NameCensus.

UK surname

Terrey

A habitational surname for someone from a place so named, derived from Old French for "land" or "territory".

In the 1881 census there were 211 people recorded with the Terrey surname, ranking it #12,407 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 218, ranked #18,481, down from #12,407 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Southampton St Mary and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gourock East, Greenock West and Lyle Road, Camden and Milton Keynes.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Terrey is 304 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.3%.

1881 census count

211

Ranked #12,407

Modern count

218

2016, ranked #18,481

Peak year

1851

304 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Terrey had 211 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,407 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 218 in 2016, ranked #18,481.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 304 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Terrey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Terrey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Terrey 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 304 #7,559
1861 historical 186 #12,751
1881 historical 211 #12,407
1891 historical 203 #14,754
1901 historical 203 #14,969
1911 historical 286 #11,810
1997 modern 256 #15,034
1998 modern 250 #15,675
1999 modern 242 #16,146
2000 modern 248 #15,827
2001 modern 235 #16,147
2002 modern 240 #16,291
2003 modern 232 #16,447
2004 modern 233 #16,471
2005 modern 220 #17,078
2006 modern 213 #17,563
2007 modern 212 #17,803
2008 modern 216 #17,758
2009 modern 211 #18,377
2010 modern 217 #18,443
2011 modern 227 #17,733
2012 modern 223 #17,852
2013 modern 218 #18,441
2014 modern 217 #18,645
2015 modern 216 #18,600
2016 modern 218 #18,481

Geography

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Where Terreys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Southampton St Mary, Lambeth and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gourock East, Greenock West and Lyle Road, Camden, Milton Keynes, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Lewisham. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gourock East, Greenock West and Lyle Road Inverclyde
2 Camden 022 Camden
3 Milton Keynes 031 Milton Keynes
4 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 011 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
5 Lewisham 001 Lewisham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Terrey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Terrey

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Terrey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Terrey 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

Terrey falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Terrey 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.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Terrey

The surname Terrey originated in the Normandy region of France during the medieval period. It is believed to derive from the Old French word "torée," meaning "a hillock" or "a small hill." This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who lived near or on a small hill or elevated land.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Terrey can be found in the 13th century. The Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census-like record of landowners in England, mentions a William de Torye, which is considered an early variant spelling of Terrey. Another early reference is found in the Placita de Quo Warranto records from 1292, which document a Robert de Turry.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Torry, Torye, and Turry, in various English and French records. This indicates that the name had spread from Normandy to England, likely due to the Norman conquest of England in 1066.

One notable individual bearing the name Terrey was John Terrey, a 15th-century English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset in 1455 and 1472. Another was Richard Terrey, a 16th-century English clergyman who became the Bishop of Peterborough in 1570.

In the 17th century, the name can be found in parish records from various parts of England, such as Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. This suggests that the Terrey family had spread and established themselves in different regions of the country.

A prominent figure from this period was Sir Samuel Terrey, a 17th-century English merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1669-1670. He was born in 1622 and died in 1677.

Another notable individual was Edward Terrey, a 17th-century English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the development of calculus. He was born in 1635 and died in 1698.

In the 18th century, the Terrey surname continued to be found in various parts of England, with records showing individuals from counties like Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire bearing the name.

One individual of note from this period was Thomas Terrey, a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Radcliffe Camera in Oxford, which was completed in 1749. He was born in 1692 and died in 1766.

These examples highlight the long history and widespread presence of the Terrey surname across various regions of England, with individuals from different walks of life bearing this name over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Terrey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Terrey 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 69 Terreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.35x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 69 3.35x
Surrey 38 3.79x
Nottinghamshire 18 6.49x
Kent 17 2.42x
Yorkshire 14 0.69x
Devon 10 2.33x
Glamorgan 7 1.95x
Hampshire 7 1.66x
Norfolk 7 2.21x
Oxfordshire 5 3.93x
Worcestershire 4 1.49x
Durham 3 0.49x
Lancashire 3 0.12x
Lincolnshire 2 0.61x
Warwickshire 2 0.39x
Bedfordshire 1 0.94x
Berkshire 1 0.65x
Leicestershire 1 0.44x
Staffordshire 1 0.14x
Suffolk 1 0.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kensington London in Middlesex leads with 17 Terreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.86x.

Place Total Index
Kensington London 17 14.86x
Hammersmith London 11 21.70x
Chelsea London 10 16.12x
York St Maurice 10 260.42x
Bletchingley 8 610.69x
Snodland 8 402.01x
Norwich St Paul 7 370.37x
Nottingham St Mary 7 9.76x
St Botolph Aldgate 7 249.11x
Swansea Town 7 23.83x
Mile End Old Town 6 18.47x
Reigate Foreign 6 55.25x
Newington 5 6.58x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 15.15x
Radford 5 35.49x
Snenton 5 45.87x
Watlington 5 384.62x
Buckland 4 1379.31x
Islington London 4 2.01x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 9.66x
St George Hanover 4 14.89x
St Martin In Fields 4 32.47x
Canterbury St Mary 3 63.69x
Claines 3 40.65x
Southampton St Mary 3 11.31x
St Luke London 3 9.09x
Trimdon 3 138.89x
Camberwell 2 1.52x
Christchurch 2 21.86x
Deptford St Paul 2 3.69x
Dover St James 2 64.94x
Gillingham 2 13.81x
Great Grimsby 2 9.57x
Lambeth 2 1.11x
Manchester 2 1.82x
Plymouth Charles The 2 10.60x
Sheffield 2 3.08x
Warlingham 2 246.91x
Aston 1 0.70x
Bedford St Peter 1 36.10x
Buckland Monachorum 1 108.70x
Bushley 1 526.32x
Carlton 1 31.55x
Chiswick 1 8.89x
Clapham 1 3.89x
Clayton 1 20.04x
Gatton 1 625.00x
Godstone 1 55.56x
Holy Rood 1 117.65x
Hound 1 34.97x
Ipswich St Mary At Elms 1 125.00x
Kingswinford 1 3.97x
Little Claybrooke 1 238.10x
Penge 1 7.60x
Rawdon 1 41.67x
Rugby 1 14.25x
Shoreditch London 1 1.12x
St Clement Danes 1 30.03x
Stoke Damerel 1 3.34x
Tandridge 1 232.56x
Whitchurch 1 156.25x
Whittingham 1 92.59x
Yealmpton 1 151.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Elizabeth 9
Annie 7
Susan 6
Emily 5
Jane 5
Sarah 5
Ada 4
Charlotte 4
Eliza 4
Emma 4
Alice 3
Martha 3
Anne 2
Eleanor 2
Harriet 2
Margaret 2
Rebecca 2
Rhoda 2
Rosa 2
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Catherine 1
Daisy 1
Dottie 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Emley 1
Fanney 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Hannah 1
Honor 1
Joanna 1
Johanna 1
Juliania 1
Kate 1
Lavinia 1
Leah 1
Linda 1
Lizzy 1
Louisa 1
Louiza 1
Lucretia 1
Maria 1
Marrey 1
Phebe 1
Sophia 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Terrey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Terrey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 211 people were recorded with the Terrey surname. That placed it at #12,407 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Terrey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 218 in 2016. That gives Terrey a modern rank of #18,481.

What does the Terrey surname mean?

A habitational surname for someone from a place so named, derived from Old French for "land" or "territory".

What does the Terrey map show?

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