NameCensus.

UK surname

Tea

A surname derived from an Old English word meaning "prosperous" or "wealthy."

In the 1881 census there were 48 people recorded with the Tea surname, ranking it #26,869 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 132, ranked #25,882, up from #26,869 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest Heath, Gloucester and Havant.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tea is 135 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 175.0%.

1881 census count

48

Ranked #26,869

Modern count

132

2016, ranked #25,882

Peak year

2015

135 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tea had 48 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,869 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 132 in 2016, ranked #25,882.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 63 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Tea surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tea surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tea 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 48 #24,615
1881 historical 48 #26,869
1901 historical 63 #27,134
1997 modern 90 #28,360
1998 modern 97 #28,054
1999 modern 95 #28,465
2000 modern 89 #29,173
2001 modern 89 #28,932
2002 modern 106 #26,985
2003 modern 102 #27,383
2004 modern 108 #26,741
2005 modern 106 #27,044
2006 modern 105 #27,479
2007 modern 114 #26,491
2008 modern 118 #26,212
2009 modern 114 #27,363
2010 modern 124 #26,582
2011 modern 117 #27,334
2012 modern 119 #27,100
2013 modern 133 #25,655
2014 modern 132 #25,971
2015 modern 135 #25,481
2016 modern 132 #25,882

Geography

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Where Teas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest Heath, Gloucester and Havant. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest Heath 001 Forest Heath
2 Gloucester 006 Gloucester
3 Gloucester 009 Gloucester
4 Gloucester 015 Gloucester
5 Havant 015 Havant

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tea

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tea

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Tea surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Tea household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Tea 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

Tea 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

Tea 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 Tea 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 Tea, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Tea

The surname Tea originated from the Anglo-Saxon word "teg", which means a person who lived near a small stream or water source. It is believed to have first appeared in England during the 8th century AD. The name was most prevalent in the counties of Somerset and Devon in the southwestern part of the country.

The earliest recorded mention of the surname Tea can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive record of landowners and their properties commissioned by William the Conqueror. There are several entries for individuals with the surname Tea or variations such as Tey, Tee, and Tye.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Tea was often associated with certain place names, such as Tey in Essex and Tye Green in Hertfordshire. These place names likely derived from the same Anglo-Saxon root word as the surname, indicating the presence of a small stream or water source.

One notable figure with the surname Tea was Sir William Tea (1560-1634), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset during the reign of King James I. Another prominent individual was John Tea (1675-1741), a successful merchant and philanthropist from Bristol, who was known for his charitable contributions to the city.

In the 18th century, the Tea surname gained recognition through the work of James Tea (1722-1792), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Old Admiralty Office and the Adelphi Terrace.

During the Victorian era, one of the most famous bearers of the surname was Charlotte Tea (1816-1901), a British novelist and social reformer. Her works, which often explored themes of gender inequality and women's rights, were widely read and influential in shaping public discourse on these issues.

Another noteworthy individual was Sir Henry Tea (1845-1925), a British explorer and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of wildlife in East Africa. His extensive collections and writings on African fauna and flora were instrumental in advancing scientific knowledge in these fields.

While the surname Tea can be traced back to its Anglo-Saxon origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, the historical records and notable figures mentioned above provide a glimpse into the rich heritage and significance of this surname throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tea families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tea 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. Gloucestershire leads with 24 Teas recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.10x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 24 25.10x
Surrey 9 3.79x
Warwickshire 6 4.88x
Sussex 5 6.08x
Roxburghshire 2 22.65x
Durham 1 0.69x
Hampshire 1 1.00x
Midlothian 1 1.53x
Staffordshire 1 0.61x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Eastington in Gloucestershire leads with 8 Teas recorded in 1881 and an index of 2500.00x.

Place Total Index
Eastington 8 2500.00x
Tooting Graveney 8 1212.12x
Birmingham 6 14.64x
Lassington 6 8571.43x
Turkdean 6 12000.00x
Stowell 3 30000.00x
Westbourne 3 731.71x
Brighton 2 12.06x
Melrose 2 263.16x
Hambledon 1 294.12x
Hartlepool 1 48.54x
Newington 1 5.55x
Northleach 1 714.29x
South Leith 1 13.61x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 5.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alice 2
Ann 2
Elizabeth 2
Mary 2
Sarah 2
Amelia 1
Annie 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Nellie 1
Selina 1
Susanah 1

Top male names

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

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Tea households.

FAQ

Tea surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tea surname in 1881?

In 1881, 48 people were recorded with the Tea surname. That placed it at #26,869 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tea surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 132 in 2016. That gives Tea a modern rank of #25,882.

What does the Tea surname mean?

A surname derived from an Old English word meaning "prosperous" or "wealthy."

What does the Tea map show?

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