NameCensus.

UK surname

Tempest

A surname suggesting a stormy, tempestuous, or fiery nature or origin.

In the 1881 census there were 1,390 people recorded with the Tempest surname, ranking it #2,974 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,568, ranked #3,957, down from #2,974 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bradford, Halifax and Batley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Lindsey, County Durham and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tempest is 1,698 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.8%.

1881 census count

1,390

Ranked #2,974

Modern count

1,568

2016, ranked #3,957

Peak year

1911

1,698 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tempest had 1,390 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,974 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,568 in 2016, ranked #3,957.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,698 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Tempest surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tempest surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tempest 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 916 #3,010
1861 historical 817 #3,370
1881 historical 1,390 #2,974
1891 historical 1,341 #3,250
1901 historical 1,631 #3,167
1911 historical 1,698 #2,892
1997 modern 1,565 #3,771
1998 modern 1,609 #3,823
1999 modern 1,634 #3,794
2000 modern 1,626 #3,792
2001 modern 1,613 #3,745
2002 modern 1,606 #3,838
2003 modern 1,567 #3,843
2004 modern 1,541 #3,905
2005 modern 1,492 #3,979
2006 modern 1,501 #3,961
2007 modern 1,535 #3,914
2008 modern 1,534 #3,933
2009 modern 1,582 #3,918
2010 modern 1,622 #3,910
2011 modern 1,615 #3,888
2012 modern 1,563 #3,929
2013 modern 1,604 #3,908
2014 modern 1,613 #3,915
2015 modern 1,582 #3,935
2016 modern 1,568 #3,957

Geography

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Where Tempests are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bradford, Halifax, Batley and Leeds. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Lindsey, County Durham and Bradford. 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 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Lindsey 011 East Lindsey
2 County Durham 017 County Durham
3 County Durham 021 County Durham
4 Bradford 061 Bradford
5 County Durham 039 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tempest

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tempest

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Tempest surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Tempest household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Tempest is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tempest is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tempest 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 Tempest 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 Tempest, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Tempest

The surname Tempest has its origins in England, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "tempeste," meaning a violent storm or tempest. This suggests that the name may have been originally given as a nickname to someone with a fierce or tempestuous personality.

One of the earliest recorded references to the Tempest name can be found in the Domesday Book, a survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "de Tempest," indicating that it was initially a locational surname, referring to someone who lived near a place prone to storms or tempests.

In the 13th century, the Tempest family held lands in Yorkshire, particularly in the area around Bracewell and Waddington. Sir Richard Tempest (c. 1210-1275) was a prominent member of this family and served as a soldier and landowner during the reign of King Henry III.

As the surname spread across England, it took on various spellings, such as Tempeste and Tempeste. One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Tempest (c. 1415-1491), a Yorkshire knight who fought in the Wars of the Roses and was a supporter of the House of Lancaster.

In the 16th century, the Tempest family gained further prominence with Sir Thomas Tempest (c. 1500-1567), who was knighted by King Henry VIII and served as a Member of Parliament. He was also a wealthy landowner and built the impressive Bracewell Hall in Yorkshire.

Another noteworthy figure was Sir Robert Tempest (1579-1637), a member of the English gentry and a Member of Parliament during the reign of King James I. He was involved in various legal disputes over land ownership and was known for his religious and political views.

During the English Civil War, Sir Richard Tempest (1598-1647) supported the Royalist cause and was taken prisoner by Parliamentary forces. He was later executed for his loyalty to King Charles I, and his estate was confiscated.

In the 18th century, John Tempest (1718-1790) was a successful merchant and banker who amassed a considerable fortune. He was also a patron of the arts and supported the work of artists such as Joseph Wright of Derby.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals who have borne the Tempest surname throughout history, reflecting its long-standing presence in England and its association with notable families and figures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tempest families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tempest 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. Yorkshire leads with 866 Tempests recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.43x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 866 6.43x
Lancashire 132 0.82x
Durham 110 2.72x
Derbyshire 46 2.16x
Northumberland 38 1.88x
Cheshire 31 1.03x
Lincolnshire 31 1.43x
Middlesex 28 0.21x
Warwickshire 28 0.82x
Surrey 27 0.41x
Staffordshire 20 0.44x
Kent 17 0.37x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.27x
Devon 3 0.11x
Worcestershire 3 0.17x
Ayrshire 1 0.10x
Berkshire 1 0.10x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.18x
Channel Islands 1 0.25x
Dorset 1 0.11x
Flintshire 1 0.27x
Monmouthshire 1 0.10x
Sussex 1 0.04x
Wiltshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Horton In Bradford in Yorkshire leads with 115 Tempests recorded in 1881 and an index of 54.65x.

Place Total Index
Horton In Bradford 115 54.65x
Bradford 63 19.31x
Hunslet 56 26.65x
Northowram 55 58.21x
Morley 45 64.23x
North Bierley 44 60.48x
Bowling 36 26.97x
Hetton Le Hole 35 68.27x
Leeds 30 3.94x
Halifax 26 13.14x
Keighley 26 18.10x
Haworth 24 74.93x
Armley 23 38.70x
Bingley 22 25.64x
Holbeck 22 24.64x
Otley 22 67.24x
Burnley 21 15.45x
Cononley 21 542.64x
Birmingham 18 1.57x
Blackburn 18 4.19x
West Ardsley 16 98.64x
West Derby 16 3.39x
Gateshead 15 4.95x
Leake 15 150.60x
Skipton 14 33.02x
Sutton In Keighley 14 183.49x
Castleton 13 8.07x
Great Bolton 13 6.08x
Pittington 13 114.24x
St Giles 13 51.49x
Duffield 12 71.51x
Hyde 12 13.55x
Stoke Upon Trent 12 2.47x
Wortley In Bramley 12 11.24x
Elswick 11 6.81x
Hunwick Helmington 11 113.29x
Longbenton 11 12.84x
Birkenhead 10 4.18x
Middlestone 10 123.30x
Morton In Keighley 10 94.52x
Gomersal 9 14.31x
Richmond 9 42.76x
Shelf 9 69.93x
Derby St Werburgh 8 6.51x
Lambeth 8 0.67x
Litchurch 8 9.34x
Steeton Cum Eastburn 8 172.79x
Ackworth 7 67.63x
Aston 7 0.74x
Battersea 7 1.40x
Clapham 7 4.12x
Clayton 7 21.23x
Everton 7 1.36x
Knottingley 7 29.56x
Plumstead 7 4.53x
Ripon 7 22.39x
Cowling 6 68.65x
Great Little Marsden 6 8.12x
Hackney London 6 0.79x
Horsforth 6 20.31x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 6 9.58x
Wallsend 6 9.35x
Wyke In Bradford 6 24.90x
Canterbury St Mary 5 16.06x
Derby St Alkmund 5 7.84x
Livesey 5 17.66x
Manningham 5 3.01x
Middleton In Hunslet 5 264.55x
Ovenden 5 8.34x
Seaham 5 33.90x
Shipley 5 7.15x
St George Hanover 5 2.82x
Thornaby 5 9.93x
Tong 5 19.21x
Wigginton 5 265.96x
Chapel Allerton 4 19.84x
Coleby 4 198.02x
Mile End Old Town 4 1.86x
Saddleworth 4 3.85x
Windle 4 4.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 83
William 65
James 42
George 33
Thomas 32
Joseph 30
Robert 23
Henry 20
Arthur 18
Charles 14
Alfred 12
David 11
Walter 11
Harry 10
Albert 9
Ernest 8
Richard 8
Samuel 8
Fred 7
Matthew 7
Amos 6
Benjamin 6
Edward 6
Isaac 6
Joshua 6
Wm. 6
Aaron 5
Edwin 5
Frederick 5
Horsley 5
Squire 5
Abraham 4
Frank 4
Herbert 4
Chas. 3
Hezekiah 3
Jno. 3
Jonas 3
Luke 3
Smith 3
Aidan 2
Barzilla 2
Edmund 2
Geo. 2
Milford 2
Moses 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Randolph 2
Reuben 2

FAQ

Tempest surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tempest surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,390 people were recorded with the Tempest surname. That placed it at #2,974 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tempest surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,568 in 2016. That gives Tempest a modern rank of #3,957.

What does the Tempest surname mean?

A surname suggesting a stormy, tempestuous, or fiery nature or origin.

What does the Tempest map show?

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