NameCensus.

UK surname

Tillotson

Derived from a place name meaning "Tilla's town" or "Tilwald's town" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 1,159 people recorded with the Tillotson surname, ranking it #3,459 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 920, ranked #6,201, down from #3,459 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Calverley, Kildwick and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford and Pendle.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tillotson is 1,398 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 20.6%.

1881 census count

1,159

Ranked #3,459

Modern count

920

2016, ranked #6,201

Peak year

1911

1,398 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tillotson had 1,159 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,459 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 920 in 2016, ranked #6,201.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,398 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Tillotson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tillotson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tillotson 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 815 #3,297
1861 historical 709 #3,824
1881 historical 1,159 #3,459
1891 historical 1,207 #3,553
1901 historical 1,377 #3,649
1911 historical 1,398 #3,453
1997 modern 962 #5,665
1998 modern 982 #5,757
1999 modern 978 #5,807
2000 modern 1,020 #5,588
2001 modern 985 #5,641
2002 modern 1,001 #5,680
2003 modern 942 #5,867
2004 modern 942 #5,877
2005 modern 903 #6,016
2006 modern 915 #5,961
2007 modern 912 #6,029
2008 modern 950 #5,879
2009 modern 956 #5,972
2010 modern 980 #5,972
2011 modern 955 #6,054
2012 modern 927 #6,109
2013 modern 955 #6,050
2014 modern 965 #6,048
2015 modern 943 #6,102
2016 modern 920 #6,201

Geography

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Where Tillotsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Calverley, Kildwick, Bradford, Keighley and Whalley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bradford and Pendle. 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 Calverley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Kildwick Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Keighley Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Whalley Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bradford 004 Bradford
2 Pendle 007 Pendle
3 Pendle 005 Pendle
4 Pendle 008 Pendle
5 Pendle 006 Pendle

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tillotson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tillotson

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Tillotson 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

Tillotson is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tillotson falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tillotson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Tillotson

The surname Tillotson has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the place name Tilston, which is found in Cheshire and Leicestershire. The name itself is thought to come from the Old English words "til" meaning "noble" or "good," and "tun" meaning "farm" or "settlement."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "de Tilston." This suggests that the name was initially adopted by someone who hailed from the village of Tilston. The name also appears in other historical records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1199, where it is spelled "Tilieston."

In the 16th century, the Tillotson family was well-established in Yorkshire, with several members holding positions of prominence. One notable figure was John Tillotson (1630-1694), an English cleric who served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1691 until his death. He was widely regarded as one of the most influential preachers and theologians of his time.

Another notable Tillotson was Robert Tillotson (1572-1637), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of St. Alphege Church in Canterbury. He wrote several works on theology and church history, including "The Statutes of the Church of England."

In the 17th century, the Tillotson name was also found in the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of John Tillotson (1638-1718), who was born in Massachusetts and served as a deacon in the Congregational Church. He played a significant role in the early development of the town of Dorchester, Massachusetts.

Another prominent figure with the surname Tillotson was Thomas Tillotson (1750-1832), an English physician and writer who was a pioneer in the field of hygiene and public health. He wrote several influential works on the subject, including "A Treatise on the Preservation of Health and the Prevention of Diseases."

Throughout history, the Tillotson name has been associated with various places, including the village of Tilston in Cheshire, as well as the towns of Tilston and Tilston Fearnall in Leicestershire. These place names are believed to have contributed to the formation of the surname, as it was common for people to adopt locational names based on their place of origin or residence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tillotson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tillotson 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. Yorkshire leads with 800 Tillotsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.15x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 800 7.15x
Lancashire 280 2.09x
Middlesex 14 0.12x
Warwickshire 14 0.49x
Durham 8 0.24x
Essex 7 0.31x
Renfrewshire 6 0.69x
Hampshire 5 0.22x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.33x
Surrey 5 0.09x
Leicestershire 4 0.32x
Monmouthshire 4 0.49x
Wiltshire 4 0.40x
Peeblesshire 1 1.88x
Somerset 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kildwick in Yorkshire leads with 70 Tillotsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 686.95x.

Place Total Index
Kildwick 70 686.95x
Keighley 60 50.29x
Colne 57 142.75x
Idle 57 109.83x
Leeds 49 7.75x
Silsden 37 1121.21x
Hunslet 36 20.62x
Burnley 35 31.01x
Manningham 31 22.48x
Shipley 31 53.37x
Garforth 30 350.06x
Holbeck 24 32.36x
Skipton 24 68.12x
Trawden 22 262.22x
Great Little Marsden 20 32.57x
Addingham 17 203.35x
Halifax 17 10.35x
Barnoldswick 16 102.37x
Little Bolton 15 8.70x
Bradford 14 5.17x
Ilkley 13 71.08x
Tong 13 60.13x
Blackburn 12 3.36x
Ovenden 12 24.09x
Skircoat 12 27.19x
Bowling 11 9.92x
Bracewell 11 2682.93x
Dewsbury 11 9.58x
Whalley 11 56.32x
Bingley 10 14.03x
Warley 10 30.91x
Barrow In Furness 9 4.94x
Carlton In Skipton 9 137.61x
Chorley 9 11.96x
Haslingden 9 16.22x
Preston 9 145.63x
Aston 8 1.02x
Horton In Bradford 8 4.58x
Liverpool 8 0.98x
Northowram 8 10.19x
Shildon 8 29.62x
Swinton In Rotherham 8 27.03x
Thornton In Craven 8 89.09x
Barwick In Elmet 7 81.59x
Eccleshill 7 25.70x
Great Bolton 7 3.94x
Morley 7 12.03x
Over Darwen 7 6.54x
Wuerdle Wardle 7 17.20x
Batley 6 5.64x
Birmingham 6 0.63x
Cathcart 6 12.67x
Guiseley 6 41.87x
Habergham Eaves 6 4.90x
Kirkdale 6 2.66x
Pilkington 6 11.78x
Steeton Cum Eastburn 6 155.84x
West Ham 6 1.22x
Alverstoke 5 5.97x
Everton 5 1.17x
Hampstead London 5 2.84x
Kippax 5 50.81x
Midgley 5 41.91x
Morton In Keighley 5 56.88x
Nottingham St Mary 5 1.27x
Potter Newton 5 25.32x
Toxteth Park 5 1.10x
Bramley In Bramley 4 9.33x
Calverley Cum Farsley 4 12.59x
Hipperholme Cum 4 8.13x
Huddersfield 4 2.45x
Leicester St Mary 4 3.95x
Marlborough St Mary Virgin 4 56.82x
St Woollos 4 4.39x
Whitwood 4 25.16x
Yeadon 4 15.82x
Headingley Cum Burley 3 4.16x
North Bierley 3 4.96x
Pemberton 3 5.61x
Salford 3 0.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 76
William 51
Thomas 40
Joseph 33
James 30
Robert 23
George 22
Samuel 21
Arthur 14
Richard 11
Alfred 9
Benjamin 9
Charles 6
Edwin 6
Harry 6
Henry 6
Walter 6
Albert 5
David 5
Hargreaves 5
Herbert 5
Thos. 5
Tom 5
Brook 4
Fred 4
Joshua 4
Abraham 3
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Jesse 3
Jonas 3
Jonathan 3
Oliver 3
Sam 3
Allan 2
Anthony 2
Chas. 2
Francis 2
Hartley 2
Jeremiah 2
Jerimiah 2
Joe 2
Johnson 2
Saml. 2
Smith 2
Willie 2
Wilson 2
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Gill 1

FAQ

Tillotson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tillotson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,159 people were recorded with the Tillotson surname. That placed it at #3,459 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tillotson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 920 in 2016. That gives Tillotson a modern rank of #6,201.

What does the Tillotson surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "Tilla's town" or "Tilwald's town" in Old English.

What does the Tillotson map show?

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