NameCensus.

UK surname

Taverner

A surname derived from an occupation related to innkeeping or tavern ownership.

In the 1881 census there were 544 people recorded with the Taverner surname, ranking it #6,344 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 639, ranked #8,280, down from #6,344 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) and Moretonhampstead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Devon, Teignbridge and Wandsworth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Taverner is 728 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.5%.

1881 census count

544

Ranked #6,344

Modern count

639

2016, ranked #8,280

Peak year

1911

728 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Taverner had 544 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,344 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 639 in 2016, ranked #8,280.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 728 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Taverner surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Taverner surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Taverner 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 375 #6,361
1861 historical 297 #8,508
1881 historical 544 #6,344
1891 historical 544 #6,940
1901 historical 689 #6,361
1911 historical 728 #5,882
1997 modern 674 #7,459
1998 modern 717 #7,337
1999 modern 698 #7,533
2000 modern 695 #7,531
2001 modern 667 #7,644
2002 modern 681 #7,677
2003 modern 665 #7,693
2004 modern 662 #7,731
2005 modern 625 #8,018
2006 modern 627 #8,022
2007 modern 649 #7,873
2008 modern 640 #8,007
2009 modern 637 #8,196
2010 modern 663 #8,114
2011 modern 654 #8,115
2012 modern 637 #8,192
2013 modern 641 #8,307
2014 modern 643 #8,337
2015 modern 644 #8,260
2016 modern 639 #8,280

Geography

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Where Taverners are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), Moretonhampstead, London parishes and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Devon, Teignbridge, Wandsworth, South Gloucestershire and East Hertfordshire. 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 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
3 Moretonhampstead Devon
4 London parishes London 3
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Devon 006 East Devon
2 Teignbridge 002 Teignbridge
3 Wandsworth 004 Wandsworth
4 South Gloucestershire 016 South Gloucestershire
5 East Hertfordshire 002 East Hertfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Taverner

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Taverner

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

Taverner is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Taverner falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Taverner is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Taverner

The surname Taverner is of English origin and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It derives from the Old French word 'tavernier,' which referred to an innkeeper or tavern owner. This occupation was a common one in medieval times, as taverns served as places for travelers to rest, eat, and drink.

The name is believed to have first appeared in England during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. As French-speaking Normans settled in various parts of the country, they brought their language and customs, including the use of occupational surnames like Taverner.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Taverner can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as Tavernarius and Taverner, indicating its widespread use across different regions.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named John Taverner (c. 1490-1545) was a renowned English composer and organist. He served as a choir member and instructor at various churches and is particularly known for his compositions of liturgical music during the Reformation period.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Richard Taverner (c. 1505-1575), an English writer and scholar. He is best known for his translations of various works, including Erasmus' "Proverbs" and Aurelius' "Golden Book." Taverner also served as a Member of Parliament and held official positions under King Henry VIII.

In the 16th century, Roger Taverner (c. 1505-1572) was an English Protestant reformer and clergyman. He played a significant role in the English Reformation and served as a chaplain to Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth I).

During the 17th century, John Taverner (1584-1638) was an English composer and organist. He held positions at various churches, including the famous St. Paul's Cathedral in London, and contributed to the development of English church music.

The surname Taverner has also been associated with place names, such as Taverners Green in Hertfordshire, England, and Taverners Hill in Gloucestershire, England. These place names likely derived from individuals or families with the Taverner surname who resided in those areas.

Overall, the surname Taverner has a rich history rooted in the medieval occupation of innkeeping and has been carried by notable figures in various fields, including music, literature, and religion, over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Taverner families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Taverner 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 114 Taverners recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.30x.

County Total Index
Devon 114 10.30x
Middlesex 100 1.88x
Essex 38 3.62x
Warwickshire 32 2.39x
Staffordshire 30 1.67x
Kent 21 1.16x
Sussex 20 2.23x
Glamorgan 17 1.84x
Somerset 17 1.99x
Surrey 17 0.66x
Gloucestershire 16 1.53x
Hampshire 14 1.28x
Hertfordshire 13 3.55x
Cambridgeshire 11 3.27x
Leicestershire 11 1.87x
Lancashire 10 0.16x
Nottinghamshire 9 1.26x
Derbyshire 7 0.84x
Worcestershire 6 0.86x
Cheshire 5 0.43x
Cumberland 5 1.09x
Lincolnshire 5 0.59x
Northamptonshire 5 1.00x
Yorkshire 5 0.09x
Monmouthshire 4 1.04x
Flintshire 3 2.10x
Bedfordshire 2 0.73x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.62x
Cornwall 2 0.33x
Durham 1 0.06x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.95x
Royal Navy 1 1.58x
Wiltshire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shoreditch London in Middlesex leads with 21 Taverners recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.11x.

Place Total Index
Shoreditch London 21 9.11x
Dunsford 17 1205.67x
Walcot 15 32.91x
Islington London 14 2.72x
Tedburn St Mary 13 1111.11x
Hackney London 12 4.03x
West Ham 11 4.75x
Cirencester 10 70.82x
Rugby 10 55.13x
Brighton 9 4.98x
Cardiff St Mary 8 15.69x
Cheshunt 8 62.45x
Edmonton 8 18.68x
Paddington London 8 4.09x
Rugeley 8 62.11x
Rye 8 93.90x
Shalford 8 278.75x
Tutbury 8 183.07x
Burton Hastings 7 2333.33x
Exeter St Sidwell 7 27.62x
Exeter St Thomas The 7 62.06x
Leckwith 7 321.10x
Maidstone 7 12.96x
St Andrewthe Less 7 18.20x
St Marylebone London 7 2.47x
Boreham 6 331.49x
Bramshott 6 223.05x
Cannock 6 19.16x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 7.04x
St Martha 6 1363.64x
Winshill 6 112.99x
Aston 5 1.35x
Bethnal Green London 5 2.17x
Epping 5 117.37x
Exeter St Mary Major 5 74.96x
Leeds 5 1.68x
Leigh 5 136.99x
Littleham 5 61.80x
Moreton Hampstead 5 174.83x
Nottingham St Mary 5 2.70x
Rickergate 5 51.65x
Somerby In Grantham 5 231.48x
Woolwich 5 7.46x
Appleby 4 289.86x
Birmingham 4 0.90x
Christchurch 4 33.64x
Colwich 4 93.68x
Deptford St Paul 4 2.86x
East Stonehouse 4 18.35x
Exeter Heavitree 4 48.48x
Eye 4 167.36x
Hammersmith London 4 3.05x
Holy Trinity 4 172.41x
Ince In Makerfield 4 13.63x
Martin Hussingtree 4 1290.32x
Skegby 4 91.12x
Tormoham 4 8.54x
Bow London 3 4.43x
Bristol St Augustine 3 17.83x
Bromley London 3 2.57x
Cheriton Fitzpaine 3 214.29x
Crediton 3 28.60x
Greenwich 3 3.54x
Hove 3 7.63x
Ipplepen 3 198.68x
Liscard 3 14.19x
Oldham 3 1.47x
Rhuddlan 3 23.85x
Romford 3 18.08x
Sibson 3 428.57x
St George Hanover 3 4.32x
Tiverton 3 15.74x
Whimple 3 245.90x
Whitestone 3 357.14x
Drewsteignton 2 136.99x
Fulham London 2 2.59x
Hatfield Peverel 2 88.11x
Kensington London 2 0.68x
Newington 2 1.02x
South Weald 2 22.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 38
Sarah 16
Elizabeth 10
Emily 10
Alice 9
Ann 8
Ellen 8
Florence 8
Jane 8
Charlotte 7
Lucy 7
Clara 6
Emma 6
Martha 6
Ada 5
Margaret 5
Maria 5
Annie 4
Eliza 4
Ethel 4
Frances 4
Edith 3
Eleanor 3
Hannah 3
Harriett 3
Julia 3
Kate 3
Kezia 3
Laura 3
Miriam 3
Rosa 3
Susan 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Caroline 2
Esther 2
Fanny 2
Harriet 2
Helena 2
Isabella 2
Jemima 2
Jessie 2
Kathleen 2
Louisa 2
Minney 2
Bridget 1
Elizth. 1
Emilie 1
Tryphyna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 35
John 29
Thomas 24
George 23
James 16
Frederick 8
Joseph 8
Henry 7
Walter 7
Charles 6
Francis 6
Edward 5
Samuel 5
Alfred 4
Frank 4
Richard 4
Robert 4
Albert 3
Herbert 3
Wm. 3
David 2
Edmund 2
Eli 2
Ernest 2
Fred 2
Harry 2
Isaac 2
Job 2
L.C. 2
Mark 2
Stephen 2
Sydney 2
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Edgar 1
Edmond 1
Edwd. 1
Evan 1
Ewoin 1
Fredrick 1
Fridrick 1
Geo. 1
Godfrey 1
Joshua 1
Lacy 1
Lawrence 1
Lewin 1
Lucking 1
Merlin 1
Nathaniel 1

FAQ

Taverner surname: questions and answers

How common was the Taverner surname in 1881?

In 1881, 544 people were recorded with the Taverner surname. That placed it at #6,344 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Taverner surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 639 in 2016. That gives Taverner a modern rank of #8,280.

What does the Taverner surname mean?

A surname derived from an occupation related to innkeeping or tavern ownership.

What does the Taverner map show?

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