UK surname

Tekle

An Ethiopian surname derived from the Amharic word meaning "plant".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brent, Ealing and Islington.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tekle is 178 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

178

2016, ranked #21,160

Peak year

2016

178 bearers

Map years

2016 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 178 in 2016, ranked #21,160.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Map

Tekle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tekle surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Tekle 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
1997	modern	22	#35,584
1998	modern	20	#35,885
1999	modern	22	#35,725
2000	modern	29	#34,976
2001	modern	28	#34,936
2002	modern	36	#34,480
2003	modern	36	#34,522
2004	modern	42	#34,222
2005	modern	51	#33,701
2006	modern	67	#32,532
2007	modern	78	#31,748
2008	modern	84	#31,370
2009	modern	93	#30,682
2010	modern	111	#28,509
2011	modern	113	#27,967
2012	modern	142	#24,148
2013	modern	159	#22,706
2014	modern	166	#22,277
2015	modern	166	#22,159
2016	modern	178	#21,160

Geography

Where Tekles 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 Brent, Ealing, Islington and Kensington and Chelsea. 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	Brent 027	Brent
2	Ealing 015	Ealing
3	Islington 018	Islington
4	Islington 016	Islington
5	Kensington and Chelsea 007	Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

First names often paired with Tekle

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Helen Lidya Eden Meron Sara Elsa Sarah Feven Lia Hannah

Recent male names

Samuel Solomon Biniam Thomas Daniel Yonas Simon Dawit Yohannes Henok

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Tekle

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Tekle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Tekle 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Tekle 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

Tekle is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tekle falls in decile 2 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tekle is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate: Other Ethnic Group

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Tekle

The surname TEKLE is of Ethiopian origin and dates back several centuries. It is derived from the Amharic word "tekle," which means "plant" or "vegetation." This surname was likely given to individuals who lived in or near areas with abundant plant life or worked in agriculture or horticulture.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname TEKLE can be found in the medieval Ge'ez manuscript, "Kebra Nagast," which chronicles the lineage of the Solomonic dynasty in Ethiopia. The manuscript mentions a nobleman named TEKLE Haymanot, who lived in the 13th century and was renowned for his piety and wisdom.

In the 15th century, a prominent figure named TEKLE Iyesus emerged as a prominent churchman and scholar in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. He is credited with translating several religious texts from Ge'ez into Amharic, making them more accessible to the general population.

During the 16th century, a renowned Ethiopian warrior named TEKLE Giyorgis gained fame for his military exploits against the Ottoman Empire's attempts to expand into the region. His bravery and leadership in battles against the invading forces earned him a place in Ethiopian history.

In the 19th century, a notable figure named TEKLE Haymanot Wolde Semayat served as a governor in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. He was known for his fair and just rule and his efforts to promote education and literacy among his subjects.

Another notable bearer of the surname TEKLE was Blattengeta TEKLE Haimanot, a 20th-century Ethiopian writer and poet. He is celebrated for his contributions to modern Amharic literature and his works that explored themes of Ethiopian identity and culture.

Throughout its history, the surname TEKLE has been associated with various regions of Ethiopia, particularly in the northern and central parts of the country. It has also been linked to several place names and localities, such as TEKLE Haymanot, a town in the Amhara region, and TEKLE Giyorgis, a village in the Tigray region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Tekle surname: questions and answers

How common is the Tekle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 178 in 2016. That gives Tekle a modern rank of #21,160.

What does the Tekle surname mean?