NameCensus.

UK surname

Tay

A geographic surname derived from the River Tay in Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 159 people recorded with the Tay surname, ranking it #14,935 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 490, ranked #10,129, up from #14,935 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kings Norton, St Pancras and St Dunstan Stepney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Neath Port Talbot, Powys and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tay is 490 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 208.2%.

1881 census count

159

Ranked #14,935

Modern count

490

2016, ranked #10,129

Peak year

2016

490 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tay had 159 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,935 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 490 in 2016, ranked #10,129.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 203 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Tay surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tay surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Tay 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 203 #10,291
1881 historical 159 #14,935
1891 historical 5 #33,939
1901 historical 142 #18,633
1997 modern 293 #13,736
1998 modern 308 #13,661
1999 modern 313 #13,587
2000 modern 309 #13,651
2001 modern 302 #13,668
2002 modern 306 #13,835
2003 modern 288 #14,192
2004 modern 313 #13,502
2005 modern 311 #13,490
2006 modern 317 #13,376
2007 modern 317 #13,532
2008 modern 329 #13,286
2009 modern 354 #12,858
2010 modern 385 #12,353
2011 modern 382 #12,272
2012 modern 423 #11,195
2013 modern 443 #10,968
2014 modern 442 #11,057
2015 modern 460 #10,652
2016 modern 490 #10,129

Geography

Back to top

Where Tays are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kings Norton, St Pancras, St Dunstan Stepney, Melton and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Neath Port Talbot, Powys, Kensington and Chelsea, Camden and Charnwood. 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 Kings Norton Worcestershire
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
4 Melton Suffolk
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Neath Port Talbot 003 Neath Port Talbot
2 Powys 021 Powys
3 Kensington and Chelsea 008 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Camden 025 Camden
5 Charnwood 007 Charnwood

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Tay

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Tay

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Tay surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Tay 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Tay 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

Tay 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

Tay 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 Tay is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Chinese

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

Meaning and origin of Tay

The surname Tay has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "tæg," which means a boundary or territory. This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with someone who lived near a border or marked boundary.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Tay can be found in the ancient records of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where it was often spelled as "Tay" or "Taye." In the 13th century, there are references to a landowner named John de Tay, who held property in the area now known as Tay Mouth.

One of the notable historical figures bearing this surname was Sir John Tay, a Scottish knight who lived during the 15th century. He was a prominent figure in the court of King James II of Scotland and participated in several military campaigns against the English.

Another notable Tay was Sir Walter Tay, a 16th-century Scottish clergyman who served as the Bishop of St. Andrews from 1551 to 1558. He played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation and was an advocate for the Protestant cause.

In the 17th century, the surname Tay appeared in various records, including the Ragman Rolls, a collection of documents that recorded the acts of homage made by Scottish nobles and landowners to King Edward I of England in the late 13th century.

The surname Tay also has connections to place names in Scotland. For instance, the village of Taymouth, located in Perthshire, derives its name from the Gaelic words "tàth" meaning quiet or calm, and "abhuinn" meaning river, referring to the nearby River Tay.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Tay, including:

1. John Tay (1550-1615), a Scottish theologian and academic who served as the Principal of the University of Glasgow. 2. William Tay (1617-1675), a Scottish minister and theologian who played a significant role in the Covenanter movement. 3. Archibald Tay (1755-1829), a Scottish merchant and banker who founded the Tay Charitable Trust in Aberdeen. 4. Thomas Tay (1801-1876), a Scottish physician and author who wrote extensively on medical topics. 5. Margaret Tay (1844-1926), a Scottish educator and suffragist who campaigned for women's rights and access to higher education.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Tay families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tay 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. Warwickshire leads with 41 Tays recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.04x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 41 10.04x
Worcestershire 23 10.88x
Staffordshire 20 3.66x
Middlesex 13 0.80x
Kent 12 2.17x
Oxfordshire 12 12.00x
Hampshire 11 3.31x
Lancashire 11 0.57x
Lanarkshire 4 0.76x
Yorkshire 4 0.25x
Surrey 3 0.38x
Monmouthshire 2 1.71x
Renfrewshire 2 1.59x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.67x
Channel Islands 1 2.08x
Cheshire 1 0.28x
Cumberland 1 0.72x
Essex 1 0.31x
Hertfordshire 1 0.90x
Shropshire 1 0.71x
Suffolk 1 0.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 26 Tays recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.12x.

Place Total Index
Aston 26 23.12x
Birmingham 13 9.55x
Kings Norton 11 58.02x
Havant 10 595.24x
Hook Norton 8 1176.47x
Redditch 7 163.17x
Sedgley 7 34.48x
Deptford St Nicholas 6 136.99x
Wombourn 6 594.06x
Blackley 5 148.37x
Cadder 4 103.36x
Holy Trinity 4 10.36x
Kidderminster Foreign 4 133.78x
Salford 4 7.08x
Rochester St Nicholas 3 174.42x
Swalcliffe Sibford Gower 3 1250.00x
Abbey 2 10.44x
Hackney London 2 2.20x
Kensington London 2 2.22x
Mile End Old Town 2 7.82x
Paddington London 2 3.36x
Portskewett 2 740.74x
Upper Penn 2 145.99x
Wolstanton 2 12.05x
Wolverhampton 2 4.76x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 1 3.56x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.42x
Charterhouse London 1 131.58x
Colchester St James 1 76.92x
Crayford 1 41.49x
Crosscanonby 1 21.69x
Deptford St Paul 1 2.35x
Dukinfield 1 6.05x
Fareham 1 25.06x
Hampstead London 1 3.97x
Ipsley 1 133.33x
Ipswich St Clement 1 19.96x
Lambeth 1 0.71x
Lewisham 1 3.39x
Liverpool 1 0.86x
Manchester 1 1.16x
Newington 1 1.67x
Northfield 1 24.94x
Ratcliffe London 1 11.19x
Richards Castle 1 238.10x
Richmond 1 9.04x
South Newington 1 555.56x
St Brelade 1 81.30x
St Marylebone London 1 1.16x
Sutton Coldfield 1 23.31x
Watford 1 11.56x
West Bromwich 1 3.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Sarah 8
Elizabeth 7
Ada 4
Alice 4
Jane 4
Amy 3
Ann 3
Annie 3
Ellen 3
Emma 3
Anna 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Maria 2
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Blanche 1
Claudia 1
Elizth. 1
Fanny 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Florry 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Hellon 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Lucianna 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Maryan 1
Mon.Webb 1
Naomi 1
Priscilla 1
Rebecca 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Tay surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tay surname in 1881?

In 1881, 159 people were recorded with the Tay surname. That placed it at #14,935 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tay surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 490 in 2016. That gives Tay a modern rank of #10,129.

What does the Tay surname mean?

A geographic surname derived from the River Tay in Scotland.

What does the Tay map show?

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