NameCensus.

UK surname

Teller

One who counts money or works as a bank teller, derived from the German word "Zählmeister."

In the 1881 census there were 48 people recorded with the Teller surname, ranking it #26,869 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 106, ranked #29,927, down from #26,869 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tregoney, St Mary Whitechapel and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shepway, Hackney and Barnet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Teller is 117 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 120.8%.

1881 census count

48

Ranked #26,869

Modern count

106

2016, ranked #29,927

Peak year

1861

117 bearers

Map years

2

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Teller had 48 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,869 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 106 in 2016, ranked #29,927.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 117 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Teller surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Teller surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Teller 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 18 #30,094
1861 historical 117 #18,635
1881 historical 48 #26,869
1891 historical 42 #31,018
1901 historical 61 #27,379
1911 historical 45 #28,332
1997 modern 52 #32,444
1998 modern 62 #31,735
1999 modern 63 #31,798
2000 modern 66 #31,553
2001 modern 65 #31,501
2002 modern 71 #31,351
2003 modern 72 #31,281
2004 modern 77 #31,024
2005 modern 74 #31,522
2006 modern 79 #31,263
2007 modern 71 #32,484
2008 modern 74 #32,460
2009 modern 74 #32,835
2010 modern 81 #32,582
2011 modern 79 #32,743
2012 modern 90 #31,790
2013 modern 87 #32,472
2014 modern 96 #31,667
2015 modern 99 #31,168
2016 modern 106 #29,927

Geography

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Where Tellers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tregoney, St Mary Whitechapel, London parishes, St Dunstan Stepney and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shepway, Hackney, Barnet and Merthyr Tydfil. 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 Tregoney Cornwall
2 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shepway 010 Shepway
2 Hackney 001 Hackney
3 Barnet 013 Barnet
4 Merthyr Tydfil 004 Merthyr Tydfil
5 Barnet 037 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Teller

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Teller

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

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Teller surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Teller 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 never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Teller 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

Teller 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Teller 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 Teller 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Teller

The surname Teller is of German origin and can be traced back to the late Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "Teller," which means "plate" or "dish." The name likely originated as an occupational surname for someone who made or sold plates and dishes.

In its earliest forms, the name appeared as "Tellere" or "Tellir" in various German regions during the 13th and 14th centuries. It is believed to have spread across central and northern Europe as people migrated and settled in new areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Teller can be found in the town records of Nürnberg, Germany, where a certain Hans Teller was mentioned in 1428. Another early reference is found in the church records of Augsburg, where a Johann Teller was baptized in 1491.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in various spellings, including "Teller," "Teler," and "Tellar." During this period, the surname was also found in the Netherlands, where it was likely introduced by German immigrants or traders.

Prominent individuals with the surname Teller include:

1. Wilhelm Abraham Teller (1734-1804), a German mathematician and philosopher. 2. Andreas Teller (1792-1868), a German painter known for his landscapes and religious works. 3. Edward Teller (1908-2003), a Hungarian-American theoretical physicist who played a crucial role in the development of the hydrogen bomb. 4. Janne Teller (born 1964), a Danish writer and novelist, best known for her novel "Nothing." 5. Bry'nt Teller (born 1978), an American professional wrestler and actor.

As the surname spread across Europe and eventually to other parts of the world through migration and immigration, it underwent various spelling variations and adaptations based on local languages and traditions. However, its origins can be traced back to the German word "Teller" and its occupational roots in the plate and dish-making trade.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Teller families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Teller 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 27 Tellers recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.65x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 27 5.65x
Yorkshire 7 1.48x
Lancashire 6 1.06x
Somerset 4 5.20x
Durham 2 1.41x
Glamorgan 1 1.20x
Lanarkshire 1 0.65x
Royal Navy 1 17.54x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wapping London in Middlesex leads with 10 Tellers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2777.78x.

Place Total Index
Wapping London 10 2777.78x
Mile End Old Town 8 106.10x
Birdsall 7 14000.00x
Whitechapel London 5 106.16x
Bedminster 4 55.33x
Heaton Norris 3 92.88x
Manchester 3 11.76x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 2 32.47x
St Marylebone London 2 7.84x
Barony 1 2.56x
Cardiff St John 1 36.76x
Royal Navy 1 20.53x
St George Hanover 1 16.03x
Westminster St John 1 17.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Agness 2
Ann 2
Hannah 2
Leah 2
Mary 2
Susan 2
Anne 1
Annie 1
Betsy 1
Eliza 1
Ester 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Phoebe 1
Rachel 1
Sarah 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 5
Elkan 2
Jacob 2
... 1
Assis 1
Barnett 1
George 1
Isaac 1
John 1
Joseph 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Mac. 1
Robert 1
Soloman 1
Stephen 1
Thomas 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 Teller households.

FAQ

Teller surname: questions and answers

How common was the Teller surname in 1881?

In 1881, 48 people were recorded with the Teller surname. That placed it at #26,869 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Teller surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 106 in 2016. That gives Teller a modern rank of #29,927.

What does the Teller surname mean?

One who counts money or works as a bank teller, derived from the German word "Zählmeister."

What does the Teller map show?

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