire and Oxford University in the early 20th century.

While the Tarbuck name has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and settlement patterns. However, the name's origins can be traced back to the medieval period and its association with tar production or tar-related locations in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tarbuck families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tarbuck 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 231 Tarbucks recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.00x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 231 4.00x
Staffordshire 92 5.60x
Cheshire 58 5.40x
Middlesex 29 0.60x
Warwickshire 27 2.20x
Surrey 14 0.59x
Buckinghamshire 12 4.08x
Yorkshire 9 0.19x
Shropshire 8 1.90x
Norfolk 5 0.67x
Northumberland 5 0.69x
Hampshire 2 0.20x
Leicestershire 2 0.37x
Berkshire 1 0.27x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.51x
Dorset 1 0.31x
Isle of Man 1 1.11x
Sussex 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wigan in Lancashire leads with 62 Tarbucks recorded in 1881 and an index of 76.81x.

Place Total Index
Wigan 62 76.81x
Wednesfield 48 198.51x
Willenhall 28 91.00x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 28 292.89x
West Derby 25 14.79x
Toxteth Park 17 8.69x
Birmingham 15 3.67x
Bootle Cum Linacre 14 30.52x
Oldham 12 6.44x
Amersham 10 239.81x
Everton 10 5.43x
Kirkdale 10 10.29x
St George In East 10 30.20x
Windle 10 30.77x
Little Woolton 9 542.17x
Pendleton In Salford 9 13.08x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 9 54.12x
Aston 8 2.37x
Baschurch 8 277.78x
Heswall Cum Oldfield 8 540.54x
Mile End Old Town 8 10.41x
Pemberton 8 34.74x
Walsall Foreign 8 9.43x
Chester St John Baptist 7 36.25x
Newington 7 3.89x
Barnton 6 234.38x
Newton In Makerfield 6 33.92x
Sutton 6 30.98x
Bradfield 5 26.90x
Lambeth 5 1.18x
Seaton Delaval 5 78.62x
Stanhoe 5 684.93x
Headingley Cum Burley 4 12.88x
Bethnal Green London 3 1.42x
Bromborough 3 134.53x
Little Bolton 3 4.04x
Stoke Upon Trent 3 1.72x
Tonge 3 24.75x
Widnes 3 7.20x
Battersea 2 1.12x
Clerkenwell London 2 1.74x
Glen Parva 2 157.48x
Knowle 2 79.37x
Leyland 2 19.90x
Liverpool 2 0.57x
Manchester 2 0.77x
Much Woolton 2 25.51x
Parr 2 9.68x
Rainhill 2 54.05x
Runcorn 2 8.07x
Southampton All Sts 2 11.68x
Thurstaston 2 800.00x
Wolverhampton 2 1.58x
Bardsey Island 1 454.55x
Bilston 1 3.14x
Brighton 1 0.60x
Brimstage 1 322.58x
Chelsea London 1 0.68x
Chesham 1 9.22x
Claughton With Grange 1 20.45x
Cookham 1 8.78x
Edgbaston 1 2.63x
Hackney London 1 0.37x
Hammersmith London 1 0.83x
Handsworth 1 2.47x
Onchan 1 3.84x
Portland 1 5.82x
Radford Semele 1 107.53x
Rumworth 1 12.12x
St George Hanover 1 1.57x
St Marylebone London 1 0.38x
Wednesbury 1 2.44x
Whiston 1 22.17x
Whitechapel London 1 2.08x
Worsley 1 2.81x
Wycombe 1 4.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 33
James 24
John 23
Thomas 21
George 13
Joseph 12
Henry 11
Charles 9
Richard 9
Frederick 8
Alfred 7
Arthur 5
Samuel 4
Edward 3
Eli 3
Ernest 3
Harry 3
Enoch 2
Francis 2
Fredk. 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Isac 2
Matthew 2
Peter 2
Robert 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Arone 1
Benjamin 1
Bennet 1
Bennett 1
Bernard 1
Bertie 1
Daniel 1
Dominic 1
Edwin 1
Harold 1
Henery 1
Jarvis 1
Job 1
Jos. 1
Lawrence 1
Leo 1
Leonard 1
Ludovic 1
Mark 1
Percy 1
Phillip 1
Wm.Arthur 1

FAQ

Tarbuck surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tarbuck surname in 1881?

In 1881, 497 people were recorded with the Tarbuck surname. That placed it at #6,805 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tarbuck surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 678 in 2016. That gives Tarbuck a modern rank of #7,909.

What does the Tarbuck surname mean?

An English surname originating as a place name and referring to a small stream.

What does the Tarbuck map show?

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