NameCensus.

UK surname

Tavener

A surname derived from the Old French word "tavernier", meaning one who worked at or owned a tavern.

In the 1881 census there were 522 people recorded with the Tavener surname, ranking it #6,545 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 700, ranked #7,703, down from #6,545 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Oxfordshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Caerphilly.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tavener is 813 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.1%.

1881 census count

522

Ranked #6,545

Modern count

700

2016, ranked #7,703

Peak year

1901

813 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tavener had 522 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,545 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 700 in 2016, ranked #7,703.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 813 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tavener surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tavener surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tavener 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 319 #7,273
1861 historical 237 #10,359
1881 historical 522 #6,545
1891 historical 592 #6,456
1901 historical 813 #5,549
1911 historical 790 #5,520
1997 modern 716 #7,127
1998 modern 723 #7,296
1999 modern 745 #7,181
2000 modern 718 #7,364
2001 modern 709 #7,299
2002 modern 724 #7,318
2003 modern 717 #7,239
2004 modern 709 #7,320
2005 modern 695 #7,392
2006 modern 692 #7,421
2007 modern 698 #7,432
2008 modern 686 #7,600
2009 modern 682 #7,806
2010 modern 695 #7,823
2011 modern 718 #7,549
2012 modern 709 #7,534
2013 modern 729 #7,497
2014 modern 728 #7,553
2015 modern 710 #7,636
2016 modern 700 #7,703

Geography

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Where Taveners are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Pancras and St Philip and Jacob. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Oxfordshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Caerphilly and South Somerset. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Oxfordshire 002 West Oxfordshire
2 Rhondda Cynon Taf 017 Rhondda Cynon Taf
3 Caerphilly 019 Caerphilly
4 South Somerset 016 South Somerset
5 Rhondda Cynon Taf 013 Rhondda Cynon Taf

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tavener

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tavener

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Tavener is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Tavener is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tavener falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Tavener

The surname Tavener originates from England and dates back to the medieval period. It is an occupational name derived from the Old English word "tafenere," meaning a tavern-keeper or innkeeper. The name is closely related to the word "tavern," which comes from the Latin "taberna," meaning a shed or stall.

In the Middle Ages, taverns were not only places where alcoholic beverages were served but also served as inns for travelers and meeting places for locals. The name Tavener likely referred to individuals who owned or operated such establishments.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which mentions a John le Tavenere. The Hundred Rolls were administrative records compiled in England during the reign of King Edward I.

Another early reference is in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1327, which record a payment made to a William le Taverner. The Pipe Rolls were financial records maintained by the English Exchequer.

The name has also been found in various spellings throughout history, such as Tavernour, Taverner, and Taviner, reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.

One notable individual with the surname Tavener was Richard Taverner (c. 1505-1575), an English Protestant scholar and translator. He is best known for his English translation of the Bible and other religious works during the Reformation period.

Another prominent bearer of the name was John Taverner (c. 1490-1545), an English composer and organist of the Renaissance era. He is regarded as one of the most influential English composers of his time, known for his sacred choral works.

In the 17th century, a family of Taveners settled in the village of Wootton, Oxfordshire, where they became prominent landowners. One member of this family, John Tavener (1695-1770), served as the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire in 1743.

A more recent figure with the surname is Sir John Tavener (1944-2013), a British composer known for his religious and spiritual works. His compositions, such as "The Protecting Veil" and "Song for Athene," gained international recognition and were performed at significant events like the funeral of Princess Diana.

While the surname Tavener is not as common today as it was in the past, it remains a part of English heritage, reflecting the historical importance of taverns and inns in medieval and early modern society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tavener families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tavener 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. Middlesex leads with 152 Taveners recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.97x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 152 2.97x
Gloucestershire 73 7.27x
Devon 51 4.78x
Somerset 47 5.70x
Surrey 42 1.68x
Kent 22 1.26x
Buckinghamshire 18 5.81x
Essex 17 1.68x
Cambridgeshire 14 4.32x
Hampshire 14 1.33x
Bedfordshire 10 3.77x
Hertfordshire 10 2.83x
Lancashire 7 0.12x
Warwickshire 7 0.54x
Glamorgan 6 0.67x
Lincolnshire 5 0.61x
Suffolk 5 0.80x
Sussex 5 0.58x
Wiltshire 5 1.10x
Durham 3 0.20x
Staffordshire 3 0.17x
Berkshire 2 0.52x
Cheshire 2 0.18x
Royal Navy 2 3.28x
Leicestershire 1 0.18x
Oxfordshire 1 0.32x
Yorkshire 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. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 42 Taveners recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.19x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 42 10.19x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 27 28.55x
Lambeth 27 6.05x
Marshfield 16 597.01x
Kensington London 15 5.27x
Stoke Under Hambdon 14 518.52x
Bristol St Augustine 13 80.20x
North Tawton 13 397.55x
Linslade 12 396.04x
Portsea 11 5.35x
West Ham 11 4.93x
Cheriton 10 140.45x
Islington London 10 2.01x
St Andrewthe Less 10 26.98x
St Marylebone London 10 3.66x
Gillingham 9 24.99x
Kingsbury Episcopi 9 337.08x
St Luke London 9 10.96x
Bethnal Green London 8 3.60x
New Brentford 8 296.30x
Yeovil 8 47.76x
Birmingham 7 1.63x
Hampstead London 7 8.78x
Hemel Hempstead 7 44.03x
Bedminster 6 7.75x
Camberwell 6 1.83x
Friern Barnet 6 53.19x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 7.31x
Bridford 5 657.89x
Brighton 5 2.87x
Hendon 5 27.13x
Houghton Regis 5 118.20x
Lidford 5 104.38x
Llandaff 5 16.85x
Milborne Port 5 151.52x
Osbournby 5 574.71x
Slapton 5 1086.96x
Westminster St John 5 8.02x
Bow London 4 6.14x
Bristol St James In 4 27.08x
Ipswich St Margaret 4 18.89x
Luton 4 8.71x
Shoreditch London 4 1.80x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 3.88x
Tottenham 4 4.90x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 3 32.79x
Everton 3 1.55x
Great Torrington 3 49.67x
Horfield 3 29.67x
North Bovey 3 389.61x
Shenfield 3 114.50x
St Andrewthe Great 3 71.60x
Stonehouse East 3 55.45x
Westoe 3 3.47x
Aldershot 2 5.69x
Battersea 2 1.06x
Bengeo 2 48.78x
Bradford On Avon 2 13.79x
Chelsea London 2 1.30x
East Swallowfield 2 363.64x
Egham 2 13.05x
Great Boughton 2 51.28x
Hammersmith London 2 1.59x
Lapford 2 192.31x
Mile End New Town 2 28.61x
Newton Abbot St Mary 2 22.37x
Plymouth Charles The 2 4.26x
West Kington 2 377.36x
Westbury On Trym 2 5.88x
Westminster St James 2 3.80x
Whitechapel London 2 3.96x
Willesden 2 4.14x
Wolstanton 2 3.81x
Aldenham 1 31.15x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 2.07x
Culham 1 105.26x
Droylsden 1 5.05x
Filton 1 188.68x
Leeds 1 0.35x
Maiseyhampton 1 169.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 34
John 23
George 19
Henry 18
Charles 17
Thomas 17
James 13
Alfred 10
Walter 9
Frederick 8
Joseph 8
Robert 6
Arthur 5
Edward 5
Samuel 4
Albert 3
Frank 3
Fredk. 3
Thos. 3
Edwin 2
Fred 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Jesse 2
Sidney 2
Willm. 2
Wm. 2
Anthony 1
Archibald 1
Bertram 1
Campbell 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Geo. 1
Gilbert 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Horace 1
Jos. 1
Martin 1
Osborne 1
Percy 1
Saml. 1
Simon 1
Step. 1
Stephen 1
Sucking 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Tavener surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tavener surname in 1881?

In 1881, 522 people were recorded with the Tavener surname. That placed it at #6,545 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tavener surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 700 in 2016. That gives Tavener a modern rank of #7,703.

What does the Tavener surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old French word "tavernier", meaning one who worked at or owned a tavern.

What does the Tavener map show?

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