NameCensus.

UK surname

Thiel

A German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) topographic surname referring to someone living near a plank bridge or wooden plank.

In the 1881 census there were 18 people recorded with the Thiel surname, ranking it #31,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 179, ranked #21,086, up from #31,019 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Colchester, Westminster and South Northamptonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Thiel is 194 in 2012. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 894.4%.

1881 census count

18

Ranked #31,019

Modern count

179

2016, ranked #21,086

Peak year

2012

194 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Thiel had 18 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,019 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 179 in 2016, ranked #21,086.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 93 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Thiel surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Thiel surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Thiel 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 8 #31,867
1861 historical 13 #32,208
1881 historical 18 #31,019
1891 historical 29 #31,963
1901 historical 66 #26,794
1911 historical 93 #23,492
1997 modern 127 #23,352
1998 modern 140 #22,615
1999 modern 147 #22,110
2000 modern 155 #21,341
2001 modern 154 #21,122
2002 modern 152 #21,723
2003 modern 140 #22,634
2004 modern 136 #23,207
2005 modern 146 #22,146
2006 modern 156 #21,399
2007 modern 164 #20,973
2008 modern 163 #21,238
2009 modern 173 #20,869
2010 modern 182 #20,662
2011 modern 177 #20,874
2012 modern 194 #19,606
2013 modern 194 #19,932
2014 modern 190 #20,374
2015 modern 179 #21,069
2016 modern 179 #21,086

Geography

Back to top

Where Thiels 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 Colchester, Westminster, South Northamptonshire, Lambeth and Cornwall. 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 Colchester 021 Colchester
2 Westminster 013 Westminster
3 South Northamptonshire 006 South Northamptonshire
4 Lambeth 008 Lambeth
5 Cornwall 068 Cornwall

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Thiel

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Thiel

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Thiel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Thiel 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Thiel is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Thiel 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

Thiel 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 Thiel 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Thiel

The surname Thiel is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "dil" or "dille," meaning a wooden floor or plank. It is believed to have originated in the 13th or 14th century, when it was likely used as a descriptive name for someone who lived near or worked with wooden floors or planks.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Thiel can be found in the historical records of the town of Nuremberg in Bavaria, Germany, where a certain Konrad Thiel was mentioned in a document from the year 1383. This suggests that the name was already well-established in parts of southern Germany by the late Middle Ages.

The Thiel surname is also found in various medieval records and manuscripts from other regions of Germany, such as the Rheinland and Westphalia. In some cases, the name was spelled slightly differently, such as Thyl or Thyll, reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name Thiel was Hans Thiel, a German painter and engraver who was born in Nuremberg around 1500. He is known for his intricate woodcuts and engravings, many of which depicted religious themes or scenes from the Bible.

Another prominent individual with the Thiel surname was Johann Friedrich Thiel (1701-1761), a German Lutheran theologian and philosopher who served as a professor at the University of Leipzig. He was a prominent figure in the intellectual circles of his time and wrote extensively on topics ranging from theology to natural philosophy.

In the 19th century, Johann August Thiel (1810-1889) was a German architect and urban planner who played a significant role in the development of the city of Dresden. He designed several notable buildings and public spaces in the city, including the Semper Opera House and the Zwinger Palace.

While the Thiel surname is most commonly associated with Germany, it has also spread to other parts of Europe and the world through migration and diaspora communities. For example, there are individuals with the Thiel surname in countries such as the Netherlands, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as in the United States and other nations with significant German immigrant populations.

Overall, the surname Thiel has a rich history rooted in the German language and culture, reflecting the traditions and occupations of its earliest bearers. Despite its widespread dispersal over the centuries, it remains a distinctly Germanic name with a strong connection to its ancestral origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Thiel families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Thiel 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 14 Thiels recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.56x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 14 7.56x
Lancashire 2 0.91x
Warwickshire 2 4.28x
Nottinghamshire 1 4.00x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Marylebone London in Middlesex leads with 6 Thiels recorded in 1881 and an index of 60.67x.

Place Total Index
St Marylebone London 6 60.67x
Chelsea London 4 71.68x
Kensington London 3 29.13x
Birmingham 2 12.85x
Greasley 1 178.57x
Little Bolton 1 35.34x
St Martin In Fields 1 90.09x
Toxteth Park 1 13.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 2
Dentry 1
Derretta 1
Dorothy 1
Elenor 1
Hannah 1
Martha 1
Sophie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Arthur 1
Francis 1
John 1
Martin 1
Otto 1
Thomas 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 Thiel households.

FAQ

Thiel surname: questions and answers

How common was the Thiel surname in 1881?

In 1881, 18 people were recorded with the Thiel surname. That placed it at #31,019 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Thiel surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 179 in 2016. That gives Thiel a modern rank of #21,086.

What does the Thiel surname mean?

A German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) topographic surname referring to someone living near a plank bridge or wooden plank.

What does the Thiel map show?

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