NameCensus.

UK surname

Tattersall

A toponymic surname derived from a location in Lancashire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 4,165 people recorded with the Tattersall surname, ranking it #1,083 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,143, ranked #2,157, down from #1,083 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) and Whalley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rossendale and Burnley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tattersall is 4,658 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 24.5%.

1881 census count

4,165

Ranked #1,083

Modern count

3,143

2016, ranked #2,157

Peak year

1911

4,658 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tattersall had 4,165 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,083 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,143 in 2016, ranked #2,157.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,658 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Tattersall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tattersall surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tattersall 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 2,248 #1,305
1861 historical 2,224 #1,326
1881 historical 4,165 #1,083
1891 historical 3,992 #1,201
1901 historical 4,655 #1,214
1911 historical 4,658 #1,111
1997 modern 3,444 #1,880
1998 modern 3,521 #1,913
1999 modern 3,528 #1,923
2000 modern 3,441 #1,965
2001 modern 3,356 #1,969
2002 modern 3,428 #1,976
2003 modern 3,325 #1,987
2004 modern 3,294 #2,003
2005 modern 3,217 #2,022
2006 modern 3,204 #2,037
2007 modern 3,232 #2,041
2008 modern 3,242 #2,054
2009 modern 3,272 #2,078
2010 modern 3,319 #2,091
2011 modern 3,286 #2,084
2012 modern 3,180 #2,120
2013 modern 3,224 #2,127
2014 modern 3,243 #2,131
2015 modern 3,193 #2,139
2016 modern 3,143 #2,157

Geography

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Where Tattersalls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth), Whalley and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rossendale and Burnley. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) Lancashire
3 Whalley Lancashire
4 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rossendale 010 Rossendale
2 Rossendale 001 Rossendale
3 Burnley 014 Burnley
4 Rossendale 002 Rossendale
5 Burnley 004 Burnley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tattersall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tattersall

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Tattersall surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Tattersall household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Tattersall is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tattersall 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

Tattersall falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Tattersall

The surname Tattersall originates from England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "tattor" meaning a torn piece of cloth or rag, and "heall" meaning a hall or large building. This suggests the name may have initially referred to someone who lived or worked in a building associated with rags or tattered clothing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1275, which mentions a person named Roger de Tattershulle. The spelling variation "Tattershulle" indicates a potential connection to a specific place name, possibly a location where rags or tattered materials were processed or traded.

In the 14th century, the Tattersall surname appeared in various records, including the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, where a John Tattersall is listed. This suggests the name had spread to different regions of England by that time.

During the 16th century, the Tattersall family gained prominence in Lancashire, with a notable member being Sir Thomas Tattersall (1492-1572), who served as the High Sheriff of Lancashire in 1556. He was known for his involvement in local politics and governance.

Another prominent figure with this surname was George Tattersall (1817-1849), an English horse trader and founder of the famous Tattersall's Horse Auctioneers in London. The company, established in 1766, became a renowned institution for the sale of thoroughbred horses and played a significant role in the horse racing industry.

In the 19th century, the Tattersall name was associated with the Crimean War hero, Captain Richard Tattersall (1838-1855), who distinguished himself during the Battle of Balaclava and was killed in action at the age of 17. His bravery and sacrifice were widely celebrated at the time.

Other notable individuals with the Tattersall surname include the British artist and illustrator, Nigel Tattersall (1935-2022), known for his work in children's literature, and the Australian cricketer, Graham Tattersall (1936-2022), who played Test cricket for Australia in the 1960s.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tattersall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tattersall 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. Lancashire leads with 3,174 Tattersalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.59x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 3,174 6.59x
Yorkshire 644 1.60x
Cheshire 59 0.66x
Middlesex 57 0.14x
Surrey 45 0.23x
Kent 35 0.25x
Nottinghamshire 32 0.59x
Derbyshire 21 0.33x
Leicestershire 14 0.31x
Staffordshire 12 0.09x
Renfrewshire 8 0.25x
Glamorgan 7 0.10x
Hampshire 6 0.07x
Warwickshire 6 0.06x
Durham 4 0.03x
Lincolnshire 4 0.06x
Argyllshire 3 0.27x
Lanarkshire 3 0.02x
Morayshire 3 0.48x
Norfolk 3 0.05x
Westmorland 3 0.34x
Royal Navy 2 0.41x
Berkshire 1 0.03x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.04x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.04x
Channel Islands 1 0.08x
Essex 1 0.01x
Flintshire 1 0.09x
Gloucestershire 1 0.01x
Hertfordshire 1 0.04x
Northamptonshire 1 0.03x
Northumberland 1 0.02x
Somerset 1 0.02x
Worcestershire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newchurch in Lancashire leads with 247 Tattersalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 62.73x.

Place Total Index
Newchurch 247 62.73x
Burnley 168 41.45x
Spotland 162 30.27x
Accrington 158 36.11x
Habergham Eaves 148 33.64x
Haslingden 147 73.76x
Oswaldtwistle 120 70.57x
Blackburn 95 7.42x
Oldham 93 5.99x
Castleton 91 18.93x
Bury 71 12.91x
Elton 69 41.49x
Lower Booths 55 63.78x
Salford 55 3.89x
Middleton In Oldham 54 37.42x
Cowpe Lench Newhall Hey 49 95.28x
Over Darwen 48 12.49x
Preston 45 3.49x
Padiham 41 35.26x
Wardleworth 41 14.91x
Bradford 39 4.01x
Heap 39 15.28x
Ashton Under Lyne 37 3.52x
Leeds 36 1.59x
Royton 35 23.77x
Great Little Marsden 32 14.51x
Tottington Lower End 31 13.55x
Warley 31 26.69x
Rishton 30 53.14x
Walmersley Cum 30 39.01x
Higher Booths 29 33.43x
Manchester 29 1.34x
Wakefield 29 9.40x
Chatburn 27 251.63x
Worsthorne Cum 27 176.47x
Halifax 25 4.24x
Hipperholme Cum 24 13.59x
Whalley 24 34.22x
Clifton In Halifax 23 95.75x
Keighley 23 5.37x
Blatchinworth 22 20.07x
Higham With West Close 22 210.93x
Tonge 22 21.79x
Bradfield 21 13.55x
Church 21 30.90x
Clayton Le Moors 21 22.49x
Tottington Higher End 21 38.33x
Elland Cum Greetland 20 11.05x
Farnworth 20 6.94x
Pendleton In Salford 20 3.49x
Dukinfield 19 4.59x
Hopwood 19 30.20x
Radcliffe 19 8.19x
Wuerdle Wardle 19 13.00x
Halliwell 18 10.28x
Rochdale 18 51.28x
Horton In Bradford 17 2.71x
Hunslet 17 2.71x
Nether Hallam 17 3.13x
Newington 17 1.13x
Bingley 16 6.25x
Butterworth 16 13.64x
Chorley 16 5.92x
Chorlton On Medlock 16 2.09x
Clitheroe 16 11.29x
Kirkham 16 25.15x
Newton 16 4.31x
Northowram 16 5.68x
Camberwell 15 0.58x
Leyland 15 17.91x
West Derby 15 1.07x
Farington 14 49.96x
Gate Helmsley 14 494.70x
Hulme 14 1.39x
Aspull 13 11.48x
Birtle Cum Bamford 13 41.39x
Bradford 13 5.77x
Islington London 13 0.33x
Musbury 13 92.33x
Old Laund Booth 13 282.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 365
Sarah 175
Elizabeth 170
Alice 144
Jane 119
Ann 81
Margaret 77
Ellen 72
Martha 63
Hannah 51
Annie 42
Eliza 41
Emily 34
Emma 34
Ada 26
Betsy 23
Nancy 23
Betty 22
Susannah 22
Clara 21
Maria 21
Isabella 20
Catherine 17
Rachel 17
Grace 16
Louisa 14
Esther 13
Harriet 12
Ruth 12
Bertha 11
Lucy 11
Florence 10
Margt. 10
Matilda 10
Eleanor 9
Frances 9
Amelia 8
Elizth. 8
Ethel 8
Selina 8
Caroline 7
Edith 6
Henrietta 6
Charlotte 5
Fanny 5
Gertrude 5
Lydia 5
Sophia 5
Susan 5
Priscilla 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 321
James 251
William 205
Thomas 144
George 97
Henry 72
Richard 61
Robert 61
Joseph 59
Edward 43
Arthur 31
Samuel 31
Charles 27
Albert 23
Alfred 20
Fred 19
Benjamin 18
Wm. 17
Abraham 16
Herbert 16
Christopher 15
David 15
Frank 15
Walter 14
Frederick 13
Thos. 13
Daniel 12
Edmund 10
Jas. 10
Harry 9
Ernest 8
Jonas 8
Mark 7
Matthew 7
Enoch 6
Harold 6
Isaac 6
Amos 5
Francis 5
Lawrence 5
Stephen 5
Ashworth 4
Buckley 4
Fredrick 4
Leonard 4
Lord 4
Miles 4
Jeremiah 3
Ormerod 3
Peter 3

FAQ

Tattersall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tattersall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,165 people were recorded with the Tattersall surname. That placed it at #1,083 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tattersall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,143 in 2016. That gives Tattersall a modern rank of #2,157.

What does the Tattersall surname mean?

A toponymic surname derived from a location in Lancashire, England.

What does the Tattersall map show?

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