UK surname
A locational surname referring to a place called Tarn-y, meaning a dwelling near a small body of water.
In the 1881 census there were 105 people recorded with the Tarney surname, ranking it #19,183 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 77, ranked #33,236, down from #19,183 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lancaster Borough, Edinburgh and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tarney is 105 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 26.7%.
1881 census count
105
Ranked #19,183
Modern count
77
2016, ranked #33,236
Peak year
1881
105 bearers
Map years
1
1881 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Tarney surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Tarney surname density by area, 1881 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 | 59 | #22,756 |
| 1861 | historical | 60 | #26,313 |
| 1881 | historical | 105 | #19,183 |
| 1891 | historical | 77 | #27,169 |
| 1901 | historical | 95 | #23,462 |
| 1911 | historical | 90 | #23,797 |
| 1997 | modern | 76 | #29,997 |
| 1998 | modern | 75 | #30,471 |
| 1999 | modern | 78 | #30,327 |
| 2000 | modern | 77 | #30,486 |
| 2001 | modern | 77 | #30,277 |
| 2002 | modern | 77 | #30,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 82 | #30,206 |
| 2004 | modern | 81 | #30,569 |
| 2005 | modern | 79 | #30,950 |
| 2006 | modern | 82 | #30,933 |
| 2007 | modern | 79 | #31,628 |
| 2008 | modern | 83 | #31,483 |
| 2009 | modern | 79 | #32,372 |
| 2010 | modern | 81 | #32,582 |
| 2011 | modern | 80 | #32,652 |
| 2012 | modern | 78 | #33,044 |
| 2013 | modern | 76 | #33,329 |
| 2014 | modern | 76 | #33,423 |
| 2015 | modern | 75 | #33,425 |
| 2016 | modern | 77 | #33,236 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lancaster Borough, Edinburgh, Manchester, Wakefield and Preston. 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 | Lancaster Borough | Lancashire |
| 2 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Wakefield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Preston | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Tarney 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 Tarney, 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 Tarney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Tarney 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, Tarney 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 Tarney is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Tarney, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Tarney is believed to have originated in Scotland, with its earliest known roots dating back to the 12th century. The name is thought to be derived from the old Gaelic word "tarnaidh," which loosely translates to "thunder" or "thunderous noise." This etymology suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname given to someone with a booming voice or a loud, commanding presence.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Tarney can be found in the "Ragman Rolls" of 1296, a collection of documents containing the names of Scottish landowners who were forced to swear allegiance to King Edward I of England during the Scottish Wars of Independence. The name appears as "William de Tarnay," indicating that the surname was already in use by the late 13th century.
In the 14th century, the Tarney name was concentrated primarily in the Highlands region of Scotland, particularly in the areas around Inverness and Loch Ness. The name is also associated with the village of Tarney, located in the Scottish Borders region, which may have served as a place of origin for some branches of the family.
During the 16th century, several notable individuals bearing the Tarney surname emerged in historical records. One such figure was Robert Tarney (c. 1520-1580), a Scottish clergyman who served as the Bishop of Ross from 1562 until his death. Another prominent Tarney was John Tarney (c. 1550-1621), a merchant and burgess of Edinburgh who played a role in the city's trade and governance.
In the 17th century, the Tarney name appeared in various parts of Scotland, as well as in England and Ireland, likely due to migration and the spread of the family. One notable individual from this period was Sir James Tarney (1620-1685), a Scottish soldier and landowner who fought for the Royalist cause during the English Civil War.
As the centuries progressed, the Tarney surname continued to be found across Scotland and beyond. In the 18th century, David Tarney (1738-1812) was a Scottish minister and author who published several religious works. In the 19th century, William Tarney (1819-1891) was a prominent Scottish entrepreneur and industrialist who made significant contributions to the development of the textile industry in the region.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tarney 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. Lancashire leads with 32 Tarneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.61x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 32 | 2.61x |
| Durham | 14 | 4.55x |
| Ayrshire | 11 | 14.22x |
| Cumberland | 10 | 11.23x |
| Lanarkshire | 8 | 2.39x |
| Yorkshire | 8 | 0.78x |
| Midlothian | 6 | 4.33x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.29x |
| Renfrewshire | 3 | 3.74x |
| Isle of Man | 2 | 10.42x |
| Nottinghamshire | 2 | 1.44x |
| Angus | 1 | 1.04x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.44x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.47x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.65x |
| Perthshire | 1 | 2.16x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.20x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.38x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lancaster in Lancashire leads with 12 Tarneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 164.38x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancaster | 12 | 164.38x |
| Crosscanonby | 9 | 306.12x |
| St Quivox | 8 | 305.34x |
| Hulme | 6 | 23.43x |
| Edinburgh St Andrews | 5 | 438.60x |
| Bothwell | 4 | 44.10x |
| Dalziel | 4 | 111.11x |
| Stockton On Tees | 4 | 26.97x |
| Wakefield | 4 | 50.83x |
| Whalley | 4 | 223.46x |
| Birtley | 3 | 238.10x |
| Cathcart | 3 | 69.28x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 3 | 22.52x |
| Huddersfield | 3 | 20.09x |
| Ayr | 2 | 54.79x |
| Lenton | 2 | 60.98x |
| Liverpool | 2 | 2.68x |
| Malew | 2 | 119.05x |
| Newton In Makerfield | 2 | 53.19x |
| North Meols | 2 | 16.65x |
| Paddington London | 2 | 5.26x |
| Preston | 2 | 6.09x |
| Tanfield | 2 | 54.64x |
| Bilsborrow | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 1.15x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 3.21x |
| Coxhoe | 1 | 114.94x |
| Dewsbury | 1 | 9.51x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 1.79x |
| Farnborough | 1 | 44.84x |
| Flimby | 1 | 133.33x |
| Heugh | 1 | 909.09x |
| Liff Benvie | 1 | 6.88x |
| Liscard | 1 | 24.33x |
| Perth East Church | 1 | 22.88x |
| Prescot | 1 | 45.05x |
| Riccarton Hurlford | 1 | 73.53x |
| Usworth | 1 | 61.35x |
| Woking | 1 | 32.89x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Tarney 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 Tarney 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 Tarney households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 6 |
| Labourer | 5 |
| Coal Miner | 4 |
| Cotton Piecer Looker | 2 |
| Tailor | 2 |
| ((Out Of Employ)) | 1 |
| (Formerly Cotton Weaver) | 1 |
| Bakers Appr | 1 |
| Bricklayers Labr | 1 |
| Bus Conductor | 1 |
| Cotton Spinner | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Cotton Winder | 1 |
| Dock Laborer | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Feeder (Text) | 1 |
| Fisherman | 1 |
| Forman Baker | 1 |
| Gen Laborer | 1 |
| Gen Serv Dom | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| In Pensioner | 1 |
| Ironer | 1 |
| Labourer (Bricklayer) | 1 |
| Labourer Coal Miner | 1 |
| Labourer On Railway | 1 |
| Labr | 1 |
| Letter Carrier P O | 1 |
| Mariners Wife | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Out Door Labourer | 1 |
| Pit Labourer | 1 |
| Potter | 1 |
| Private 56th Regiment | 1 |
| Pudler | 1 |
| Skinner | 1 |
| Skinners Wife | 1 |
| Tin Plate Worker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 105 people were recorded with the Tarney surname. That placed it at #19,183 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 77 in 2016. That gives Tarney a modern rank of #33,236.
A locational surname referring to a place called Tarn-y, meaning a dwelling near a small body of water.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Tarney 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.