NameCensus.

UK surname

Telling

A surname derived from an occupation related to counting or tallying.

In the 1881 census there were 531 people recorded with the Telling surname, ranking it #6,470 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 670, ranked #7,986, down from #6,470 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Swindon, Lyddington, London parishes and Siddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Swindon and Cotswold.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Telling is 792 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.2%.

1881 census count

531

Ranked #6,470

Modern count

670

2016, ranked #7,986

Peak year

1911

792 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Telling had 531 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,470 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 670 in 2016, ranked #7,986.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 792 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Telling surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Telling surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Telling 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 350 #6,733
1861 historical 344 #7,422
1881 historical 531 #6,470
1891 historical 636 #6,088
1901 historical 727 #6,096
1911 historical 792 #5,514
1997 modern 750 #6,883
1998 modern 756 #7,055
1999 modern 754 #7,125
2000 modern 741 #7,171
2001 modern 722 #7,182
2002 modern 732 #7,240
2003 modern 722 #7,209
2004 modern 722 #7,213
2005 modern 709 #7,256
2006 modern 702 #7,332
2007 modern 689 #7,515
2008 modern 698 #7,498
2009 modern 711 #7,549
2010 modern 730 #7,530
2011 modern 697 #7,715
2012 modern 685 #7,732
2013 modern 688 #7,838
2014 modern 687 #7,893
2015 modern 677 #7,932
2016 modern 670 #7,986

Geography

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Where Tellings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Swindon, Lyddington, London parishes, Siddington and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Swindon and Cotswold. 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 Swindon, Lyddington Wiltshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Siddington Gloucestershire
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 002 Wiltshire
2 Swindon 005 Swindon
3 Swindon 006 Swindon
4 Cotswold 006 Cotswold
5 Cotswold 007 Cotswold

Forenames

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First names often paired with Telling

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Telling

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

Telling is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Telling falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Telling

The surname Telling is of English origin and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "tellan," which means "to tell" or "to count." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a person who worked as a storyteller, a minstrel, or possibly a tax collector or accountant.

The name Telling is first mentioned in historical records from the 13th century, appearing in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1273. This document lists a person named Richard le Tellynge, indicating that the name was already in use as a surname by that time.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Tellyng, Tellynge, and Tellinge, reflecting the variations in spelling common during that period. The Chancery Rolls of 1396 mention a John Tellyng, while the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 record a William Tellynge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Telling surname is found in the Domesday Book of 1086. This remarkable survey of land and property in England, commissioned by William the Conqueror, includes a reference to a landowner named Teodric Tellinge in the county of Lincolnshire.

In the 16th century, the Telling name was associated with the village of Telling in Shropshire, England. This place name is derived from the Old English words "tæl" and "ing," meaning "a tally or account" and "people or family," respectively. It is possible that the surname originated from this location.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Telling. One of the earliest was John Telling (c. 1420-1470), a prominent English merchant and alderman in the city of London. Another was Sir William Telling (1543-1616), a member of the English gentry and a landowner in Kent.

During the 17th century, the Telling family established themselves in the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded Tellings in America was Richard Telling (1632-1701), who settled in Massachusetts and became a prominent figure in the local community.

In the 18th century, a notable bearer of the Telling surname was Sir Benjamin Telling (1718-1792), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. He was also a Member of Parliament for Tregony in Cornwall.

Moving into the 19th century, we find Elizabeth Telling (1832-1906), a British author and poet who published several works of fiction and poetry under the pseudonym "Edith Lepworth."

These are just a few examples of the individuals who have carried the Telling surname throughout history, showcasing its rich heritage and diverse backgrounds.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Telling families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Telling 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. Wiltshire leads with 225 Tellings recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.12x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 225 49.12x
Gloucestershire 114 11.22x
Middlesex 59 1.14x
Surrey 57 2.26x
Berkshire 16 4.12x
Yorkshire 10 0.19x
Oxfordshire 8 2.50x
Staffordshire 7 0.40x
Glamorgan 6 0.67x
Monmouthshire 5 1.34x
Somerset 5 0.60x
Lancashire 4 0.07x
Devon 2 0.19x
Essex 2 0.20x
Kent 2 0.11x
Leicestershire 2 0.35x
Warwickshire 2 0.15x
Dorset 1 0.29x
Herefordshire 1 0.47x
Hertfordshire 1 0.28x
Sussex 1 0.11x
Worcestershire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ashton Keynes in Wiltshire leads with 91 Tellings recorded in 1881 and an index of 5352.94x.

Place Total Index
Ashton Keynes 91 5352.94x
Purton 24 588.24x
Siddington 23 2674.42x
Bermondsey 18 11.67x
Cirencester 14 101.82x
Minety 12 944.88x
Newington 12 6.27x
Somerford Keynes 12 2105.26x
Malmesbury St Paul 11 279.19x
Camberwell 9 2.72x
Eastington 9 267.86x
St Marylebone London 8 2.89x
Charlton Kings 7 99.57x
Cheltenham 7 8.93x
Cricklade St Sampson 7 328.64x
Drayton Bassett 7 886.08x
Kensington London 7 2.43x
Paddington London 7 3.68x
Wootton Bassett 7 175.88x
Calne 6 63.63x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 5.75x
Hawkesbury 6 173.41x
Latton 6 1276.60x
Northleach 6 400.00x
Preston 6 1250.00x
South Cerney 6 359.28x
Willesden 6 12.29x
Ashbury 5 413.22x
Brokenborough 5 757.58x
Cricklade St Mary 5 684.93x
Easton Grey 5 2083.33x
Graig 5 297.62x
Islington London 5 1.00x
Merthyr Tydfil 5 5.77x
Mile End Old Town 5 6.12x
Oaksey 5 657.89x
Oxford St Ebbe 5 53.14x
Chelsea London 4 2.56x
Egham 4 25.82x
Fairford 4 147.60x
Gloucester Barton St 4 67.23x
Great Faringdon 4 71.56x
Highworth 4 68.26x
Lambeth 4 0.89x
Luckington 4 666.67x
Openshaw 4 13.90x
Rotherham 4 13.82x
Southwark St John 4 25.25x
Sutton Benger 4 634.92x
Bethnal Green London 3 1.33x
Charlton 3 223.88x
Crudwell 3 225.56x
Devizes St James 3 49.26x
Hackney London 3 1.03x
Oxford St Thomas 3 20.09x
Shoreditch London 3 1.34x
Baunton 2 833.33x
Birmingham 2 0.46x
Bisley 2 21.72x
Brinkworth 2 97.09x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 2.09x
Ealing 2 4.32x
Epsom 2 16.26x
Honiton 2 33.50x
Leckhampton 2 31.95x
Limehouse London 2 3.52x
Maiseyhampton 2 333.33x
North Cerney 2 180.18x
Nymphsfield 2 416.67x
Reading St Lawrence 2 24.04x
St George In East 2 5.68x
Stratton St Margaret 2 28.45x
Swindon 2 5.63x
Thornbury 2 28.82x
Walcot 2 4.50x
Wallingford St Peter 2 240.96x
Wandsworth 2 4.01x
Kingston On Thames 1 1.65x
Lyncombe Widcombe 1 4.58x
Ross 1 11.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 30
John 22
Henry 19
Thomas 18
Charles 16
Frederick 13
James 12
George 11
Edward 10
Joseph 8
Albert 7
Arthur 6
Francis 5
Frank 5
Alfred 4
Tom 4
David 3
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Robert 3
A. 2
Abel 2
Elijah 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Eber 1
Ed. 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.Loyd 1
Geo. 1
Jas. 1
Jonathan 1
Mark 1
Maurice 1
Neamiah 1
Paul 1
Philip 1
Ralf 1
Raymond 1
Richd. 1
Robt.E. 1

FAQ

Telling surname: questions and answers

How common was the Telling surname in 1881?

In 1881, 531 people were recorded with the Telling surname. That placed it at #6,470 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Telling surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 670 in 2016. That gives Telling a modern rank of #7,986.

What does the Telling surname mean?

A surname derived from an occupation related to counting or tallying.

What does the Telling map show?

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