NameCensus.

UK surname

Tibbles

A anglicized form of the Gaelic surname MacDingwall, referring to a follower of the Lord of Kintyre.

In the 1881 census there were 505 people recorded with the Tibbles surname, ranking it #6,730 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 652, ranked #8,163, down from #6,730 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Willesden, London parishes and Rickmansworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and High Peak.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tibbles is 812 in 1997. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.1%.

1881 census count

505

Ranked #6,730

Modern count

652

2016, ranked #8,163

Peak year

1997

812 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tibbles had 505 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,730 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 652 in 2016, ranked #8,163.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 805 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tibbles surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tibbles surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tibbles 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 289 #7,860
1861 historical 264 #9,385
1881 historical 505 #6,730
1891 historical 533 #7,045
1901 historical 750 #5,941
1911 historical 805 #5,456
1997 modern 812 #6,458
1998 modern 808 #6,703
1999 modern 800 #6,795
2000 modern 778 #6,925
2001 modern 755 #6,952
2002 modern 768 #6,990
2003 modern 725 #7,183
2004 modern 702 #7,380
2005 modern 707 #7,271
2006 modern 687 #7,479
2007 modern 691 #7,497
2008 modern 705 #7,439
2009 modern 717 #7,508
2010 modern 721 #7,606
2011 modern 698 #7,706
2012 modern 687 #7,704
2013 modern 686 #7,869
2014 modern 676 #8,000
2015 modern 661 #8,092
2016 modern 652 #8,163

Geography

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Where Tibbles' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Willesden, London parishes, Rickmansworth and Watford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, High Peak, Watford and Derbyshire Dales. 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 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 Rickmansworth Hertfordshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Watford Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheltenham 007 Cheltenham
2 Tewkesbury 005 Tewkesbury
3 High Peak 010 High Peak
4 Watford 011 Watford
5 Derbyshire Dales 003 Derbyshire Dales

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tibbles

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tibbles

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Tibbles is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tibbles is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tibbles falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tibbles is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Tibbles

The surname Tibbles is believed to have originated in England, likely in the late medieval period or earlier. It is derived from a pet name for a cat, likely from the old English word "tibben," which referred to a small, furry creature.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Tibbles can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mention a John Tibbles. This suggests that the name was already in use by the early 14th century.

During the Tudor period, the name appears in various records, such as the parish registers of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, which record the marriage of Thomas Tibbles and Margaret Smythe in 1558.

In the 17th century, the surname Tibbles can be found in various locations across England, including Yorkshire, where a William Tibbles was born in Keighley in 1625. Another notable individual was John Tibbles (1633-1692), a merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire.

The 18th century saw the name spread further, with individuals bearing the surname Tibbles appearing in records from various counties, such as Essex, where a Samuel Tibbles was born in Chelmsford in 1742.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Tibbles was Sir Henry Tibbles (1765-1838), a wealthy industrialist and philanthropist from Birmingham. He made significant contributions to the development of the city and funded the construction of several public buildings.

Other notable individuals with the surname Tibbles include:

1. Margaret Tibbles (1780-1855), a renowned British author and poet from Oxfordshire. 2. Charles Tibbles (1815-1892), a successful merchant and shipowner from Liverpool. 3. John Tibbles (1840-1918), a prominent architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London. 4. Emily Tibbles (1875-1952), a pioneering female lawyer and women's rights activist from Manchester. 5. William Tibbles (1898-1972), a highly decorated British Army officer who served in both World Wars.

The surname Tibbles has also been associated with various place names, such as Tibbles Green in Hampshire and Tibbles Farm in Gloucestershire, further indicating its deep roots in English history and geography.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tibbles families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tibbles 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. Hertfordshire leads with 110 Tibbles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.33x.

County Total Index
Hertfordshire 110 32.33x
Middlesex 87 1.76x
Kent 44 2.61x
Gloucestershire 36 3.72x
Leicestershire 31 5.66x
Huntingdonshire 28 28.57x
Surrey 28 1.16x
Lancashire 19 0.32x
Buckinghamshire 17 5.70x
Northamptonshire 16 3.45x
Durham 13 0.89x
Worcestershire 12 1.86x
Hampshire 11 1.09x
Oxfordshire 9 2.95x
Wiltshire 8 1.83x
Yorkshire 7 0.14x
Channel Islands 6 4.10x
Caithness 4 5.92x
Cambridgeshire 4 1.28x
Pembrokeshire 4 2.55x
Warwickshire 3 0.24x
Bedfordshire 2 0.78x
Essex 2 0.21x
Sussex 2 0.24x
Berkshire 1 0.27x
Royal Navy 1 1.70x
Westmorland 1 0.92x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire leads with 52 Tibbles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 554.96x.

Place Total Index
Rickmansworth 52 554.96x
Watford 31 117.51x
Cheltenham 18 24.10x
Lympne 15 1578.95x
Daglingworth 12 2105.26x
Greenwich 12 15.27x
Kings Norton 12 20.76x
Leicester St Mary 12 27.14x
Willesden 11 23.64x
Northampton Priory St 10 35.89x
Pidley Cum Fenton 10 1315.79x
Barkby 9 849.06x
Hadlow 9 215.31x
Warboys 9 318.02x
Chenies 8 1212.12x
Hampstead London 8 10.41x
Portsea 8 4.03x
Purton 8 206.19x
Battersea 7 3.85x
Hemel Hempstead 7 45.66x
Norwood 7 62.00x
Radcliffe 7 24.80x
St Albans St Stephen 7 235.69x
St Nicholas At Wade 7 714.29x
Stranton 7 14.16x
Acton 6 20.73x
Chesham 6 54.55x
Hackney London 6 2.17x
Houghton 6 697.67x
Manchester 6 2.28x
St Bride London 6 209.06x
Westoe 6 7.21x
Bushey 5 61.73x
Cosby 5 294.12x
Hammersmith London 5 4.11x
Leicester St Margaret 5 3.75x
Mile End Old Town 5 6.42x
South Mimms 5 73.86x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 5.03x
Wandsworth 5 10.52x
Abbots Langley 4 79.21x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 4 29.35x
Fulham London 4 5.59x
Hubberston 4 173.91x
Kensington London 4 1.46x
Kilham 4 195.12x
Northampton St Sepulchre 4 16.93x
St George Hanover 4 6.21x
Thurso 4 37.95x
Amersham 3 70.92x
Aston 3 0.88x
Bury 3 4.48x
Chastleton 3 857.14x
Cirencester 3 22.88x
Ealing 3 6.80x
Holy Trinity 3 2.55x
Islington London 3 0.63x
Lewknor 3 337.08x
Newington 3 1.65x
St Helier 3 6.30x
St Martin 3 33.48x
Teddington London 3 26.83x
Wilpshire 3 638.30x
Alverstoke 2 5.46x
Barling 2 322.58x
Godstone 2 46.40x
Iffley 2 77.82x
Kings Langley 2 80.65x
Leckhampton 2 33.56x
Penge 2 6.34x
St Pancras London 2 0.50x
Yaxley 2 87.34x
Aston Rowant 1 91.74x
Croydon 1 0.75x
Holy Trinity Less 1 94.34x
Merton 1 23.75x
Ore 1 16.16x
Reading St Mary 1 3.37x
St Marylebone London 1 0.38x
Walton On Thames 1 9.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Ann 20
Elizabeth 16
Sarah 16
Eliza 14
Emily 12
Ellen 11
Martha 11
Emma 10
Alice 7
Annie 7
Harriett 7
Hannah 6
Jane 6
Caroline 5
Ada 4
Edith 4
Kate 4
Minnie 4
Rose 4
Susan 4
Agnes 3
Catherine 3
Charlotte 3
Elizth. 3
Fanny 3
Maria 3
Beatrice 2
Harriet 2
Louisa 2
Lydia 2
Matilda 2
Nellie 2
Rosetta 2
Amy 1
Betsy 1
Bridget 1
Eleanor 1
Elizh. 1
Esther 1
Helenor 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lily 1
Lizzie 1
Lorna 1
Lousia 1
Lucy 1
Maryann 1
Whilemina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 37
John 28
George 21
James 18
Edward 13
Henry 12
Joseph 9
Charles 8
Thomas 8
Alfred 7
Frederick 6
Harry 5
Robert 5
Walter 5
Daniel 4
Sidney 4
Arthur 3
Ernest 3
Peter 3
Richard 3
Richd. 3
Albert 2
David 2
Francis 2
Harvey 2
Herbert 2
Thos. 2
Ambrose 1
Bernard 1
Davis 1
Earnest 1
Edwin 1
Ellis 1
Emmet 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Gaious 1
Henery 1
Horace 1
Jasper 1
Jesse 1
Jno. 1
Josiah 1
Nathaniel 1
Owen 1
Percy 1
Samuel 1
Timothy 1

FAQ

Tibbles surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tibbles surname in 1881?

In 1881, 505 people were recorded with the Tibbles surname. That placed it at #6,730 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tibbles surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 652 in 2016. That gives Tibbles a modern rank of #8,163.

What does the Tibbles surname mean?

A anglicized form of the Gaelic surname MacDingwall, referring to a follower of the Lord of Kintyre.

What does the Tibbles map show?

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