NameCensus.

UK surname

Tiller

An occupational surname referring to a farmer or cultivator of land.

In the 1881 census there were 794 people recorded with the Tiller surname, ranking it #4,688 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,073, ranked #5,451, down from #4,688 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Southampton St Mary and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include New Forest, Bournemouth and Horsham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tiller is 1,206 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.1%.

1881 census count

794

Ranked #4,688

Modern count

1,073

2016, ranked #5,451

Peak year

1998

1,206 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tiller had 794 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,688 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,073 in 2016, ranked #5,451.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,161 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Tiller surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tiller surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Tiller 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 446 #5,521
1861 historical 420 #6,114
1881 historical 794 #4,688
1891 historical 745 #5,342
1901 historical 983 #4,828
1911 historical 1,161 #4,023
1997 modern 1,172 #4,815
1998 modern 1,206 #4,862
1999 modern 1,201 #4,930
2000 modern 1,191 #4,938
2001 modern 1,146 #5,006
2002 modern 1,157 #5,070
2003 modern 1,118 #5,110
2004 modern 1,124 #5,092
2005 modern 1,101 #5,123
2006 modern 1,066 #5,265
2007 modern 1,057 #5,354
2008 modern 1,045 #5,451
2009 modern 1,070 #5,447
2010 modern 1,089 #5,485
2011 modern 1,085 #5,441
2012 modern 1,070 #5,414
2013 modern 1,103 #5,358
2014 modern 1,118 #5,324
2015 modern 1,077 #5,443
2016 modern 1,073 #5,451

Geography

Back to top

Where Tillers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Southampton St Mary, Portsmouth, Portsea, Damerham, South and Heyshot. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to New Forest, Bournemouth, Horsham, Plymouth 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 London parishes London 3
2 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
3 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
4 Damerham, South Hampshire
5 Heyshot Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 New Forest 001 New Forest
2 Bournemouth 003 Bournemouth
3 Horsham 016 Horsham
4 Plymouth 027 Plymouth
5 Cornwall 048 Cornwall

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Tiller

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Tiller

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Tiller 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

Tiller is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Tiller

The surname Tiller is of English origin and is an occupational name derived from the Old English word 'tilian', meaning 'to till' or 'to cultivate'. It was initially used to refer to someone who worked as a farmer or a cultivator of the land.

This surname can be traced back to the 13th century, with the earliest recorded instance being found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1273, where a certain Roger le Tilere was mentioned. The prefix 'le' was commonly used at that time to indicate a person's occupation or place of origin.

Over the years, the surname evolved, and various spellings were used, such as Tyllere, Tylere, and Tyllar. These variations can be found in various historical records, including the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where a John le Tyllere was documented.

One of the earliest notable figures with the surname Tiller was William Tiller, a landowner and merchant who lived in the 14th century in Norfolk, England. Another prominent individual was John Tiller, who served as the Mayor of Stratford-upon-Avon in 1552, during the reign of Edward VI.

The Tiller surname is also associated with several place names, such as Tiller's Green in Essex and Tiller's Farm in Kent, both of which were likely named after individuals bearing this surname who lived or worked in those areas.

In the 17th century, a notable figure was Benjamin Tiller, a Puritan minister who lived from 1628 to 1704 and was known for his controversial religious views and writings. He was born in Boston, Lincolnshire, and served as a minister in several parishes throughout his life.

Another individual worth mentioning is Thomas Tiller, a renowned architect and surveyor who lived from 1775 to 1843. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the former Bank of England building in the early 19th century.

The 19th century also saw the rise of John Tiller, a prominent theater manager and impresario who lived from 1854 to 1925. He was known for his work in developing and promoting musical theater in London's West End, and his name became synonymous with the famous Tiller Girls dance troupe.

While the surname Tiller may not be as common today as it was in centuries past, it remains a part of the rich tapestry of English surnames, with its roots deeply intertwined with the agricultural and occupational history of the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Tiller families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tiller 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 250 Tillers recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.73x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 250 15.73x
Surrey 96 2.54x
Sussex 94 7.19x
Middlesex 69 0.89x
Wiltshire 63 9.19x
Cornwall 45 5.13x
Lancashire 42 0.46x
Devon 27 1.67x
Dorset 26 5.11x
Essex 21 1.37x
Kent 12 0.45x
Berkshire 8 1.37x
Yorkshire 8 0.10x
Staffordshire 7 0.27x
Leicestershire 4 0.47x
Royal Navy 4 4.33x
Warwickshire 4 0.20x
Norfolk 3 0.25x
Denbighshire 2 0.68x
Durham 2 0.09x
Glamorgan 2 0.15x
Gloucestershire 2 0.13x
Channel Islands 1 0.44x
Hertfordshire 1 0.19x
Oxfordshire 1 0.21x
Shropshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Damerham in Wiltshire leads with 41 Tillers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2500.00x.

Place Total Index
Damerham 41 2500.00x
Christchurch 34 98.64x
Heyshott 34 2857.14x
Southampton St Mary 33 33.01x
Richmond 28 52.88x
Portsea 27 8.67x
Holdenhurst 20 47.97x
Brighton 15 5.69x
Fordingbridge 14 162.04x
Lambeth 14 2.07x
Millbrook 14 34.97x
Veryan 14 411.76x
Withington 13 43.86x
Rockbourne 12 991.74x
Shoreditch London 11 3.27x
Southampton St John 11 674.85x
West Ham 11 3.25x
Southwark St George Martyr 10 6.41x
St Austell 10 33.32x
Freshwater 9 123.97x
Tregoney St James 9 552.15x
Cuckfield 8 60.56x
Heaton Norris 8 15.27x
Littleham 8 67.80x
Sutton 8 29.26x
Tilehurst 8 68.03x
Timsbury 8 1454.55x
Wimborne St Giles 8 666.67x
Abbotts Ann 7 391.06x
Kensington London 7 1.62x
Milford 7 150.86x
Sheet 7 406.98x
Southampton All Sts 7 25.67x
St Luke London 7 5.63x
Whippingham 7 58.14x
Camberwell 6 1.21x
Cranborne 6 97.56x
Crumpsall 6 27.66x
Godalming 6 25.22x
Lymington 6 51.37x
Moss Side 6 12.39x
Northfleet 6 25.74x
Petworth 6 76.82x
Wimborne Minster 6 72.90x
Withycombe Rawleigh 6 71.34x
Bethnal Green London 5 1.48x
Clapham 5 5.16x
Coombe Bissett 5 520.83x
Ellingham 5 666.67x
Guildford St Nicholas 5 74.85x
Hornsey 5 5.10x
Monxton 5 704.23x
Newington 5 1.75x
Normanby In 5 24.34x
Stoke Damerel 5 4.43x
Alton 4 141.84x
Alverstoke 4 6.95x
Hammersmith London 4 2.09x
Lanteglos By Fowey 4 112.04x
Lewes All Sts 4 76.78x
North Tawton 4 80.65x
Nursling 4 157.48x
Paddington London 4 1.40x
Royal Navy 4 5.06x
Salisbury St Edmund 4 36.33x
Salisbury St Martin 4 56.02x
Seaford 4 89.89x
St Giles In Fields 4 14.95x
Wanstead 4 14.92x
Woolwich 4 4.09x
Bosham 3 90.09x
Bromley London 3 1.76x
Ealing 3 4.33x
East Stonehouse 3 9.43x
Eastbourne 3 4.99x
Hunstanton 3 74.44x
Lubenham 3 191.08x
North Meols 3 3.33x
West Lavington 3 750.00x
West Parley 3 337.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 49
Elizabeth 24
Ellen 21
Jane 18
Alice 14
Sarah 14
Annie 13
Emma 12
Ann 11
Emily 11
Kate 10
Ada 9
Eliza 9
Fanny 7
Hannah 6
Louisa 6
Bessie 5
Charlotte 5
Edith 5
Florence 5
Frances 5
Rose 5
Agnes 4
Caroline 4
Ethel 4
Harriet 4
Harriett 4
Laura 4
Maria 4
Martha 4
Selina 4
Sophia 4
Eleanor 3
Eva 3
Isabel 3
Lucy 3
Matilda 3
Amelia 2
Anna 2
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Bertha 2
Julia 2
Lucretia 2
Lydia 2
Maud 2
Nellie 2
Nelly 2
Elfrida 1
Elissabeth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 57
George 40
John 32
Charles 26
Thomas 23
Henry 22
James 22
Alfred 15
Albert 10
Walter 10
Frederick 9
Edward 8
Joseph 8
Ernest 6
Frank 6
Ambrose 5
Arthur 4
Edwin 4
Harry 4
Stephen 4
Tom 4
Wm. 4
Eli 3
Fredk. 3
Robert 3
Samuel 3
David 2
Eneas 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Herbert 2
Lewis 2
Maurice 2
Percy 2
Philip 2
Phineas 2
Richard 2
Sydney 2
Arther 1
Dyer 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Fredk.J. 1
Fredrick 1
G. 1
Joe 1
Jonas 1
Louis 1
Luke 1
Mark 1

FAQ

Tiller surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tiller surname in 1881?

In 1881, 794 people were recorded with the Tiller surname. That placed it at #4,688 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tiller surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,073 in 2016. That gives Tiller a modern rank of #5,451.

What does the Tiller surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a farmer or cultivator of land.

What does the Tiller map show?

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