NameCensus.

UK surname

Tester

An occupational surname referring to a person who tasted food and drink for nobility to check for poison.

In the 1881 census there were 1,338 people recorded with the Tester surname, ranking it #3,067 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,734, ranked #3,607, down from #3,067 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Buxted, East Grinstead and Tunbridge, Bidborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wealden, Arun and Mid Sussex.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tester is 2,042 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.6%.

1881 census count

1,338

Ranked #3,067

Modern count

1,734

2016, ranked #3,607

Peak year

1998

2,042 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tester had 1,338 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,067 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,734 in 2016, ranked #3,607.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,881 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tester surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tester surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tester 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 738 #3,569
1861 historical 612 #4,346
1881 historical 1,338 #3,067
1891 historical 1,346 #3,233
1901 historical 1,783 #2,930
1911 historical 1,881 #2,626
1997 modern 1,969 #3,093
1998 modern 2,042 #3,103
1999 modern 1,990 #3,187
2000 modern 1,948 #3,229
2001 modern 1,915 #3,217
2002 modern 1,945 #3,243
2003 modern 1,897 #3,245
2004 modern 1,842 #3,333
2005 modern 1,820 #3,334
2006 modern 1,791 #3,389
2007 modern 1,811 #3,386
2008 modern 1,838 #3,372
2009 modern 1,845 #3,439
2010 modern 1,893 #3,432
2011 modern 1,895 #3,390
2012 modern 1,857 #3,393
2013 modern 1,845 #3,458
2014 modern 1,815 #3,529
2015 modern 1,754 #3,594
2016 modern 1,734 #3,607

Geography

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Where Testers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Buxted, East Grinstead, Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes and Hawkhurst, Etchingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wealden, Arun and Mid Sussex. 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 Buxted Sussex
2 East Grinstead Sussex
3 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
4 London parishes London 3
5 Hawkhurst, Etchingham Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wealden 006 Wealden
2 Arun 007 Arun
3 Arun 004 Arun
4 Mid Sussex 001 Mid Sussex
5 Arun 002 Arun

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tester

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tester

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tester, 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 Tester surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Tester 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, Tester 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

Tester is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Tester

The surname Tester has its origins in medieval England, tracing back to the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "tæstan," meaning "to test or examine." This suggests that the name was likely an occupational surname given to individuals whose profession involved testing or inspecting goods or materials.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tester can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where a John le Tester is mentioned. This reference indicates that the name was already in use during the 13th century and further supports its occupational origins.

In the 15th century, the surname appears in various records across England, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1427, which lists a Thomas Tester. The name also surfaces in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1487, mentioning a William Tester.

During the 16th century, the surname Tester became more widespread, with notable individuals such as John Tester, a clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Lewes from 1561 to 1573. Another notable figure was Richard Tester, a merchant from London who was born around 1520 and dealt in the wool trade.

The 17th century brought forth several prominent individuals bearing the Tester surname. One such person was Thomas Tester, a renowned mathematician and astronomer who was born in 1608 and made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics. Another notable figure was William Tester, a scholar and author who published works on theology and philosophy in the late 1600s.

In the 18th century, the Tester surname continued to be found in various parts of England, with records showing individuals like John Tester, a landowner and farmer from Warwickshire, born in 1712. Additionally, there was Robert Tester, a merchant and ship owner from Bristol, who was active in the early 1700s.

As the name spread across England, it also found its way to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to North America through immigration. One notable American with the Tester surname was Samuel Tester, a Revolutionary War soldier from Virginia who fought in the Battle of Brandywine in 1777.

Throughout its history, the surname Tester has been associated with various occupations, from clergymen and scholars to merchants and farmers, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and pursuits of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tester families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tester 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. Sussex leads with 636 Testers recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.86x.

County Total Index
Sussex 636 28.86x
Kent 267 5.99x
Surrey 156 2.45x
Middlesex 102 0.78x
Lancashire 28 0.18x
Leicestershire 27 1.86x
Northamptonshire 22 1.79x
Aberdeenshire 15 1.24x
Lincolnshire 8 0.38x
Worcestershire 8 0.47x
Norfolk 7 0.35x
Staffordshire 7 0.16x
Devon 6 0.22x
Hampshire 6 0.22x
Westmorland 6 2.09x
Essex 5 0.19x
Pembrokeshire 5 1.20x
Warwickshire 5 0.15x
Cheshire 4 0.14x
Oxfordshire 4 0.50x
Berkshire 3 0.31x
Kincardineshire 3 1.88x
Morayshire 2 0.98x
Yorkshire 2 0.02x
Bedfordshire 1 0.15x
Channel Islands 1 0.26x
Derbyshire 1 0.05x
Royal Navy 1 0.64x
Rutland 1 1.04x
Wiltshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Grinstead in Sussex leads with 78 Testers recorded in 1881 and an index of 250.00x.

Place Total Index
East Grinstead 78 250.00x
Maresfield 60 645.86x
Brighton 53 11.92x
Etchingham 47 1151.96x
Buxted 39 451.91x
Balcombe 35 890.59x
Tonbridge 35 21.76x
Camberwell 30 3.59x
Lambeth 26 2.28x
Broadwater 22 43.52x
Wadhurst 21 145.13x
Ardingly 18 256.78x
Speldhurst 18 79.26x
Waldron 17 283.33x
Battersea 16 3.33x
Cuckfield 16 71.88x
Rotherfield 16 82.43x
Frant 15 96.03x
Clapham 14 8.57x
Goudhurst 14 113.45x
Herne 14 70.89x
Islington London 14 1.11x
Leicester St Margaret 14 3.96x
Lindfield 14 150.21x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 13 5.74x
Clerkenwell London 13 4.21x
Frindsbury 13 77.33x
Edenbridge 12 137.14x
Horsemonden 12 184.33x
Hove 12 12.41x
Lewisham 12 5.05x
St Pancras London 12 1.14x
Eltham 11 42.10x
Hastings St Mary In The 11 23.39x
Lingfield 11 88.64x
Sevenoaks 11 30.42x
Worth 11 68.75x
Chislehurst 10 41.81x
Leicester Black Friars 10 106.04x
Liverpool 10 1.06x
Maidstone 10 7.53x
Salehurst 10 104.82x
West Derby 10 2.20x
Kingston On Thames 9 5.88x
Bexhill 8 72.86x
Brenchley 8 50.13x
Chelsea London 8 2.03x
Cliffe 8 107.38x
Deptford St Paul 8 2.33x
Hornsey 8 4.84x
Leigh 8 137.22x
Limehouse London 8 5.57x
Mayfield 8 61.40x
Northampton St Peter 8 107.10x
Reigate Foreign 8 11.60x
Caterham 7 24.87x
Chichester St Pancras 7 106.22x
Eastbourne 7 6.90x
Fletching 7 70.99x
Hastings St Andrew 7 88.61x
Heigham 7 6.49x
Hurstpierpoint 7 57.10x
Kensington London 7 0.96x
Northfleet 7 17.82x
Sandhurst 7 133.33x
Bermondsey 6 1.54x
Boston 6 9.46x
Preston 6 15.59x
Slaugham 6 84.27x
West Hoathly 6 86.71x
Bolney 5 139.66x
Cliffe 5 49.70x
Croydon 5 1.41x
Gillingham 5 5.44x
Lewes St John Southover 5 33.78x
Lower Beeding 5 85.32x
Pembroke St Mary 5 9.35x
Swanscombe 5 24.95x
West Ham 5 0.88x
Yardley 5 11.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 66
Elizabeth 40
Annie 32
Ellen 30
Emily 25
Alice 23
Charlotte 21
Emma 20
Sarah 20
Eliza 19
Jane 19
Caroline 15
Harriet 14
Florence 13
Ada 12
Ann 12
Lucy 11
Martha 11
Anne 10
Harriett 10
Clara 9
Edith 9
Fanny 9
Frances 9
Kate 9
Maria 9
Susan 8
Louisa 6
Rose 6
Hannah 5
Margaret 5
Adelaide 4
Amelia 4
Isabella 4
Julia 4
Helen 3
Laura 3
Lydia 3
Matilda 3
Minnie 3
Rhoda 3
Rosa 3
Sophia 3
A. 2
Amy 2
Charity 2
Ethel 2
Mabel 2
Maud 2
Nelly 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 80
William 75
John 59
Henry 43
James 43
Thomas 40
Charles 34
Alfred 25
Frederick 23
Richard 16
Harry 15
Edward 13
Albert 11
Robert 11
Arthur 10
Frank 10
Herbert 10
Joseph 10
Walter 10
Ernest 9
Edwin 6
Owen 6
Percy 6
Jesse 5
David 4
Fredrick 4
Matthew 4
Stephen 4
Wm. 4
Jabez 3
Trayton 3
Amos 2
Benjamin 2
Charley 2
Clayton 2
Francis 2
Fredk. 2
Isaac 2
Jacob 2
Job 2
Leonard 2
Louis 2
Luke 2
Moses 2
Peter 2
Samuel 2
Sidney 2
Spencer 2
Thos. 2
Willm. 2

FAQ

Tester surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tester surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,338 people were recorded with the Tester surname. That placed it at #3,067 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tester surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,734 in 2016. That gives Tester a modern rank of #3,607.

What does the Tester surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person who tasted food and drink for nobility to check for poison.

What does the Tester map show?

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