NameCensus.

UK surname

Tarling

A topographic surname derived from a Scandinavian word meaning "terling" or "starling bird."

In the 1881 census there were 603 people recorded with the Tarling surname, ranking it #5,808 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,128, ranked #5,224, up from #5,808 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Parndon, Great and Bishops Cleeve. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tewkesbury, South Speyside and the Cabrach and Caerphilly.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tarling is 1,250 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 87.1%.

1881 census count

603

Ranked #5,808

Modern count

1,128

2016, ranked #5,224

Peak year

1999

1,250 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tarling had 603 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,808 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,128 in 2016, ranked #5,224.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 935 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tarling surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tarling surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tarling 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 321 #7,237
1861 historical 238 #10,321
1881 historical 603 #5,808
1891 historical 648 #5,987
1901 historical 799 #5,654
1911 historical 935 #4,803
1997 modern 1,121 #4,988
1998 modern 1,230 #4,778
1999 modern 1,250 #4,752
2000 modern 1,249 #4,743
2001 modern 1,198 #4,803
2002 modern 1,214 #4,859
2003 modern 1,219 #4,743
2004 modern 1,217 #4,759
2005 modern 1,160 #4,899
2006 modern 1,156 #4,916
2007 modern 1,145 #5,002
2008 modern 1,128 #5,118
2009 modern 1,146 #5,153
2010 modern 1,184 #5,103
2011 modern 1,168 #5,103
2012 modern 1,118 #5,217
2013 modern 1,168 #5,109
2014 modern 1,172 #5,122
2015 modern 1,155 #5,133
2016 modern 1,128 #5,224

Geography

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Where Tarlings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Parndon, Great, Bishops Cleeve and Cheltenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tewkesbury, South Speyside and the Cabrach, Caerphilly and Harlow. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Parndon, Great Essex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Bishops Cleeve Gloucestershire
5 Cheltenham Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tewkesbury 003 Tewkesbury
2 South Speyside and the Cabrach Moray
3 Caerphilly 006 Caerphilly
4 Tewkesbury 002 Tewkesbury
5 Harlow 009 Harlow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tarling

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tarling

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Tarling is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Tarling is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Tarling

The surname Tarling is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational surname, derived from a place name that could have been Tarling or something similar. The name may have roots in the Old English words "toredlingas" or "taerlingas," which referred to a group of people living in a specific location.

One of the earliest known records of the name Tarling can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire, dated 1275, where a man named Adam Tarling was mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the late 13th century.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms such as Tarlynge, Tarlyng, and Tarlinge, reflecting the variations in spelling common during that era. A notable reference can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which listed a Hugo Tarlynge.

The Tarling surname also appeared in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1428, where a William Tarlyng was recorded. This indicates that the name had spread to other parts of England by the 15th century.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Tarling name was John Tarling, who was born in Gloucestershire around 1520. He was a farmer and landowner, and his descendants continued to live in the area for several generations.

Another notable figure was Thomas Tarling, born in Somerset in 1622. He was a prominent merchant and served as a magistrate in the town of Bridgwater. His son, also named Thomas Tarling (1655-1720), became a clergyman and served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Bridgwater.

In the 18th century, the Tarling family gained prominence in the legal profession. William Tarling (1706-1779), born in Oxfordshire, was a renowned barrister and served as a judge in the Court of Common Pleas. His son, also named William Tarling (1738-1815), followed in his footsteps and became a successful lawyer and judge.

During the 19th century, the Tarling surname spread further across England and into other parts of the United Kingdom. One notable figure was Sir John Tarling (1812-1895), a businessman and philanthropist from Yorkshire. He made his fortune in the textile industry and was knighted for his charitable works.

While the Tarling surname has its roots in England, it has since been carried to other parts of the world by emigrants and settlers. The name can now be found in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, among others.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tarling families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tarling 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 164 Tarlings recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.05x.

County Total Index
Essex 164 14.05x
Gloucestershire 137 11.82x
Middlesex 117 1.98x
Surrey 77 2.67x
Wiltshire 27 5.16x
Hertfordshire 21 5.15x
Kent 16 0.79x
Herefordshire 10 4.13x
Huntingdonshire 7 5.96x
Glamorgan 6 0.58x
Staffordshire 6 0.30x
Yorkshire 5 0.09x
Cheshire 4 0.31x
Channel Islands 2 1.14x
Somerset 2 0.21x
Warwickshire 2 0.13x
Derbyshire 1 0.11x
Hampshire 1 0.08x
Northamptonshire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishops Cleeve in Gloucestershire leads with 49 Tarlings recorded in 1881 and an index of 1666.67x.

Place Total Index
Bishops Cleeve 49 1666.67x
Islington London 34 5.93x
Cheltenham 33 36.89x
Great Parndon 22 2200.00x
Sawbridgeworth 20 324.15x
Walthamstow 20 47.62x
North Weald Bassett 19 935.96x
Clapham 18 24.36x
Camberwell 17 4.50x
Croydon 17 10.63x
Calne 11 102.23x
Lee 11 37.57x
Ratcliffe London 11 33.69x
Newington 10 4.58x
Shelley 10 2500.00x
Tirley 10 1020.41x
Barking 9 26.36x
Hornchurch 9 157.34x
Mile End Old Town 9 9.65x
Clerkenwell London 8 5.73x
St George Bloomsbury 8 23.58x
Stapleford Abbots 8 800.00x
Waltham Holy Cross 8 73.33x
Battersea 7 3.22x
Brentwood 7 98.45x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 6.41x
Chigwell 7 63.58x
East Ham 7 32.32x
Ramsey 7 74.47x
West Ham 7 2.72x
Ealing 6 11.36x
Lambeth 6 1.16x
Paddington London 6 2.76x
Westminster St John 6 8.33x
Whitechapel London 6 10.30x
Wolverhampton 6 3.91x
Bromley London 5 3.84x
Eastington 5 130.21x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 5 23.57x
Gloucester St Catherine 5 152.91x
Swansea St Thomas 5 48.36x
Theydon Mount 5 1666.67x
Walford 5 207.47x
Bremhill 4 169.49x
Elmstone Hardwick 4 625.00x
Epping 4 84.39x
Kington Langley 4 347.83x
St George Hanover 4 5.18x
St George In East 4 9.95x
Stockport 4 5.96x
Swindon 4 9.86x
Theydon Garnon 4 150.38x
Fyfield 3 315.79x
Kensington London 3 0.91x
Lambourne 3 173.41x
Llangarren 3 137.61x
Poulton 3 326.09x
Romford 3 16.26x
Stanford Rivers 3 152.28x
Swindon 3 731.71x
Tytherton Kellaways 3 6000.00x
Wetherby 3 78.53x
Ashchurch 2 147.06x
Bedminster 2 2.24x
Deal 2 11.63x
Flaxley 2 76.92x
Greenwich 2 2.13x
North Hamlet 2 192.31x
St Luke London 2 2.11x
St Peter Port 2 6.17x
Stoke Newington London 2 4.34x
Streatham 2 4.56x
Blackmore 1 86.21x
Cardiff St Mary 1 1.76x
Farnborough 1 7.86x
Leckhampton 1 14.01x
Long Eaton 1 8.18x
Meriden 1 59.17x
Theydon Bois 1 56.50x
Westbury On Severn East 1 3.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 34
Sarah 19
Eliza 18
Emma 17
Emily 15
Elizabeth 14
Jane 12
Alice 10
Ann 10
Ellen 9
Louisa 9
Florence 8
Fanny 6
Amelia 5
Annie 5
Hannah 5
Rose 5
Agnes 4
Edith 4
Harriet 4
Lucy 4
Maria 4
Selina 4
Ada 3
Amy 3
Elizth. 3
Frances 3
Grace 3
Harriett 3
Julia 3
Martha 3
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Eleanor 2
Esther 2
Eva 2
Jemima 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Margaret 2
Caroline 1
Cealia 1
Elizh. 1
Elvina 1
Epsy 1
Jess 1
Joanna 1
Joscia 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 41
George 29
John 23
James 22
Thomas 22
Charles 21
Arthur 11
Alfred 10
Henry 10
Walter 10
Joseph 9
Frederick 8
Samuel 8
Albert 7
Edwin 5
Ernest 5
David 4
Richard 4
Wm. 4
Edward 3
Frank 3
Harry 3
Chas. 2
Herbert 2
Jas. 2
Nehemiah 2
Percy 2
Willm. 2
Charley 1
Chas.Richd. 1
Cornelius 1
Edmund 1
Ellis 1
Enos 1
Florence 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Infant 1
Jame 1
Jas.Harvey 1
Jas.Wm. 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Nath 1
Philip 1
Sarah 1
Tom 1
Tom. 1
Valentin 1

FAQ

Tarling surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tarling surname in 1881?

In 1881, 603 people were recorded with the Tarling surname. That placed it at #5,808 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tarling surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,128 in 2016. That gives Tarling a modern rank of #5,224.

What does the Tarling surname mean?

A topographic surname derived from a Scandinavian word meaning "terling" or "starling bird."

What does the Tarling map show?

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