NameCensus.

UK surname

Teeling

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic name Tirloch, meaning "powerful".

In the 1881 census there were 41 people recorded with the Teeling surname, ranking it #27,870 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 227, ranked #17,992, up from #27,870 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St. Helens, Halton and Coventry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Teeling is 258 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 453.7%.

1881 census count

41

Ranked #27,870

Modern count

227

2016, ranked #17,992

Peak year

2010

258 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Teeling had 41 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,870 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 227 in 2016, ranked #17,992.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 75 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Teeling surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Teeling surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Teeling 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 20 #29,743
1861 historical 37 #29,339
1881 historical 41 #27,870
1891 historical 56 #29,638
1901 historical 75 #25,852
1911 historical 67 #26,152
1997 modern 208 #17,219
1998 modern 230 #16,607
1999 modern 230 #16,685
2000 modern 227 #16,792
2001 modern 218 #17,017
2002 modern 221 #17,206
2003 modern 216 #17,229
2004 modern 223 #16,965
2005 modern 217 #17,217
2006 modern 218 #17,297
2007 modern 228 #16,984
2008 modern 240 #16,535
2009 modern 247 #16,549
2010 modern 258 #16,432
2011 modern 251 #16,589
2012 modern 224 #17,786
2013 modern 234 #17,556
2014 modern 236 #17,577
2015 modern 229 #17,846
2016 modern 227 #17,992

Geography

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Where Teelings 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 St. Helens, Halton, Coventry, Oadby and Wigston and Camden. 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 St. Helens 014 St. Helens
2 Halton 005 Halton
3 Coventry 021 Coventry
4 Oadby and Wigston 007 Oadby and Wigston
5 Camden 008 Camden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Teeling

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Teeling

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Teeling, 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 Teeling surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Teeling 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Teeling 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

Teeling is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Teeling falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Teeling is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Teeling

The surname Teeling is of Irish origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Gaelic word "taoileach," which translates to "quarreler" or "argumentative person." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone with a confrontational or disputatious nature.

The name is believed to have originated in County Westmeath, Ireland, where the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found. One of the earliest known references to the name appears in the Irish Annals of the Four Masters, which mentions a "Teeling" clan in the 14th century.

In the 16th century, the Teelings were among the prominent families residing in the town of Moylough, County Galway. Notable individuals from this era include John Teeling, who served as the Bishop of Kilmore from 1551 to 1563.

During the 17th century, the Teeling family played a significant role in the Irish Confederate Wars, with several members serving in the Confederate Catholic Irish Armies. One notable figure was Walter Teeling, who fought against the English forces and was eventually executed for his involvement in the conflict.

As the Teeling surname spread across Ireland, it also found its way into various historical records and documents. For instance, the name appears in the Petty Census of 1659, which was a survey conducted by Sir William Petty to assess the population of Ireland.

In the 18th century, the Teelings continued to establish themselves as a prominent family in Ireland. One notable figure from this period was Patrick Teeling, a successful merchant and landowner who was born in 1703 and died in 1782.

The 19th century saw the Teeling surname gain recognition beyond Ireland's borders. John Teeling, born in 1802, was an Irish nationalist and writer who advocated for Irish independence. Another notable figure from this era was Charles Teeling, a politician and Member of Parliament for County Wicklow, who lived from 1800 to 1871.

As the centuries passed, the Teeling surname continued to be carried by individuals who made significant contributions in various fields. In the 20th century, for example, Patrick Teeling was a renowned Irish playwright and novelist, known for works such as "The Lark in the Clear Air" and "The Blind Ones."

While the Teeling surname may have originated as a nickname for a quarrelsome individual, it has since evolved to represent a rich heritage and a long line of notable figures who have left their mark on Irish history and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Teeling families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Teeling 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. Middlesex leads with 14 Teelings recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.12x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 14 3.12x
Sussex 9 11.90x
Lancashire 8 1.50x
Surrey 5 2.29x
Channel Islands 3 22.56x
Kincardineshire 2 36.63x
Royal Navy 2 37.38x
Kent 1 0.65x
Warwickshire 1 0.88x
Yorkshire 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 9 Teelings recorded in 1881 and an index of 58.98x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 9 58.98x
St Pancras London 6 16.61x
Windle 5 166.67x
Battersea 4 24.23x
Finchley 4 232.56x
Islington London 4 9.20x
St Peter Port 3 121.95x
Dunnottar 2 526.32x
Manchester 2 8.35x
Royal Navy 2 43.76x
Edgbaston 1 28.49x
Lytham 1 123.46x
Plumstead 1 19.61x
Rotherham 1 39.84x
Wimbledon 1 40.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Edward 3
Edmund 2
Henry 2
Richard 2
Arthur 1
Barth.L.C. 1
Bartholomew 1
Bernard 1
Chas. 1
George 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Patrick 1
Samuel 1
Sydney 1
Thomas 1
William 1

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 Teeling households.

FAQ

Teeling surname: questions and answers

How common was the Teeling surname in 1881?

In 1881, 41 people were recorded with the Teeling surname. That placed it at #27,870 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Teeling surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 227 in 2016. That gives Teeling a modern rank of #17,992.

What does the Teeling surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic name Tirloch, meaning "powerful".

What does the Teeling map show?

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