UK surname
A topographic surname derived from the Middle English tile, referring to someone living near a tile factory.
In the 1881 census there were 124 people recorded with the Tillet surname, ranking it #17,429 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #17,429 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, Toxteth Park and St Leonard Bromley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tillet is 124 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 94.4%.
1881 census count
124
Ranked #17,429
Modern count
7
2016, ranked #37,967
Peak year
1881
124 bearers
Map years
1
1881 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Tillet surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Tillet 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 | 58 | #22,928 |
| 1861 | historical | 61 | #26,170 |
| 1881 | historical | 124 | #17,429 |
| 1891 | historical | 63 | #28,881 |
| 1901 | historical | 66 | #26,794 |
| 1911 | historical | 44 | #28,454 |
| 1997 | modern | 17 | #36,181 |
| 1998 | modern | 22 | #35,687 |
| 1999 | modern | 18 | #36,151 |
| 2000 | modern | 13 | #36,635 |
| 2001 | modern | 12 | #36,612 |
| 2002 | modern | 14 | #36,484 |
| 2003 | modern | 14 | #36,512 |
| 2004 | modern | 13 | #36,742 |
| 2005 | modern | 11 | #37,065 |
| 2006 | modern | 11 | #37,118 |
| 2007 | modern | 11 | #37,217 |
| 2008 | modern | 14 | #36,950 |
| 2009 | modern | 15 | #36,942 |
| 2010 | modern | 15 | #37,038 |
| 2011 | modern | 9 | #37,598 |
| 2012 | modern | 7 | #37,854 |
| 2013 | modern | 8 | #37,767 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 5 | #38,221 |
| 2016 | modern | 7 | #37,967 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, Toxteth Park, St Leonard Bromley, St Marylebone and Maidstone, Linton, Loddington. 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 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 3 | St Leonard Bromley | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Maidstone, Linton, Loddington | Kent |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Tillet 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 Tillet, 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 Tillet surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Tillet 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, Tillet 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 Tillet is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Tillet, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname TILLET originated in France and dates back to the 11th century. It is derived from the French word "tillet", meaning a small lime tree or linden tree. The name was likely given to someone who lived near a lime tree or worked with lime trees in some capacity.
TILLET is believed to have originated in the Normandy region of northern France. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Tilet", likely a variant spelling of TILLET.
In the 13th century, the name appears in various records and manuscripts across northern France, often associated with towns or villages containing the word "tillet" or a similar spelling, such as Tilletville or Tilletot. This suggests that the name may have also been derived from a place name related to lime trees.
One of the earliest known bearers of the TILLET surname was Guillaume TILLET, a French historian and scholar who lived from 1508 to 1570. He served as the royal librarian to King Francis I of France and wrote several important works on French history and literature.
Another notable figure was Jean TILLET, a French painter and engraver who lived from 1634 to 1696. He is best known for his religious paintings and engravings, many of which can be found in churches and museums throughout France.
In the 18th century, Philippe TILLET, a French botanist and agronomist, was born in 1728. He made significant contributions to the study of plant diseases and is considered one of the pioneers of modern plant pathology.
The TILLET surname also appears in the United Kingdom, likely brought over by French immigrants or descendants of Norman settlers. One example is Sir John TILLET, an English lawyer and politician who lived from 1678 to 1740. He served as a Member of Parliament and was a prominent figure in legal circles during his time.
Another notable figure with the TILLET surname is Benjamin TILLET, an English trade union leader who lived from 1735 to 1808. He played a significant role in the formation of the first national trade union in Britain and worked tirelessly to improve the rights and working conditions of laborers.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tillet 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 39 Tillets recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.22x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 39 | 3.22x |
| Suffolk | 18 | 12.22x |
| Norfolk | 16 | 8.60x |
| Kent | 9 | 2.18x |
| Lancashire | 8 | 0.56x |
| Monmouthshire | 8 | 9.15x |
| Sussex | 7 | 3.43x |
| Denbighshire | 4 | 8.75x |
| Hampshire | 4 | 1.61x |
| Midlothian | 4 | 2.47x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.25x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.34x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 0.89x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 0.75x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 12 Tillets recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.24x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Islington London | 12 | 10.24x |
| Kessingland | 9 | 1764.71x |
| Maidstone | 9 | 73.23x |
| Bedwellty | 8 | 51.81x |
| Bromley London | 7 | 26.31x |
| St Marylebone London | 7 | 10.84x |
| Wymondham | 6 | 315.79x |
| Norwich St Martin At Oak | 5 | 442.48x |
| Shoreditch London | 5 | 9.54x |
| Toxteth Park | 5 | 10.29x |
| Broadwater | 4 | 85.47x |
| Edinburgh Greenside | 4 | 186.92x |
| Llanrhydd | 4 | 1111.11x |
| Paddington London | 4 | 8.99x |
| Alverstoke | 3 | 33.44x |
| Beccles | 3 | 126.58x |
| Walton | 3 | 566.04x |
| Great Yarmouth | 2 | 12.99x |
| Heeley | 2 | 54.95x |
| Norwich St Clement | 2 | 92.59x |
| Wavertree | 2 | 43.57x |
| Aberdeen St Nicholas | 1 | 4.77x |
| Ashby De La Zouch | 1 | 32.15x |
| Bethnal Green London | 1 | 1.90x |
| Bow London | 1 | 6.49x |
| Bungay St Mary | 1 | 136.99x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 3.50x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 0.95x |
| Middlesbrough | 1 | 6.41x |
| Milden | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Newhaven | 1 | 60.24x |
| Newington | 1 | 2.24x |
| Norwich St Peter Mancroft | 1 | 107.53x |
| Portsea | 1 | 2.06x |
| Steyning | 1 | 144.93x |
| Sudbury St Peter | 1 | 123.46x |
| West Derby | 1 | 2.38x |
| West Grinstead | 1 | 163.93x |
| Westminster St | 1 | 22.42x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Tillet surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth | 8 |
| Mary | 7 |
| Sarah | 5 |
| Eliza | 4 |
| Emma | 3 |
| Florence | 3 |
| Hannah | 3 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Ann | 2 |
| Edith | 2 |
| Harriet | 2 |
| Martha | 2 |
| Amelia | 1 |
| Annie | 1 |
| Blanch | 1 |
| Celia | 1 |
| Eath.C.A. | 1 |
| Elizebth. | 1 |
| Eugenie | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Hariet | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Julia | 1 |
| Leond | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Lydia | 1 |
| Mabel | 1 |
| Margret | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Mrs | 1 |
| Nellie | 1 |
| Priscilla | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Tillet 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 Tillet households.
FAQ
In 1881, 124 people were recorded with the Tillet surname. That placed it at #17,429 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Tillet a modern rank of #37,967.
A topographic surname derived from the Middle English tile, referring to someone living near a tile factory.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Tillet 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.