NameCensus.

UK surname

Tarnowski

A Polish locational surname referring to someone from the town of Tarnów.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wyre Forest, Tower Hamlets and South Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tarnowski is 131 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

126

2016, ranked #26,686

Peak year

2014

131 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 126 in 2016, ranked #26,686.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Tarnowski surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tarnowski surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Tarnowski 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
1891 historical 2 #34,436
1901 historical 7 #33,435
1911 historical 5 #33,427
1997 modern 83 #29,216
1998 modern 83 #29,638
1999 modern 83 #29,823
2000 modern 89 #29,173
2001 modern 86 #29,281
2002 modern 87 #29,644
2003 modern 81 #30,311
2004 modern 85 #30,132
2005 modern 82 #30,617
2006 modern 82 #30,933
2007 modern 91 #30,061
2008 modern 98 #29,355
2009 modern 104 #28,982
2010 modern 105 #29,453
2011 modern 103 #29,589
2012 modern 111 #28,332
2013 modern 120 #27,406
2014 modern 131 #26,089
2015 modern 126 #26,654
2016 modern 126 #26,686

Geography

Back to top

Where Tarnowskis are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wyre Forest, Tower Hamlets, South Somerset and Bury. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wyre Forest 004 Wyre Forest
2 Tower Hamlets 019 Tower Hamlets
3 South Somerset 021 South Somerset
4 Wyre Forest 003 Wyre Forest
5 Bury 002 Bury

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Tarnowski

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Tarnowski

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Tarnowski surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Tarnowski household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Tarnowski 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

Tarnowski is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tarnowski falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tarnowski 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 - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Tarnowski, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Tarnowski

The surname Tarnowski originates from Poland, with records dating back to the 15th century. It is derived from the word "Tarnów," a town in southern Poland, and the suffix "-ski" denotes a territorial association, suggesting that the name originated from a person who lived or owned land in Tarnów.

The earliest known reference to the Tarnowski name can be found in the "Księga ubogich" (Book of the Poor), a 15th-century record of noble families in the region of Małopolska (Lesser Poland). One of the first notable individuals with this surname was Jan Amor Tarnowski, a Polish nobleman and diplomat who lived from 1488 to 1561.

In the 16th century, the Tarnowski family rose to prominence, with several members holding influential positions in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Jan Krzysztof Tarnowski (1537-1567) was a military commander and castellan of Cracow, while Jan Tarnowski (1555-1605) served as the Grand Crown Hetman, a prestigious military position.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Tarnowski name appeared in various historical records, including the "Herby Rycerstwa Polskiego" (Coats of Arms of the Polish Nobility) by Bartosz Paprocki, published in 1584. This work documented the coats of arms and genealogies of noble families in Poland.

One of the most notable figures with the Tarnowski surname was Stanisław Tarnowski (1837-1917), a Polish writer, historian, and politician who served as the Minister of Education and Religion in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He was also a prominent member of the Galician conservative movement known as the "Stańczycy."

In the 20th century, Kazimierz Tarnowski (1887-1968) was a Polish painter and stage designer who played a significant role in the development of Polish avant-garde art. His works were heavily influenced by Cubism and Expressionism.

While the Tarnowski name has its roots in Poland, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to immigration and diaspora. However, its historical significance remains closely tied to the Polish nobility and the cultural heritage of the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Tarnowski surname: questions and answers

How common is the Tarnowski surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 126 in 2016. That gives Tarnowski a modern rank of #26,686.

What does the Tarnowski surname mean?

A Polish locational surname referring to someone from the town of Tarnów.

What does the Tarnowski map show?

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