NameCensus.

UK surname

Teal

A surname derived from the Old English word tele, referring to a person who lived near a teal-frequented pond.

In the 1881 census there were 1,144 people recorded with the Teal surname, ranking it #3,500 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 962, ranked #5,978, down from #3,500 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Kildwick and Driffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Calderdale, East Riding of Yorkshire and Craven.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Teal is 1,213 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 15.9%.

1881 census count

1,144

Ranked #3,500

Modern count

962

2016, ranked #5,978

Peak year

1901

1,213 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Teal had 1,144 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,500 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 962 in 2016, ranked #5,978.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,213 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Teal surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Teal surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Teal 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 887 #3,087
1861 historical 640 #4,186
1881 historical 1,144 #3,500
1891 historical 938 #4,415
1901 historical 1,213 #4,061
1911 historical 1,107 #4,191
1997 modern 954 #5,699
1998 modern 1,006 #5,647
1999 modern 1,006 #5,687
2000 modern 1,029 #5,561
2001 modern 995 #5,597
2002 modern 992 #5,732
2003 modern 972 #5,725
2004 modern 961 #5,790
2005 modern 976 #5,648
2006 modern 967 #5,709
2007 modern 956 #5,823
2008 modern 953 #5,865
2009 modern 973 #5,887
2010 modern 994 #5,905
2011 modern 978 #5,916
2012 modern 943 #6,019
2013 modern 972 #5,961
2014 modern 967 #6,033
2015 modern 954 #6,054
2016 modern 962 #5,978

Geography

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Where Teals are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Kildwick, Driffield, Keighley and Sculcoates. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Calderdale, East Riding of Yorkshire, Craven and Wakefield. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Kildwick Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Driffield Yorkshire, East Riding
4 Keighley Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Sculcoates Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Calderdale 007 Calderdale
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 016 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 020 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Craven 007 Craven
5 Wakefield 006 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Teal

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Teal

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

Teal 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

Teal falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Teal

The surname TEAL is believed to have originated in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "telu," meaning "fertile" or "fruitful," which was often used to describe land or soil. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived on or worked with fertile land.

One of the earliest known references to the name TEAL can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a person named Radulfus Tele is mentioned. The Pipe Rolls were financial records kept by the English Exchequer, and the inclusion of this name suggests that it was in use during this time period.

The TEAL surname is also found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where a person named William Tele is recorded. The Hundred Rolls were administrative records that documented landowners and their holdings, further indicating the name's association with land or agriculture.

In the 14th century, the TEAL surname appeared in various spellings, such as Tele, Tele, and Teale, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time. One notable example is John Tele, who was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire in 1317.

The surname TEAL has been connected to several place names in England, including Teal in Lincolnshire and Tealby in Lincolnshire, which may have influenced the origin or spelling of the name. Additionally, the name Teal has been linked to the town of Teal in West Yorkshire, where it was recorded as early as the 13th century.

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

1. Sir John Teal (1578-1650), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Southwark during the reign of King Charles I. 2. Thomas Teal (1621-1688), an English Puritan minister and author known for his work "The Ark of Salvation." 3. Robert Teal (1677-1736), an English mathematician and astronomer who contributed to the development of the Gregorian calendar. 4. Elizabeth Teal (1693-1778), an English poet and writer known for her works on religion and morality. 5. William Teal (1798-1879), a British engineer and inventor who patented several improvements to steam engines and boilers.

The surname TEAL has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval England, where it was likely derived from words related to fertile land or agriculture. While the name has undergone various spellings over the centuries, it has maintained a presence in historical records and has been associated with notable individuals across different fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Teal families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Teal 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. Yorkshire leads with 784 Teals recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.10x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 784 7.10x
Lancashire 58 0.44x
Gloucestershire 45 2.06x
Middlesex 39 0.35x
Surrey 28 0.52x
Berkshire 27 3.23x
Kent 22 0.58x
Essex 19 0.86x
Durham 18 0.54x
Lincolnshire 18 1.01x
Warwickshire 18 0.64x
Worcestershire 15 1.03x
Cornwall 9 0.71x
Nottinghamshire 9 0.60x
Somerset 9 0.50x
Northumberland 6 0.36x
Oxfordshire 5 0.73x
Derbyshire 4 0.23x
Leicestershire 3 0.24x
Sussex 3 0.16x
Norfolk 2 0.12x
Royal Navy 1 0.75x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Yeadon in Yorkshire leads with 65 Teals recorded in 1881 and an index of 260.73x.

Place Total Index
Yeadon 65 260.73x
Halifax 24 14.81x
Cheltenham 23 13.65x
Cowling 23 321.23x
Southowram 23 68.27x
Great Driffield 21 92.72x
Warley 21 65.81x
Leeds 20 3.21x
Lund 20 1142.86x
Sowerby In Halifax 20 55.40x
Baildon 19 91.39x
Lockwood 19 47.83x
Sculcoates 19 10.86x
Bradford 16 5.99x
Huddersfield 16 9.95x
Fountains Earth 15 1219.51x
Headingley Cum Burley 15 21.11x
Morley 15 26.14x
Newbury 14 52.28x
Barking 13 20.21x
Sutton Stoneferry 13 41.15x
Warmfield Cum Heath 11 294.91x
Ardsley 10 78.62x
Carlton In Skipton 10 155.04x
Dacre 10 406.50x
Keighley 10 8.50x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 10 25.36x
Saddleworth 10 11.74x
Skircoat 10 22.97x
Bingley 9 12.80x
Camberwell 9 1.26x
Follifoot 9 476.19x
Garforth 9 106.51x
Gorton 9 7.24x
Holme On Wolds 9 1428.57x
Northowram 9 11.63x
Otley 9 33.58x
Pershore Holy Cross 9 96.57x
Shoreditch London 9 1.86x
Bourn 8 55.59x
East Keswick 8 470.59x
Hammersmith London 8 2.92x
Horsforth 8 33.06x
Horton In Bradford 8 4.64x
Hunslet 8 4.65x
Idle 8 15.63x
Morton In Keighley 8 92.27x
Roxby 8 1126.76x
Toxteth Park 8 1.79x
Bishopwearmouth 7 2.46x
Broadwell 7 469.80x
Misterton 7 150.54x
Sharlston 7 96.69x
St Austell 7 16.24x
Steeton Cum Eastburn 7 184.70x
Appletreewick 6 652.17x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 6 5.83x
Brightside Bierlow 6 2.77x
Canterbury St Alphage 6 147.78x
Canterbury St Dunstan 6 91.46x
Clerkenwell London 6 2.28x
Colne 6 15.24x
Earsdon 6 44.51x
Enborne 6 382.17x
Fishlake 6 287.08x
Goathurst 6 612.24x
Hartlepool 6 12.74x
Horbury 6 31.07x
Langley 6 1034.48x
Marton 6 68.26x
Normanton 6 18.09x
North Meols 6 4.64x
West Ham 6 1.24x
Chobham 5 52.19x
Guiseley 5 35.36x
Knottingley 5 25.77x
Poplar London 5 2.38x
Scarborough 5 4.98x
Skipton 5 14.39x
Southcoates 5 8.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 82
Sarah 50
Elizabeth 40
Ann 33
Jane 31
Hannah 29
Annie 24
Emma 19
Ada 17
Martha 17
Alice 14
Eliza 11
Ellen 11
Louisa 10
Clara 9
Emily 9
Fanny 8
Edith 7
Florence 7
Margaret 7
Charlotte 6
Frances 6
Anne 5
Grace 5
Agnes 4
Amelia 4
Amy 4
Harriet 4
Isabella 4
Rebecca 4
Susannah 4
Flora 3
Harriett 3
Kate 3
Maria 3
Nancy 3
Rhoda 3
Ruth 3
Agness 2
Betty 2
Caroline 2
Carry 2
Eleanor 2
Esther 2
Lilly 2
Lucy 2
Nanny 2
Rachel 2
Rosa 2
Rose 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 64
William 57
George 48
Thomas 36
Joseph 32
James 31
Robert 22
Alfred 16
Charles 16
Henry 16
Arthur 12
Fred 10
Samuel 10
Walter 9
Albert 8
Edward 8
Richard 7
Herbert 6
David 5
Frederick 5
Harry 5
Ben 4
Edwin 4
Stephen 4
Benjamin 3
Geo. 3
Mark 3
Amos 2
Anderton 2
Emanuel 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Fredrick 2
Jeremiah 2
Jno. 2
Jonas 2
Jonathan 2
Luke 2
Nathan 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Reuben 2
Smith 2
Squire 2
Tom 2
Wilfred 2
Willie 2
Willm. 2
Emmanuel 1
Young 1

FAQ

Teal surname: questions and answers

How common was the Teal surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,144 people were recorded with the Teal surname. That placed it at #3,500 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Teal surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 962 in 2016. That gives Teal a modern rank of #5,978.

What does the Teal surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English word tele, referring to a person who lived near a teal-frequented pond.

What does the Teal map show?

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