UK surname
Of English origin, likely designating someone who lived near a tar-making place or kiln.
In the 1881 census there were 38 people recorded with the Tarner surname, ranking it #28,285 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 28, ranked #36,125, down from #28,285 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tarner is 495 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 26.3%.
1881 census count
38
Ranked #28,285
Modern count
28
2016, ranked #36,125
Peak year
1861
495 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Tarner surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Tarner surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 225 | #9,509 |
| 1861 | historical | 495 | #5,279 |
| 1881 | historical | 38 | #28,285 |
| 1891 | historical | 477 | #7,705 |
| 1901 | historical | 101 | #22,726 |
| 1911 | historical | 84 | #24,442 |
| 1997 | modern | 30 | #34,701 |
| 1998 | modern | 28 | #35,053 |
| 1999 | modern | 27 | #35,224 |
| 2000 | modern | 27 | #35,188 |
| 2001 | modern | 24 | #35,357 |
| 2002 | modern | 25 | #35,428 |
| 2003 | modern | 25 | #35,471 |
| 2004 | modern | 27 | #35,444 |
| 2005 | modern | 23 | #35,924 |
| 2006 | modern | 25 | #35,903 |
| 2007 | modern | 27 | #35,876 |
| 2008 | modern | 25 | #36,072 |
| 2009 | modern | 25 | #36,191 |
| 2010 | modern | 27 | #36,153 |
| 2011 | modern | 26 | #36,193 |
| 2012 | modern | 27 | #36,102 |
| 2013 | modern | 28 | #36,096 |
| 2014 | modern | 30 | #36,005 |
| 2015 | modern | 28 | #36,106 |
| 2016 | modern | 28 | #36,125 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Manchester, Lambeth and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Portsmouth, Portsea | Hampshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Tarner surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tarner, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Tarner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Tarner household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Tarner is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tarner is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Tarner, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Tarner is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the county of Sussex. It is thought to be a locational surname derived from the place name "Tarring," which is a village near Worthing in West Sussex.
The name Tarring itself is believed to come from the Old English words "tæran" meaning "to tear" and "ing" meaning "meadow." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a meadow where vegetation was torn or cleared.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Tarner can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, where a John Tarner is listed. This indicates that the surname was already established in the region by the late 13th century.
In the 16th century, the surname appears in various records with spellings such as "Tarnar," "Tarnor," and "Ternor," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common during that time.
One notable figure bearing the surname Tarner was John Tarner (1612-1684), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Lewes in Sussex during the 17th century.
Another prominent individual was Sir Samuel Tarner (1685-1751), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the War of the Spanish Succession and the War of the Austrian Succession.
In the 19th century, the surname is found associated with the Tarner area of Brighton, which was named after a local landowner named Tarner. This suggests that the surname may have been connected to this particular family or location.
One notable figure from this period was William Tarner (1814-1893), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in Brighton, including the Brighton Dome and the Church of St. Peter.
Another individual of note was Emily Tarner (1838-1915), a British author and activist who wrote extensively on women's rights and education.
While the surname Tarner is not among the most common surnames in England, it has a long and storied history, with roots dating back to the medieval period in the county of Sussex.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tarner surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 11 Tarners recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.97x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 11 | 2.97x |
| Sussex | 5 | 8.01x |
| Warwickshire | 5 | 5.35x |
| Devon | 4 | 5.19x |
| Monmouthshire | 4 | 14.94x |
| Suffolk | 2 | 4.43x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.38x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.32x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 3.92x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.79x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 2.00x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.80x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.55x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 5 Tarners recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.68x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Brighton | 5 | 39.68x |
| St Marylebone London | 5 | 25.28x |
| Wootton Wawen | 5 | 1724.14x |
| Newport | 4 | 312.50x |
| Islington London | 3 | 8.36x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 3 | 50.51x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 6.71x |
| Ashreigney | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Bilston | 1 | 41.32x |
| Bristol St James St Paul | 1 | 41.32x |
| Bromley | 1 | 51.81x |
| Bushey | 1 | 163.93x |
| East Bergholt | 1 | 666.67x |
| Ipswich St Clement | 1 | 86.96x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 3.10x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 1 | 7.75x |
| Portsea | 1 | 6.72x |
| St Andrew Holborn | 1 | 79.37x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Tarner surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Tarner surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Tarner households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 7 |
| None | 3 |
| Domestic Servant | 2 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Assistant To (Grocer &c) | 1 |
| Brush Maker | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Carpenter & Joiner | 1 |
| Clerk At Railway | 1 |
| General Serv Domestic | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| General Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Jeweller | 1 |
| Lace Finisher | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Letter Sorter (C S) | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Pauper | 1 |
| Retired Architect | 1 |
| Store Warehouse Keeper | 1 |
| Warehouse Keeper Employ 27 Men | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 38 people were recorded with the Tarner surname. That placed it at #28,285 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 28 in 2016. That gives Tarner a modern rank of #36,125.
Of English origin, likely designating someone who lived near a tar-making place or kiln.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Tarner bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.