NameCensus.

UK surname

Tebay

A locational surname referring to someone who came from Tebay, a village in Cumbria, England.

In the 1881 census there were 205 people recorded with the Tebay surname, ranking it #12,643 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 237, ranked #17,418, down from #12,643 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sedbergh, Prestbury and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolton, South Lakeland and North Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tebay is 263 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.6%.

1881 census count

205

Ranked #12,643

Modern count

237

2016, ranked #17,418

Peak year

2002

263 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tebay had 205 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,643 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 237 in 2016, ranked #17,418.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 257 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Tebay surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tebay surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tebay 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 106 #16,512
1861 historical 103 #20,650
1881 historical 205 #12,643
1891 historical 181 #16,065
1901 historical 231 #13,805
1911 historical 257 #12,658
1997 modern 243 #15,556
1998 modern 250 #15,675
1999 modern 252 #15,707
2000 modern 258 #15,427
2001 modern 256 #15,273
2002 modern 263 #15,277
2003 modern 245 #15,822
2004 modern 245 #15,894
2005 modern 245 #15,857
2006 modern 234 #16,493
2007 modern 237 #16,571
2008 modern 244 #16,346
2009 modern 249 #16,466
2010 modern 237 #17,368
2011 modern 228 #17,673
2012 modern 242 #16,886
2013 modern 244 #17,072
2014 modern 242 #17,285
2015 modern 236 #17,477
2016 modern 237 #17,418

Geography

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Where Tebays are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sedbergh, Prestbury, London parishes, Windermere and Dalton-in-Furness. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolton, South Lakeland, North Somerset and Sutherland North and West. 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 Sedbergh Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Prestbury Cheshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Windermere Westmorland
5 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolton 034 Bolton
2 Bolton 003 Bolton
3 South Lakeland 001 South Lakeland
4 North Somerset 017 North Somerset
5 Sutherland North and West Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tebay

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tebay

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Tebay surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Tebay household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Tebay is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tebay is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Tebay

The surname Tebay has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have been derived from the place name "Tebay" in Cumbria, located in the north-western region of the country. This place name is thought to have originated from the Old Norse words "tä-by," which translates to "fork-dwelling" or "fork-village."

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Tebay can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 12th century. These rolls were financial records maintained by the Exchequer of the English government, indicating that the name was already established during this time.

In the 13th century, the Tebay surname appeared in various historical documents, including the Hundredorum Rolls, which were administrative records compiled for taxation purposes. This suggests that the name was widespread across different regions of England by this period.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Tebay. However, it does mention the settlement of Tebay, indicating its existence as a place name during the Norman conquest of England.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Tebay was John Tebay, who was born in Lancashire, England, around 1520. Another notable figure was William Tebay, a merchant from Yorkshire, who lived during the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the Tebay surname gained prominence with the birth of Robert Tebay (1620-1692), a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Westmorland, England. His descendants continued to be influential in the region for several generations.

The 18th century saw the rise of Thomas Tebay (1718-1792), a renowned architect from Cumbria who designed several notable buildings, including churches and country estates. His work left a lasting impact on the architectural landscape of northern England.

During the 19th century, one of the most notable individuals with the surname Tebay was Sir John Tebay (1820-1892), a British politician and Member of Parliament who represented the constituency of West Cumberland for several years.

Throughout its history, the surname Tebay has been associated with various professions, including agriculture, commerce, and public service. The name has maintained a strong presence in the northern regions of England, particularly in Cumbria and the surrounding areas, where it originated.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tebay families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tebay 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. Lancashire leads with 64 Tebays recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.70x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 64 2.70x
Westmorland 44 100.11x
Yorkshire 23 1.16x
Surrey 18 1.85x
Kent 17 2.49x
Sussex 12 3.56x
Cheshire 10 2.27x
Buckinghamshire 5 4.14x
Glamorgan 5 1.44x
Middlesex 5 0.25x
Durham 2 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sedburgh in Yorkshire leads with 20 Tebays recorded in 1881 and an index of 2409.64x.

Place Total Index
Sedburgh 20 2409.64x
Barrow In Furness 14 43.38x
Kendal 11 136.82x
Macclesfield 10 50.97x
Dartford 9 128.94x
Lancaster 9 63.74x
Mereworth 8 1454.55x
Ulverston 8 115.77x
Bermondsey 7 11.76x
Brighton 7 10.29x
Streatham 7 47.17x
Strickland Kettle 7 1666.67x
Bradwell 5 294.12x
Chorley 5 37.57x
Dalton In Furness 5 54.59x
Farnworth 5 35.16x
Little Bolton 5 16.39x
Rotherfield 5 168.35x
Strickland Roger 5 1666.67x
Swansea Town 5 17.51x
Orton 4 305.34x
Patton 4 10000.00x
Kirkland 3 319.15x
Lambrigg 3 2727.27x
Lingfield 3 157.89x
Poulton Barre 3 111.11x
Grayrigg 2 1250.00x
Hulme 2 4.04x
Kensington London 2 1.80x
North Meols 2 8.61x
Southwick 2 35.52x
St George Hanover 2 7.66x
Blackburn 1 1.58x
Camberwell 1 0.78x
Colton 1 80.65x
Giggleswick 1 149.25x
Heversham With Milnthorpe 1 94.34x
Manchester 1 0.94x
Nether Wyresdale 1 243.90x
Paddington London 1 1.36x
Ravenstonedale 1 163.93x
Rydal Loughrigg 1 294.12x
Settle 1 65.79x
Skelsmergh 1 384.62x
Skipton 1 16.03x
Soulby 1 526.32x
Sutton 1 12.56x
Yealand Conyers 1 476.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Elizabeth 11
Margaret 11
Jane 7
Agnes 4
Ann 4
Sarah 4
Alice 3
Annie 3
Eliza 3
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Frances 2
Isabella 2
Laura 2
Louisa 2
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Bertha 1
Bridget 1
Charley 1
Charlotte 1
Dora 1
Edith 1
Emilie 1
Esther 1
Evelyn 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Margt. 1
Martha 1
Nancy 1
Norah 1
Phillis 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rhoda 1
Selina 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
John 11
James 9
Thomas 9
Henry 7
Jonathan 5
Adam 4
Edward 4
Robert 4
Septimus 4
George 3
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Abraham 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Chas. 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Herbert 1
Jonh 1
Pattison 1
Percival 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Tebay surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tebay surname in 1881?

In 1881, 205 people were recorded with the Tebay surname. That placed it at #12,643 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tebay surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 237 in 2016. That gives Tebay a modern rank of #17,418.

What does the Tebay surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who came from Tebay, a village in Cumbria, England.

What does the Tebay map show?

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