NameCensus.

UK surname

Tessier

A French occupational surname referring to a weaver or cloth maker.

In the 1881 census there were 64 people recorded with the Tessier surname, ranking it #24,561 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 113, ranked #28,691, down from #24,561 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chichester, Brighton and Hove and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tessier is 117 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 76.6%.

1881 census count

64

Ranked #24,561

Modern count

113

2016, ranked #28,691

Peak year

2015

117 bearers

Map years

2

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tessier had 64 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,561 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 113 in 2016, ranked #28,691.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 90 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tessier surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tessier surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tessier 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 24 #29,038
1861 historical 24 #30,922
1881 historical 64 #24,561
1891 historical 57 #29,533
1901 historical 85 #24,636
1911 historical 90 #23,797
1997 modern 99 #27,039
1998 modern 103 #27,141
1999 modern 108 #26,602
2000 modern 102 #27,425
2001 modern 98 #27,672
2002 modern 104 #27,303
2003 modern 98 #28,046
2004 modern 95 #28,746
2005 modern 102 #27,689
2006 modern 96 #28,946
2007 modern 93 #29,777
2008 modern 102 #28,664
2009 modern 109 #28,145
2010 modern 112 #28,336
2011 modern 110 #28,478
2012 modern 99 #30,442
2013 modern 111 #28,856
2014 modern 112 #28,934
2015 modern 117 #27,982
2016 modern 113 #28,691

Geography

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Where Tessiers 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 Chichester, Brighton and Hove, East Riding of Yorkshire, Eastbourne and Watford. 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 Chichester 013 Chichester
2 Brighton and Hove 024 Brighton and Hove
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 032 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Eastbourne 011 Eastbourne
5 Watford 010 Watford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tessier

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tessier

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Tessier surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Tessier 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Tessier 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

Tessier 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

Tessier falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tessier is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Tessier

The surname Tessier originates from France and dates back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "teissier," which means a weaver or cloth maker. The name is believed to have first appeared in the regions of Normandy and Brittany, where the textile industry was prominent during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tessier can be found in the Domesday Book, a medieval census commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The book mentions a landowner named Robert le Teissier, who held estates in Lincolnshire, England.

In the 13th century, a branch of the Tessier family settled in the village of Tessières, located in the Sarthe department of northwestern France. This place name is likely derived from the surname itself, indicating the family's prominence in the area.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, several notable individuals bearing the name Tessier emerged. One such person was Jean Tessier (c. 1330-1395), a renowned scholar and theologian who served as the rector of the University of Paris and played a significant role in the Western Schism.

Another prominent figure was Gilles Tessier (c. 1480-1550), a French lawyer and jurist who served as the President of the Parlement of Paris, one of the highest judicial positions in the kingdom at the time.

In the 16th century, the Tessier family produced several accomplished artists and writers. One of the most notable was Guillaume Tessier (c. 1520-1590), a poet and humanist who was part of the renowned Pléiade literary group. His contemporaries included prominent figures such as Pierre de Ronsard and Joachim du Bellay.

During the 17th century, the Tessier name gained prominence in the field of medicine. Jean Tessier (1597-1671) was a celebrated French physician and anatomist who made significant contributions to the study of the human body. He was appointed as the personal physician to King Louis XIII and later served as the dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Paris.

Throughout history, the surname Tessier has been associated with various professions, from weavers and artists to scholars and jurists. While its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in France, the name has since spread across the globe, reflecting the diverse journeys and achievements of those who bear it.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tessier families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tessier 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. Surrey leads with 36 Tessiers recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.98x.

County Total Index
Surrey 36 10.98x
Middlesex 14 2.08x
Essex 7 5.27x
Channel Islands 5 25.06x
Lanarkshire 2 0.92x
Glamorgan 1 0.85x
Kent 1 0.44x
Lancashire 1 0.13x
Monmouthshire 1 2.06x
Sussex 1 0.88x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 21 Tessiers recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.85x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 21 48.85x
St Marylebone London 9 25.04x
Croydon 8 43.93x
Prittlewell 7 380.43x
Warlingham 4 1481.48x
Hampstead London 3 28.63x
St John 3 789.47x
Barony 2 3.63x
Reigate Foreign 2 56.34x
St Helier 2 30.82x
Bromley 1 28.57x
Cardiff St Mary 1 15.48x
Eastbourne 1 19.16x
Islington London 1 1.53x
Newington 1 4.02x
Newport 1 43.10x
Willesden 1 15.77x
Withington 1 38.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Henry 5
Arthur 3
Eugene 2
Fredk. 2
George 2
John 2
Joseph 2
Alexander 1
C. 1
Chas. 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Hary 1
Herbert 1
Hy. 1
Laurens 1
Louis 1
Louisa 1
Sydney 1
Theodore 1
Thomas 1
Ubric 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 Tessier households.

FAQ

Tessier surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tessier surname in 1881?

In 1881, 64 people were recorded with the Tessier surname. That placed it at #24,561 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tessier surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 113 in 2016. That gives Tessier a modern rank of #28,691.

What does the Tessier surname mean?

A French occupational surname referring to a weaver or cloth maker.

What does the Tessier map show?

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