NameCensus.

UK surname

Tarn

A surname derived from the Old English word for a small mountain lake or pool.

In the 1881 census there were 279 people recorded with the Tarn surname, ranking it #10,230 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 477, ranked #10,344, down from #10,230 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Auckland St Andrew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tarn is 489 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 71.0%.

1881 census count

279

Ranked #10,230

Modern count

477

2016, ranked #10,344

Peak year

2015

489 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tarn had 279 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,230 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 477 in 2016, ranked #10,344.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 347 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tarn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tarn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tarn 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 146 #13,157
1861 historical 94 #21,883
1881 historical 279 #10,230
1891 historical 279 #11,698
1901 historical 337 #10,735
1911 historical 347 #10,318
1997 modern 436 #10,327
1998 modern 428 #10,810
1999 modern 439 #10,673
2000 modern 454 #10,360
2001 modern 436 #10,500
2002 modern 438 #10,675
2003 modern 458 #10,136
2004 modern 447 #10,369
2005 modern 442 #10,346
2006 modern 442 #10,388
2007 modern 457 #10,205
2008 modern 450 #10,416
2009 modern 443 #10,821
2010 modern 456 #10,784
2011 modern 459 #10,607
2012 modern 473 #10,279
2013 modern 483 #10,287
2014 modern 486 #10,309
2015 modern 489 #10,168
2016 modern 477 #10,344

Geography

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Where Tarns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Auckland St Andrew, Middleton-in-Teesdale and Brancepeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Auckland St Andrew Durham
4 Middleton-in-Teesdale Durham
5 Brancepeth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 065 County Durham
2 County Durham 064 County Durham
3 County Durham 059 County Durham
4 County Durham 048 County Durham
5 County Durham 066 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tarn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tarn

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Tarn is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Tarn 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

Tarn falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Tarn

The surname Tarn originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is derived from the Old English word "tern" or "tearn," meaning a small lake or pool. This name likely referred to someone who lived near a small body of water, such as a lake or pond.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Tarn can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey commissioned by William the Conqueror to record all the landholders and their holdings in England. The name appeared in various spellings, including Tarne, Terne, and Tearne.

During the medieval period, the name Tarn was particularly prevalent in the northern counties of England, such as Yorkshire and Lancashire, where many small lakes and tarns were found in the hilly terrain. The name may have originated as a descriptive surname for someone living near one of these tarns.

One notable bearer of the Tarn surname was Sir Richard Tarn, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in Yorkshire during the 14th century. He fought in the Hundred Years' War and was knighted for his bravery on the battlefield.

Another noteworthy individual with the Tarn surname was John Tarn, born in 1585, who was a renowned scholar and theologian at the University of Cambridge. He authored several influential works on religion and philosophy during the 17th century.

In the 18th century, a notable figure was Elizabeth Tarn, born in 1712, who was a pioneering educator and philanthropist. She founded several schools for underprivileged children in the Lake District region of England.

During the 19th century, a prominent bearer of the Tarn surname was Sir Walter Tarn, born in 1840. He was a distinguished British diplomat and served as the Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, playing a significant role in international relations during that era.

Another notable individual with the Tarn surname was Alfred Tarn, born in 1871, who was a renowned archaeologist and historian. He made significant contributions to the study of ancient Greek and Roman civilizations through his extensive research and publications.

While the Tarn surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and settlement. However, the name's origins can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon period and its association with the small lakes and tarns of northern England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tarn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tarn 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. Durham leads with 167 Tarns recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.63x.

County Total Index
Durham 167 20.63x
Yorkshire 34 1.26x
Middlesex 17 0.62x
Westmorland 16 26.75x
Essex 10 1.86x
Northumberland 9 2.22x
Kent 6 0.65x
Surrey 6 0.45x
Cumberland 4 1.71x
Devon 3 0.53x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.82x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.58x
Lancashire 1 0.03x
Lincolnshire 1 0.23x
Sussex 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Middleton In Teesdale in Durham leads with 37 Tarns recorded in 1881 and an index of 1728.97x.

Place Total Index
Middleton In Teesdale 37 1728.97x
North Bedburn 21 929.20x
Shildon 18 276.50x
St Pancras London 13 5.93x
Forest Frith 12 1690.14x
Hunderthwaite 11 4074.07x
Newbiggin 11 1929.82x
Crook Billy Row 10 96.43x
Dufton 10 2564.10x
Bishop Auckland 9 82.87x
Kirkhaugh 9 5294.12x
Stanhope 9 107.66x
Woodland 8 1481.48x
Heworth 7 43.89x
Coundon 6 182.93x
Eggleston 6 857.14x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 17.11x
Holy Trinity 6 9.25x
Mickleton 6 967.74x
Shap 6 454.55x
Wanstead 5 53.14x
West Ham 5 4.22x
Barton 4 833.33x
Boughton Under Blean 4 258.06x
Penge 4 23.02x
Thornaby 4 39.68x
Cockermouth 3 60.85x
Ordsall 3 106.76x
Paddington London 3 3.00x
Stoke Damerel 3 7.57x
Beckenham 2 16.47x
Lambeth 2 0.84x
Medomsley 2 52.91x
Ormesby 2 27.59x
Willington 2 42.74x
Brampton 1 31.15x
Brighton 1 1.08x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 1.95x
Darlington 1 3.20x
Gateshead 1 1.65x
Hunwick Helmington 1 51.55x
Kensington London 1 0.66x
Lofthouse 1 24.81x
North Witham 1 454.55x
St Andrewthe Great 1 44.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Elizabeth 18
Jane 12
Margaret 9
Sarah 7
Hannah 6
Annie 4
Isabella 4
Alice 3
Emma 3
Frances 3
Ann 2
Helen 2
Martha 2
Rebecca 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Charlotte 1
Clarrisa 1
Dinah 1
Doroth 1
Dorothy 1
Edith 1
Eleanore 1
Eliza 1
Emilie 1
Emily 1
Emmie 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Hanah 1
Isabel 1
Jacob 1
Julia 1
Maria 1
Mariannie 1
Matilda 1
Nanny 1
Philis 1
Rachel 1
Rose 1
Susanna 1
Tamar 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 26
John 19
Thomas 18
Joseph 10
Edward 7
Robert 7
George 6
Mark 6
Jacob 5
Isaac 4
Timothy 4
Walter 3
Alexander 2
Frederic 2
Geo. 2
James 2
Jonathan 2
Joselph 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Gibson 1
Hannah 1
Harold 1
Henry 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Peter 1
Ralph 1
Robart 1
Sarah 1
Smith 1
Stephen 1
T. 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Tarn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tarn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 279 people were recorded with the Tarn surname. That placed it at #10,230 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tarn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 477 in 2016. That gives Tarn a modern rank of #10,344.

What does the Tarn surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English word for a small mountain lake or pool.

What does the Tarn map show?

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