UK surname
A locational surname referring to someone from a locality where a path or road narrows.
In the 1881 census there were 115 people recorded with the Thwaits surname, ranking it #18,230 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 21, ranked #36,596, down from #18,230 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St James Clerkenwell and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Thwaits is 141 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 81.7%.
1881 census count
115
Ranked #18,230
Modern count
21
2016, ranked #36,596
Peak year
1861
141 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Thwaits surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Thwaits surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 135 | #13,964 |
| 1861 | historical | 141 | #16,072 |
| 1881 | historical | 115 | #18,230 |
| 1891 | historical | 91 | #25,239 |
| 1901 | historical | 82 | #25,019 |
| 1911 | historical | 70 | #25,853 |
| 1997 | modern | 19 | #35,928 |
| 1998 | modern | 26 | #35,254 |
| 1999 | modern | 22 | #35,725 |
| 2000 | modern | 21 | #35,799 |
| 2001 | modern | 20 | #35,754 |
| 2002 | modern | 27 | #35,243 |
| 2003 | modern | 26 | #35,371 |
| 2004 | modern | 28 | #35,354 |
| 2005 | modern | 28 | #35,510 |
| 2006 | modern | 26 | #35,822 |
| 2007 | modern | 27 | #35,876 |
| 2008 | modern | 27 | #35,956 |
| 2009 | modern | 25 | #36,191 |
| 2010 | modern | 25 | #36,273 |
| 2011 | modern | 22 | #36,430 |
| 2012 | modern | 23 | #36,366 |
| 2013 | modern | 21 | #36,561 |
| 2014 | modern | 22 | #36,496 |
| 2015 | modern | 21 | #36,574 |
| 2016 | modern | 21 | #36,596 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St James Clerkenwell, St Marylebone, Sheffield and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | St James Clerkenwell | London (Central Districts) |
| 3 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Sheffield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | St Matthew Bethnal Green | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Thwaits surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Thwaits, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Thwaits surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Thwaits household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Thwaits is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Thwaits is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Thwaits, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname THWAITS is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "thwēat" meaning "meadow" and "sæte" meaning "dwelling" or "habitation." It is a locational surname referring to someone who lived near a meadow or grassy area.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname THWAITS can be traced back to the 13th century in Yorkshire, England. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 mention a Robert de Thwaytes, suggesting the name was already established in that region.
In the 14th century, the surname appears in various forms, such as Thwayts, Thwaytes, and Thwaites, reflecting the variations in spelling common during that period. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379 list individuals like Willelmus de Thwaytes and Johannes de Thwaytes.
The surname THWAITS is also associated with several place names in Yorkshire, including Thwaites, a hamlet near Keighley, and Thwaites Crag, a hill near Kettlewell. These place names likely influenced the surname's development and spread.
Notable historical figures bearing the surname THWAITS include:
1. Sir John Thwaites (c. 1550-1627), an English judge and Member of Parliament during the reign of King James I. 2. Thomas Thwaites (1676-1736), an English mathematician and astronomer who contributed to the development of calculus. 3. Edward Thwaites (1667-1711), an English clergyman and author of theological works. 4. Sir Joseph Thwaites (1815-1888), an English businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Liverpool Seamen's Orphan Institution. 5. George Henry Kendrick Thwaites (1811-1882), an English botanist and explorer who studied the flora of New Zealand and Antarctica.
While the surname THWAITS has its roots in Yorkshire, it has since spread across various regions of England and beyond, carried by individuals migrating to other parts of the country and the world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Thwaits surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 46 Thwaits' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.10x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 46 | 4.10x |
| Durham | 15 | 4.49x |
| Kent | 15 | 3.92x |
| Cumberland | 14 | 14.50x |
| Yorkshire | 10 | 0.90x |
| Selkirkshire | 6 | 59.11x |
| Surrey | 3 | 0.55x |
| Norfolk | 2 | 1.16x |
| Northumberland | 2 | 1.20x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.08x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.67x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 16 Thwaits' recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.83x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bethnal Green London | 16 | 32.83x |
| Tottenham | 11 | 61.56x |
| St Marylebone London | 10 | 16.70x |
| Horton In Bradford | 9 | 51.84x |
| Flimby | 8 | 975.61x |
| Longfield | 8 | 6153.85x |
| Deptford St Paul | 6 | 20.33x |
| Galashiels | 5 | 133.33x |
| Islington London | 5 | 4.60x |
| Tanfield | 5 | 125.94x |
| West Newton Allonby | 5 | 1470.59x |
| Crook Billy Row | 4 | 93.68x |
| St Gilesin Fields | 3 | 461.54x |
| Wandsworth | 3 | 27.78x |
| Washington | 3 | 214.29x |
| Cranworth | 2 | 2222.22x |
| Elswick | 2 | 15.02x |
| Gateshead | 2 | 8.00x |
| Bromley | 1 | 17.15x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 1.65x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 1.60x |
| Leeds | 1 | 1.59x |
| Manchester | 1 | 1.67x |
| Plumpton Wall | 1 | 769.23x |
| Selkirk | 1 | 34.97x |
| Southwick | 1 | 31.65x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Thwaits surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Jane | 6 |
| Ann | 4 |
| Eliza | 3 |
| Emily | 3 |
| Hannah | 3 |
| Mary | 3 |
| Sarah | 3 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Amy | 2 |
| Barbara | 2 |
| Elizabeth | 2 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Amelia | 1 |
| Annie | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Elenor | 1 |
| Elizebeth | 1 |
| Ester | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Isabella | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Laura | 1 |
| Lillian | 1 |
| Lydia | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Margret | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Norah | 1 |
| Rachel | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Sally | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Thwaits surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Thwaits households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 28 |
| Clerk | 3 |
| Dressmaker | 3 |
| Fancy Box Maker | 3 |
| Boot Machinist | 2 |
| Cigar Maker | 2 |
| Farm Labourer | 2 |
| Silk Weaveress | 2 |
| (Dom) Servant Unemployed | 1 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Bankers Clerk | 1 |
| Boot Maker Etc | 1 |
| Boot Trade Paste Filler | 1 |
| Brickmaker | 1 |
| Bus Driver | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Cast Iron Pounder | 1 |
| Char Woman | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Coke Laberour | 1 |
| Cooper | 1 |
| Crippel | 1 |
| Dealer In Horse Flesh | 1 |
| Farm Servant (Ag Lab) | 1 |
| Footman | 1 |
| General Traveller | 1 |
| Iron & Tin Plate Worker | 1 |
| Mill Hand & Scholar (Artz) | 1 |
| Oilman & Color | 1 |
| Ploughman Ag Lab | 1 |
| School Teacher | 1 |
| Shop Assistant | 1 |
| Signal Man (Ry) | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Tobacco Stripper (Manuf) | 1 |
| Wagon Rider | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 115 people were recorded with the Thwaits surname. That placed it at #18,230 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 21 in 2016. That gives Thwaits a modern rank of #36,596.
A locational surname referring to someone from a locality where a path or road narrows.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Thwaits bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.