NameCensus.

UK surname

Thyer

An English surname derived from a place name, possibly from Thiers, France.

In the 1881 census there were 240 people recorded with the Thyer surname, ranking it #11,410 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 376, ranked #12,437, down from #11,410 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Glastonbury St Benedict and St John, Street. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swansea and Taunton Deane.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Thyer is 404 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.7%.

1881 census count

240

Ranked #11,410

Modern count

376

2016, ranked #12,437

Peak year

2000

404 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Thyer had 240 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,410 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 376 in 2016, ranked #12,437.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 350 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Thyer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Thyer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Thyer 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 144 #13,277
1861 historical 143 #15,906
1881 historical 240 #11,410
1891 historical 276 #11,810
1901 historical 313 #11,319
1911 historical 350 #10,262
1997 modern 378 #11,474
1998 modern 388 #11,612
1999 modern 394 #11,579
2000 modern 404 #11,306
2001 modern 386 #11,509
2002 modern 386 #11,740
2003 modern 393 #11,401
2004 modern 378 #11,757
2005 modern 361 #12,090
2006 modern 354 #12,339
2007 modern 355 #12,458
2008 modern 358 #12,485
2009 modern 379 #12,224
2010 modern 373 #12,628
2011 modern 366 #12,667
2012 modern 352 #12,913
2013 modern 367 #12,707
2014 modern 380 #12,449
2015 modern 373 #12,519
2016 modern 376 #12,437

Geography

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Where Thyers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Glastonbury St Benedict and St John, Street, Clifton and Shapwick (pt), Huntspill. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swansea and Taunton Deane. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Glastonbury St Benedict and St John, Street Somerset
4 Clifton Gloucestershire
5 Shapwick (pt), Huntspill Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swansea 002 Swansea
2 Swansea 009 Swansea
3 Swansea 021 Swansea
4 Swansea 014 Swansea
5 Taunton Deane 009 Taunton Deane

Forenames

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First names often paired with Thyer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Thyer

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Thyer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Thyer household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Thyer 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

Thyer 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

Thyer falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Thyer

The surname Thyer has its origins in Normandy, France, dating back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old French word "thier," meaning a maker or worker of tiles or bricks. The name was likely adopted as an occupational surname for those involved in the production of tiles or bricks.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Tiler" and "Tihler." These early spellings reflect the occupational nature of the surname and its connection to the tile-making trade.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records across Normandy and other parts of northern France, often spelled as "Thier" or "Thyer." During this period, the name became more widespread as families adopted hereditary surnames.

One notable bearer of the Thyer surname was Robert Thyer (1709-1781), an English editor and clergyman who was best known for his edition of the works of John Butler, a 17th-century English satirist. Another prominent individual was Samuel Thyer (1707-1768), an English antiquarian and editor who published works on Roman antiquities and classical literature.

The name also has historical connections to places in England, such as the village of Thyer in Hertfordshire, which may have derived its name from an early bearer of the surname. In the 16th century, the Thyer family was recorded as landowners in this area, with individuals like John Thyer (c. 1540-1610) and William Thyer (c. 1570-1635) being documented in local records.

In the 17th century, the Thyer surname appeared in various English parish records, including those of Stratford-upon-Avon, where a family by the name of Thyer was prominent in the local community. One notable member was Thomas Thyer (1624-1688), a successful merchant and landowner in the area.

Another noteworthy individual was Venerable Robert Thyer (1598-1623), an English Roman Catholic martyr who was born in Berkshire and executed during the reign of King James I for his religious beliefs. He was later canonized by the Catholic Church in 1970.

Throughout its history, the Thyer surname has maintained its connection to the tile-making trade, as well as its association with various locations in England and Normandy, where the name has deep roots.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Thyer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Thyer 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. Somerset leads with 109 Thyers recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.80x.

County Total Index
Somerset 109 28.80x
Middlesex 26 1.11x
Glamorgan 21 5.13x
Lancashire 19 0.68x
Gloucestershire 16 3.47x
Devon 11 2.25x
Surrey 10 0.87x
Kent 9 1.12x
Sussex 7 1.77x
Yorkshire 6 0.26x
Monmouthshire 3 1.77x
Cheshire 1 0.19x
Hertfordshire 1 0.62x
Royal Navy 1 3.57x
Westmorland 1 1.94x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. High Ham in Somerset leads with 27 Thyers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3000.00x.

Place Total Index
High Ham 27 3000.00x
Glastonbury 20 647.25x
Clifton 14 60.06x
Stretford 13 84.69x
Kensington London 11 8.42x
Swansea Town 10 29.80x
Llantwit Vairdre 9 195.65x
Stonehouse East 9 362.90x
Deptford St Paul 8 12.93x
Huntspill 8 516.13x
Fivehead 7 2121.21x
Streatham 7 40.14x
Brighton 6 7.50x
Walcot 6 29.78x
Hammersmith London 5 8.63x
Pudsey 5 40.16x
Chilthorne Domer 4 2500.00x
Cossington 4 2222.22x
Ilminster 4 151.52x
Othery 4 851.06x
Ashcott 3 517.24x
Bridgewater 3 29.21x
Chedzoy 3 1034.48x
North Meols 3 10.99x
Paddington London 3 3.47x
Somerton 3 193.55x
St Marylebone London 3 2.39x
St Woollos 3 15.81x
Bristol St Nicholas 2 240.96x
East Stonehouse 2 20.75x
Lambeth 2 0.98x
Shepton Mallet 2 47.06x
St George Martyr 2 50.51x
Swell 2 1666.67x
Abbas Temple Coombe 1 500.00x
Applethwaite 1 64.94x
Bathwick 1 23.87x
Burton Pidsea 1 357.14x
Camberwell 1 0.67x
Chester St Mary On Hill 1 22.47x
Folkestone 1 6.43x
Hertford St John 1 41.49x
Manchester 1 0.80x
Middlezoy 1 217.39x
Mile End Old Town 1 2.69x
Montacute 1 144.93x
Penarth 1 25.00x
Royal Navy 1 4.18x
South Brent 1 156.25x
St Pancras London 1 0.53x
Swansea St Thomas 1 24.33x
Toxteth Park 1 1.06x
Wells St Cuthbert In 1 172.41x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 1 32.79x
West Firle 1 217.39x
West Pennard 1 163.93x
Withington 1 11.12x
Yeovil 1 13.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 10
James 10
John 10
William 10
Charles 6
Henry 6
Joseph 6
Francis 5
Alfred 4
Edward 4
Robert 4
Edwin 3
Thomas 3
Frank 2
Fredk. 2
Harry 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
Edmund 1
Eland 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Huburt 1
Jesse 1
Leslie 1
Oliver 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Sampson 1
Soloman 1
Wallace 1
Walter 1
Zibedee 1

FAQ

Thyer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Thyer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 240 people were recorded with the Thyer surname. That placed it at #11,410 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Thyer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 376 in 2016. That gives Thyer a modern rank of #12,437.

What does the Thyer surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name, possibly from Thiers, France.

What does the Thyer map show?

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