NameCensus.

UK surname

Tier

A surname potentially derived from the Old High German word "dior," meaning beast or animal.

In the 1881 census there were 117 people recorded with the Tier surname, ranking it #18,026 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 189, ranked #20,334, down from #18,026 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, Havant and Westbourne. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Havant, Wealden and Winchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tier is 204 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 61.5%.

1881 census count

117

Ranked #18,026

Modern count

189

2016, ranked #20,334

Peak year

1998

204 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tier had 117 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,026 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 189 in 2016, ranked #20,334.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 160 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Tier surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tier surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tier 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 117 #15,456
1861 historical 89 #22,419
1881 historical 117 #18,026
1891 historical 138 #19,411
1901 historical 160 #17,387
1911 historical 147 #18,104
1997 modern 196 #17,859
1998 modern 204 #17,896
1999 modern 204 #18,021
2000 modern 197 #18,384
2001 modern 195 #18,215
2002 modern 196 #18,535
2003 modern 181 #19,277
2004 modern 174 #19,871
2005 modern 173 #19,851
2006 modern 170 #20,214
2007 modern 178 #19,887
2008 modern 170 #20,672
2009 modern 182 #20,201
2010 modern 184 #20,521
2011 modern 183 #20,425
2012 modern 186 #20,141
2013 modern 194 #19,932
2014 modern 200 #19,713
2015 modern 193 #20,056
2016 modern 189 #20,334

Geography

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Where Tiers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, Havant, Westbourne, Portsmouth, Portsea and Bishops Waltham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Havant, Wealden and Winchester. 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 Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst Sussex
2 Havant Hampshire
3 Westbourne Sussex
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Bishops Waltham Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Havant 013 Havant
2 Wealden 009 Wealden
3 Wealden 018 Wealden
4 Havant 014 Havant
5 Winchester 013 Winchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tier

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tier

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Tier surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Tier household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Tier is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tier 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

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

Meaning and origin of Tier

The surname Tier has its origins in Germany and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the German word "tier," which means "animal" or "beast." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive surname for someone who worked with animals or lived near a place where animals were kept.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Tier can be found in the town records of Nürnberg, Germany, from the year 1283. The name appears as "Tyr" in these records, which is likely an older spelling variation.

In the 14th century, the surname Tier began to spread to other parts of Germany and neighboring regions. It is mentioned in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of historical documents from the Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg, dating back to the year 1372.

During the 15th century, the name Tier was found in various locations across central Europe. One notable example is Johann Tier, a merchant from Augsburg, Germany, who lived from 1425 to 1492.

As the name continued to spread, it also evolved into different spellings and variations. For instance, in the 16th century, the surname appeared as "Thier" in records from the city of Cologne, Germany.

In the 17th century, the name Tier gained prominence with the birth of Johann Tier (1604-1669), a German mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

Another notable individual with the surname Tier was Johann Tier (1753-1819), a German composer and organist from Magdeburg. He was renowned for his contributions to church music during the Classical period.

In the 19th century, the name Tier appeared in various parts of Europe, including the Netherlands and Switzerland. One notable figure was Pieter Tier (1834-1912), a Dutch painter known for his landscapes and seascapes.

Throughout its history, the surname Tier has been associated with various occupations and professions, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those who bore the name. From merchants and artisans to scholars and artists, the name Tier has left its mark in various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tier families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tier 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. Hampshire leads with 91 Tiers recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.91x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 91 38.91x
Sussex 6 3.12x
Cumberland 4 4.07x
Middlesex 4 0.35x
Yorkshire 3 0.27x
Lancashire 2 0.15x
Lincolnshire 2 1.10x
Surrey 2 0.36x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.45x
Gloucestershire 1 0.45x
Wigtownshire 1 6.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 42 Tiers recorded in 1881 and an index of 91.62x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 42 91.62x
Warblington 21 2258.06x
Droxford 13 1460.67x
Havant 5 423.73x
Dearham 4 307.69x
Westbourne 4 416.67x
Bishops Waltham 3 309.28x
Fareham 3 106.76x
Shoreditch London 3 6.06x
Broadwater 2 45.35x
Liverpool 2 2.43x
Pontefract 2 81.97x
Basingstoke 1 37.17x
Bishopstoke 1 166.67x
Camberwell 1 1.37x
Cheltenham 1 5.79x
Chicheley 1 1428.57x
Farnborough 1 40.65x
Grantham 1 42.02x
Hagworthingham 1 526.32x
Monk Sherborne 1 526.32x
Paddington London 1 2.38x
Penninghame 1 64.52x
Wandsworth 1 9.11x
York St Giles In 1 93.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 7
Mary 6
Sarah 5
Alice 4
Emily 4
Annie 3
Eliza 3
Kate 3
Charlotte 2
Emma 2
Jessie 2
Martha 2
Ada 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Annetta 1
Ehel 1
Ellen 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Julia 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Minnie 1
Prothesa 1
Rebeca 1
Rose 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Tier surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tier surname in 1881?

In 1881, 117 people were recorded with the Tier surname. That placed it at #18,026 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tier surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 189 in 2016. That gives Tier a modern rank of #20,334.

What does the Tier surname mean?

A surname potentially derived from the Old High German word "dior," meaning beast or animal.

What does the Tier map show?

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