NameCensus.

UK surname

Tebbs

A surname derived from a Middle English nickname for a servant or attendant.

In the 1881 census there were 398 people recorded with the Tebbs surname, ranking it #7,996 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 443, ranked #10,921, down from #7,996 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Boston (incl. Boston allotments) and Yarm. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Boston and Stockton-on-Tees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tebbs is 526 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.3%.

1881 census count

398

Ranked #7,996

Modern count

443

2016, ranked #10,921

Peak year

2002

526 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tebbs had 398 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,996 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 443 in 2016, ranked #10,921.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 507 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tebbs surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tebbs surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tebbs 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 235 #9,206
1861 historical 279 #8,979
1881 historical 398 #7,996
1891 historical 421 #8,502
1901 historical 461 #8,554
1911 historical 507 #7,760
1997 modern 500 #9,304
1998 modern 519 #9,327
1999 modern 523 #9,332
2000 modern 517 #9,384
2001 modern 504 #9,413
2002 modern 526 #9,300
2003 modern 507 #9,391
2004 modern 489 #9,652
2005 modern 466 #9,935
2006 modern 442 #10,388
2007 modern 429 #10,747
2008 modern 433 #10,776
2009 modern 443 #10,821
2010 modern 464 #10,633
2011 modern 454 #10,707
2012 modern 448 #10,702
2013 modern 461 #10,634
2014 modern 459 #10,731
2015 modern 455 #10,734
2016 modern 443 #10,921

Geography

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Where Tebbs' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Boston (incl. Boston allotments), Yarm, Peterborough St John the Baptist and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Boston and Stockton-on-Tees. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Boston (incl. Boston allotments) Lincolnshire
3 Yarm Durham
4 Peterborough St John the Baptist Northamptonshire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Boston 004 Boston
2 Boston 002 Boston
3 Stockton-on-Tees 021 Stockton-on-Tees
4 Stockton-on-Tees 024 Stockton-on-Tees
5 Boston 008 Boston

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tebbs

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tebbs

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

Tebbs is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tebbs falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Tebbs

The surname Tebbs is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "tebbe," which means a strip of land or a boundary. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a boundary or on a particular strip of land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tebbs can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and property values commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Tebbe" in this historical document, indicating its presence in England during the Norman conquest.

The Tebbs surname is also associated with various place names in England, such as Tebbutt in Norfolk and Tebbitt in Bedfordshire. These place names likely influenced the spelling variations of the surname over time.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named John Tebbs was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275. This early record provides evidence of the surname's presence during the medieval period.

Another early mention of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a certain William Tebbs is listed as a landowner.

During the 16th century, the surname Tebbs was particularly prevalent in the county of Oxfordshire. Records from this period show several individuals bearing this name, including Thomas Tebbs, who was born in 1542, and his son, John Tebbs, born in 1578.

In the 17th century, a notable figure named Richard Tebbs (1617-1681) gained recognition as a Puritan minister and author. He served as the rector of Chalbury in Oxfordshire and published several religious works during his lifetime.

Another prominent individual with the surname Tebbs was Sir Henry Tebbs (1737-1818), a British military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant-General and was awarded the prestigious Order of the Bath for his service.

Throughout history, the Tebbs surname has maintained a presence across various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Oxfordshire, Worcestershire, and Yorkshire. While the spelling may have varied slightly over time, the name's origins can be traced back to the Old English word "tebbe" and its association with land boundaries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tebbs families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tebbs 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. Leicestershire leads with 57 Tebbs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.31x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 57 13.31x
Yorkshire 56 1.46x
Northamptonshire 50 13.76x
Middlesex 40 1.04x
Surrey 27 1.43x
Lincolnshire 26 4.21x
Staffordshire 18 1.38x
Cambridgeshire 17 6.95x
Derbyshire 9 1.49x
Norfolk 9 1.52x
Sussex 9 1.38x
Hertfordshire 8 3.00x
Bedfordshire 7 3.50x
Essex 7 0.92x
Kent 7 0.53x
Somerset 7 1.13x
Huntingdonshire 6 7.82x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.96x
Durham 4 0.35x
Lancashire 4 0.09x
Suffolk 4 0.85x
Warwickshire 4 0.41x
Wiltshire 4 1.17x
Northumberland 3 0.52x
Berkshire 2 0.69x
Cheshire 2 0.23x
Gloucestershire 2 0.26x
Angus 1 0.28x
Worcestershire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Peterborough in Northamptonshire leads with 45 Tebbs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 171.04x.

Place Total Index
Peterborough 45 171.04x
Leeds 29 13.42x
Leicester St Margaret 28 26.81x
Hackney London 13 6.00x
Lambeth 12 3.56x
Spalding 9 73.41x
Upwell 9 502.79x
Hemel Hempstead 8 66.67x
Horton In Bradford 8 13.38x
Pilsley In Chesterfield 8 1111.11x
Skirbeck 8 231.21x
Enfield 7 27.61x
West Walton 7 614.04x
Crewkerne 6 90.91x
Erith 6 46.23x
Great Barr 6 402.68x
Penge 6 24.31x
St Ives 6 150.75x
Bedford St Paul 5 36.44x
Hove 5 17.49x
Kettering 5 34.01x
Leicester St Leonard 5 123.46x
Lichfield St Mary 5 132.98x
Newington 5 3.50x
Nottingham St Mary 5 3.71x
West Ham 5 2.97x
Belgrave 4 41.37x
Glen Parva 4 400.00x
Harborne 4 9.57x
Islington London 4 1.07x
Kensington London 4 1.86x
Leicester St Mary 4 11.56x
Mile End Old Town 4 6.56x
Sheffield 4 3.28x
Stockton On Tees 4 7.22x
Swindon 4 15.09x
Wisbech St Peter 4 32.60x
Baldersby 3 789.47x
Berwick Upon Tweed 3 24.63x
Brighton 3 2.28x
Coventry St Michael 3 9.59x
Gainsborough 3 20.60x
Gilmorton 3 352.94x
Kirkdale 3 3.89x
Melton Mowbray 3 38.96x
West Bromwich 3 4.02x
Yarm 3 153.06x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 2 5.61x
Barking 2 8.96x
Battersea 2 1.41x
Biggleswade 2 30.53x
Boston 2 10.67x
Bromley London 2 2.35x
Calverley Cum Farsley 2 18.40x
Ecclesall Bierlow 2 2.57x
Gorleston 2 16.74x
Hempnall 2 172.41x
Henbury 2 54.05x
Leverton 2 253.16x
Sandhurst 2 35.59x
Shoreditch London 2 1.19x
Stowmarket 2 36.76x
Thorney 2 73.53x
Tranmere 2 6.38x
Whittlesey St Mary St 2 23.39x
Beeby 1 714.29x
Burbage 1 44.64x
Danby Commondale 1 238.10x
Dartford 1 7.42x
Egham 1 8.65x
Farndale West Side 1 769.23x
Farnell 1 121.95x
Heap 1 4.11x
Kings Norton 1 2.21x
Morley 1 5.03x
Poplar London 1 1.37x
Sibsey 1 71.94x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.29x
Stamford St John 1 119.05x
Syston 1 24.94x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 29
William 22
Thomas 16
Henry 11
George 10
Charles 9
Arthur 8
Joseph 7
Richard 7
Robert 7
Alfred 6
Edward 6
Frederick 5
Herbert 5
Frank 3
Samuel 3
Albert 2
Ernest 2
Martindle 2
Thos 2
Walter 2
Andrew 1
Benjamin 1
Bertie 1
Christine 1
Cicil 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Farcewell 1
Frans.Thos. 1
Fredk.R. 1
Geo.Robt. 1
Geo.W. 1
Hamilton 1
Horace 1
Isaac 1
James 1
Jim 1
Jno. 1
Joe 1
Lewis 1
Lionel 1
Sadler 1
Stephen 1
Willey 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Tebbs surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tebbs surname in 1881?

In 1881, 398 people were recorded with the Tebbs surname. That placed it at #7,996 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tebbs surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 443 in 2016. That gives Tebbs a modern rank of #10,921.

What does the Tebbs surname mean?

A surname derived from a Middle English nickname for a servant or attendant.

What does the Tebbs map show?

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