NameCensus.

UK surname

Tarr

An English occupational surname referring to someone who extracted or refined tar, or lived near a tar mine.

In the 1881 census there were 1,091 people recorded with the Tarr surname, ranking it #3,645 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,533, ranked #4,036, down from #3,645 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Somerset, Blaenau Gwent and North Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tarr is 1,676 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.5%.

1881 census count

1,091

Ranked #3,645

Modern count

1,533

2016, ranked #4,036

Peak year

1999

1,676 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tarr had 1,091 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,645 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,533 in 2016, ranked #4,036.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,536 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tarr surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tarr surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tarr 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 664 #3,909
1861 historical 708 #3,828
1881 historical 1,091 #3,645
1891 historical 1,198 #3,578
1901 historical 1,517 #3,387
1911 historical 1,536 #3,163
1997 modern 1,592 #3,714
1998 modern 1,635 #3,756
1999 modern 1,676 #3,705
2000 modern 1,655 #3,728
2001 modern 1,602 #3,773
2002 modern 1,636 #3,763
2003 modern 1,586 #3,798
2004 modern 1,578 #3,824
2005 modern 1,553 #3,835
2006 modern 1,541 #3,859
2007 modern 1,527 #3,926
2008 modern 1,538 #3,926
2009 modern 1,550 #3,994
2010 modern 1,593 #3,967
2011 modern 1,556 #4,019
2012 modern 1,539 #3,991
2013 modern 1,558 #4,009
2014 modern 1,576 #3,992
2015 modern 1,546 #4,012
2016 modern 1,533 #4,036

Geography

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Where Tarrs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Dulverton, Brompton Regis. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Somerset, Blaenau Gwent, North Devon and Taunton Deane. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Dulverton, Brompton Regis Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Somerset 003 West Somerset
2 Blaenau Gwent 004 Blaenau Gwent
3 North Devon 013 North Devon
4 Blaenau Gwent 007 Blaenau Gwent
5 Taunton Deane 005 Taunton Deane

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tarr

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tarr

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Tarr is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tarr is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tarr falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Tarr

The surname "TARR" is believed to have originated in Scotland, where it first appeared in the 12th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "tor," meaning a rocky hill or peak, suggesting that the name may have been initially used to identify people who lived near or on a tor or rocky outcrop.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of instruments of homage and fealty made by Scottish nobles and landowners to King Edward I of England. In these rolls, the name appears as "Tarre" and "Tarre de Strauen."

The name also appears in various historical records and manuscripts from the 13th to 16th centuries, including the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, where it is spelled "Tarr" and "Tarre." These records suggest that the name was concentrated in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the counties of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire.

One notable bearer of the name was John Tarr, a Scottish clergyman and academic who lived from 1508 to 1570. He served as the Principal of St. Leonard's College in St. Andrews and was a prominent figure in the Scottish Reformation.

In the 17th century, the name appears to have spread to other parts of the British Isles, with records showing individuals named Tarr in England and Ireland. One notable example is William Tarr, an English soldier and military engineer who lived from 1675 to 1737. He served as the Chief Engineer of Great Britain and played a crucial role in the construction of fortifications during the War of the Spanish Succession.

Another notable bearer of the name was Robert Tarr, an English clergyman and writer who lived from 1688 to 1756. He was the author of several books, including "The Doctrine of the Holy Eucharist" and "The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire."

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the name Tarr continued to be found in various parts of the British Isles, with some bearers of the name migrating to other parts of the world, including the United States and Canada. One notable figure was William Tarr, an American sea captain and merchant who lived from 1772 to 1856. He was involved in the China trade and amassed a considerable fortune, which he used to establish several charitable institutions in his hometown of Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Another notable bearer of the name was John Tarr, an English artist and engraver who lived from 1792 to 1851. He was known for his landscape paintings and engravings, and his works can be found in several museums and collections in the United Kingdom.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tarr families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tarr 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. Devon leads with 312 Tarrs recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.08x.

County Total Index
Devon 312 14.08x
Somerset 231 13.48x
Gloucestershire 107 5.13x
Nottinghamshire 77 5.37x
Glamorgan 56 3.02x
Lancashire 52 0.41x
Surrey 52 1.00x
Middlesex 44 0.41x
Staffordshire 42 1.17x
Kent 30 0.83x
Yorkshire 21 0.20x
Hampshire 17 0.78x
Derbyshire 16 0.96x
Dorset 7 1.00x
Warwickshire 7 0.26x
Essex 4 0.19x
Monmouthshire 3 0.39x
Royal Navy 3 2.37x
Sussex 3 0.17x
Wiltshire 3 0.32x
Berkshire 2 0.25x
Cornwall 1 0.08x
Durham 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St Philip Jacob in Gloucestershire leads with 41 Tarrs recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.86x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St Philip Jacob 41 20.86x
Exeter St Thomas The 27 119.57x
Basford 21 31.76x
Dawlish 20 121.07x
Llandaff 18 29.20x
Ilsington 17 439.28x
Bampton 15 221.24x
Bristol St Paul In 15 26.97x
Islington London 15 1.45x
Saddleworth 15 18.44x
Tiverton 15 39.31x
Brushford 13 1092.44x
Staplegrove 13 625.00x
Wolstanton 13 11.91x
Chorlton On Medlock 12 5.98x
Dulverton 12 239.04x
Mayfield 12 266.67x
Old Cleeve 12 196.08x
Knowstone 11 714.29x
Mansfield 11 22.16x
Nottingham St Mary 11 2.96x
Plymouth St Andrew 11 6.45x
Tormoham 11 11.74x
Brompton Regis 10 534.76x
Chagford 10 188.68x
Newton Abbot St Mary 10 53.82x
Wellington 10 43.05x
Bristol St James In 9 29.32x
Broad Clist 9 117.80x
Camberwell 9 1.32x
Clatworthy 9 1097.56x
Deptford St Paul 9 3.21x
East Anstey 9 1046.51x
Keynsham 9 73.17x
Llangynwyd Lower 9 548.78x
Plymouth Charles The 9 9.22x
Southwark St George Martyr 9 4.20x
Luxborough 8 526.32x
Perlethorpe 8 1632.65x
Portsea 8 1.87x
Stoke Upon Trent 8 2.10x
Swansea Town 8 5.27x
Upton 8 769.23x
West Bromwich 8 3.89x
Williton 8 139.37x
Barton Upon Irwell 7 7.36x
Battersea 7 1.79x
Chivelstone 7 451.61x
Gillingham 7 9.35x
Holcombe Rogus 7 262.17x
Hulme 7 2.66x
Llanguick 7 21.08x
Newington 7 1.78x
St Marylebone London 7 1.23x
Strood 7 33.80x
Braunton 6 79.89x
Bristol St James St Paul 6 8.62x
Bristol St Peter 6 80.43x
Budby 6 1276.60x
Burnham 6 45.94x
Cardiff St Mary 6 5.88x
Charlton Next Woolwich 6 15.84x
Chipstable 6 504.20x
Exton 6 405.41x
Heanton Punchardon 6 370.37x
Langford Budville 6 454.55x
Litchurch 6 8.95x
Long Ashton 6 70.59x
Lound 6 465.12x
Totnes 6 46.30x
Withington 6 14.75x
Woodbury 6 91.32x
Berry Pomeroy 5 136.24x
Brompton Ralph 5 324.68x
Clifton 5 4.74x
Derby St Peter 5 9.42x
Morebath 5 308.64x
North Huish 5 378.79x
Stonehouse East 5 44.48x
Taunton St James 5 20.02x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 84
John 72
George 44
James 40
Henry 33
Thomas 22
Alfred 16
Robert 16
Charles 14
Albert 12
Walter 11
Joseph 10
Nicholas 9
Samuel 9
Edward 7
Francis 7
Richard 7
Frederick 6
Peter 6
Ernest 5
Frank 5
Harry 5
Herbert 5
Benjamin 4
Fred 4
Jno. 4
Sidney 4
Tom 4
Horatio 3
Lewis 3
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Fredk. 2
Louis 2
Mason 2
Philip 2
Willm. 2
Wm. 2
Alma 1
Arthur 1
Chrispen 1
Cyril 1
Dan 1
Earnest 1
Ephraim 1
Fredk.Wm. 1
Fredrick 1
Jas. 1
Jesse 1
Wm.W. 1

FAQ

Tarr surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tarr surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,091 people were recorded with the Tarr surname. That placed it at #3,645 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tarr surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,533 in 2016. That gives Tarr a modern rank of #4,036.

What does the Tarr surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to someone who extracted or refined tar, or lived near a tar mine.

What does the Tarr map show?

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