NameCensus.

UK surname

Thackery

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "thicket-dweller".

In the 1881 census there were 258 people recorded with the Thackery surname, ranking it #10,836 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 268, ranked #16,003, down from #10,836 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kirkby Malzeard, Otley and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Thackery is 302 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.9%.

1881 census count

258

Ranked #10,836

Modern count

268

2016, ranked #16,003

Peak year

1901

302 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Thackery had 258 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,836 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 268 in 2016, ranked #16,003.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 302 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Thackery surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Thackery surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Thackery 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 120 #15,144
1861 historical 186 #12,751
1881 historical 258 #10,836
1891 historical 248 #12,849
1901 historical 302 #11,592
1911 historical 246 #13,054
1997 modern 255 #15,077
1998 modern 286 #14,318
1999 modern 270 #14,992
2000 modern 266 #15,096
2001 modern 257 #15,236
2002 modern 255 #15,599
2003 modern 255 #15,416
2004 modern 254 #15,540
2005 modern 250 #15,639
2006 modern 244 #16,011
2007 modern 250 #15,901
2008 modern 252 #15,984
2009 modern 258 #16,050
2010 modern 265 #16,115
2011 modern 261 #16,145
2012 modern 259 #16,126
2013 modern 266 #16,098
2014 modern 267 #16,161
2015 modern 266 #16,105
2016 modern 268 #16,003

Geography

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Where Thackerys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kirkby Malzeard, Otley, St Pancras, Bradford and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rotherham. 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 Kirkby Malzeard Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Otley Yorkshire, West Riding
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rotherham 014 Rotherham
2 Rotherham 013 Rotherham
3 Rotherham 024 Rotherham
4 Rotherham 010 Rotherham
5 Rotherham 019 Rotherham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Thackery

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Thackery

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Thackery surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Thackery 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Thackery 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

Thackery 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

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

Meaning and origin of Thackery

The surname Thackery has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to derive from the Old English word "thaccian," which means "to thatch," referring to the occupation of a thatcher or a maker of roofs using straw or reeds.

The name was initially found in Yorkshire and surrounding areas, where thatching was a common trade. Early records show variations in spelling, such as Thacker, Thackray, and Thackwray, reflecting the regional dialects and pronunciation differences.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where a John Thakker is mentioned. The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, does not contain direct references to the surname, as it primarily focused on landowners and place names.

In the 16th century, the name Thackery appeared in various historical documents, such as parish records and court rolls. Notable individuals bearing this surname include William Thackery, a merchant from Yorkshire, born in 1562, and Thomas Thackery, a clergyman from Lincolnshire, born in 1619.

During the 17th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863), a renowned English novelist best known for his satirical works, including "Vanity Fair" and "The Luck of Barry Lyndon."

Another notable figure was Sir Edward Talbot Thackeray (1836-1927), a British civil servant and diplomat who served as the Governor of the Madras Presidency in India from 1879 to 1880.

In the 19th century, John Thackery (1821-1867) was a prominent architect responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in Yorkshire, including the Church of St. Hilda in Middlesbrough.

Moving into the 20th century, William Porter Thackeray (1882-1957) was a British philatelist and stamp dealer, renowned for his expertise in the field of philately.

The surname Thackery has also been associated with notable figures in various fields, such as science, politics, and the arts, further contributing to its rich history and legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Thackery families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Thackery 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 123 Thackerys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.91x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 123 4.91x
Middlesex 59 2.34x
Lancashire 25 0.83x
Nottinghamshire 12 3.52x
Cheshire 6 1.08x
Somerset 5 1.23x
Derbyshire 4 1.01x
Lincolnshire 4 0.99x
Surrey 4 0.32x
Hampshire 2 0.39x
Northamptonshire 2 0.84x
Sussex 2 0.47x
Westmorland 2 3.60x
Channel Islands 1 1.34x
Dorset 1 0.60x
Essex 1 0.20x
Gloucestershire 1 0.20x
Montgomeryshire 1 1.73x
Norfolk 1 0.26x
Northumberland 1 0.27x
Rutland 1 5.39x
Staffordshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stonebeck Down in Yorkshire leads with 22 Thackerys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7586.21x.

Place Total Index
Stonebeck Down 22 7586.21x
St Pancras London 18 8.85x
Otley 14 230.26x
Sheffield 13 16.31x
Fountains Earth 11 3928.57x
Hackney London 10 7.06x
High Low Bishopside 10 450.45x
Islington London 10 4.08x
Oldham 8 8.27x
Horton In Bradford 7 17.90x
Leeds 7 4.95x
St Marylebone London 7 5.19x
Burnley 6 23.76x
Radford 6 34.68x
Wickersley 6 869.57x
Armley 5 45.29x
Arnold 5 100.60x
Ashton Under Lyne 5 7.63x
Bath St Peter St Paul 5 277.78x
Stayley 5 78.49x
Keighley 4 14.99x
Middlesbrough 4 12.27x
Shoreditch London 4 3.65x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 4 34.39x
Westminster St James 4 15.40x
Alfreton 3 24.96x
Clerkenwell London 3 5.03x
Hulme 3 4.79x
Nether Hallam 3 8.86x
Roughton 3 2307.69x
Bow London 2 6.22x
Bramley In Bramley 2 20.88x
Brightside Bierlow 2 4.07x
Broadwater 2 20.47x
Camberwell 2 1.24x
Northampton St Giles 2 22.10x
Preston 2 2.49x
Saddleworth 2 10.36x
York St Mary 2 19.29x
Alverstoke 1 5.34x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 1 4.29x
Ault Hucknall 1 153.85x
Braunston 1 303.03x
Caterham 1 18.38x
Chester St Oswald 1 9.90x
Dorchester St Peter 1 83.33x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 1.96x
Ecclesfield 1 5.45x
Great Yarmouth 1 3.11x
Hambledon 1 57.14x
Hartwith Cum Winsley 1 108.70x
Holy Trinity St Mary 1 26.25x
Horfield 1 20.04x
Kendal 1 9.84x
Kirton In Lindsey 1 62.50x
Morpeth 1 22.62x
Moss Side 1 6.34x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.14x
Patton 1 2000.00x
Pool 1 22.88x
Poplar London 1 2.10x
Southwark Christchurch 1 8.45x
St Peter 1 46.30x
West Ham 1 0.91x
Wolverhampton 1 1.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Sarah 11
Elizabeth 6
Emily 6
Martha 5
Alice 4
Eliza 4
Jane 4
Margaret 4
Ann 3
Annie 3
Hannah 3
Harriet 3
Louisa 3
Rebecca 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Constance 2
Eleanor 2
Ellen 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Maggie 2
Rose 2
Ruth 2
Bessy 1
Clarissa 1
Dinah 1
Edith 1
Elizbth. 1
Elizth. 1
Emma 1
Ettie 1
Eugenie 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Geraldine 1
Grace 1
Jemima 1
Joseph 1
Kate 1
Lelia 1
Lilian 1
Lilly 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Maria 1
Sussanah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
George 14
James 10
John 9
Thomas 9
Edward 7
Charles 6
Joseph 6
Walter 4
Alfred 3
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Henry 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Alexander 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Charlie 1
Chas.Percival 1
Daniel 1
Dick 1
Ed. 1
Emma 1
Ernest 1
Ezra 1
Fred. 1
Herbert 1
Herbt. 1
Isaac 1
Jno. 1
Jobe 1
Joe 1
Montague 1
Ray 1
Tim. 1
Timothy 1
Walt. 1
Wilfred 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Thackery surname: questions and answers

How common was the Thackery surname in 1881?

In 1881, 258 people were recorded with the Thackery surname. That placed it at #10,836 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Thackery surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 268 in 2016. That gives Thackery a modern rank of #16,003.

What does the Thackery surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "thicket-dweller".

What does the Thackery map show?

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