NameCensus.

UK surname

Tilly

A diminutive of the given name Matilda, ultimately derived from Old High German Mathilt meaning "mighty in battle".

In the 1881 census there were 914 people recorded with the Tilly surname, ranking it #4,200 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 454, ranked #10,732, down from #4,200 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Philip and Jacob. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gloucester, Cornwall and Hartlepool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tilly is 914 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 50.3%.

1881 census count

914

Ranked #4,200

Modern count

454

2016, ranked #10,732

Peak year

1881

914 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tilly had 914 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,200 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 454 in 2016, ranked #10,732.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 914 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tilly surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tilly surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Tilly 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 713 #3,665
1861 historical 585 #4,514
1881 historical 914 #4,200
1891 historical 777 #5,166
1901 historical 746 #5,965
1911 historical 706 #6,039
1997 modern 466 #9,809
1998 modern 483 #9,853
1999 modern 481 #9,958
2000 modern 497 #9,675
2001 modern 469 #9,927
2002 modern 456 #10,336
2003 modern 452 #10,258
2004 modern 432 #10,658
2005 modern 437 #10,437
2006 modern 434 #10,543
2007 modern 441 #10,513
2008 modern 439 #10,640
2009 modern 455 #10,575
2010 modern 471 #10,510
2011 modern 465 #10,511
2012 modern 449 #10,675
2013 modern 452 #10,795
2014 modern 453 #10,830
2015 modern 437 #11,077
2016 modern 454 #10,732

Geography

Back to top

Where Tillys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Philip and Jacob and Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gloucester, Cornwall, Hartlepool, Preston and Sunderland. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
5 Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gloucester 005 Gloucester
2 Cornwall 061 Cornwall
3 Hartlepool 014 Hartlepool
4 Preston 011 Preston
5 Sunderland 021 Sunderland

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Tilly

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Tilly

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

Tilly is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tilly falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tilly 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 Tilly, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Tilly

The surname Tilly has its origins in the medieval French region of Normandy, where it first emerged in the 11th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old French word "tille," which referred to a linden or lime tree. This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a nickname or topographic identifier for someone who lived near a particularly notable linden tree or grove of such trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Tilly appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Tillie." This ancient census commissioned by William the Conqueror provides valuable insight into the distribution and prevalence of surnames in medieval England following the Norman conquest.

In the 12th century, records show a Willelmus de Tilli, whose name likely referred to the French town of Tillieres, located in the department of Eure. This indicates that some bearers of the Tilly surname may have originated from this specific place or its surrounding areas.

During the 13th century, the name appears in various forms, including Tilly, Tilley, and Tylly, reflecting the natural evolution of spelling conventions over time. Notable historical figures from this era include Sir John Tilly (c. 1250-1315), a prominent English knight and landowner, and William de Tilly (c. 1270-1340), a respected clergyman who served as the Bishop of St. Andrews in Scotland.

In the 16th century, the Tilly name gained further prominence with the renowned military commander, Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly (1559-1632). Born in the Spanish Netherlands (present-day Belgium), he rose to become a celebrated general in the Thirty Years' War, leading the Imperial Catholic forces to numerous victories.

Another notable figure was Sieur de Tilly (c. 1560-1626), a French explorer and colonist who played a crucial role in the early settlement of Quebec, Canada. His efforts in establishing trading posts and fortifications along the St. Lawrence River were instrumental in the region's development.

As the centuries progressed, the Tilly surname continued to spread across Europe and beyond, with bearers making significant contributions in various fields, from politics and warfare to literature and the arts. While the specific origins and meanings of surnames can evolve over time, the name Tilly remains a testament to its rich historical roots in medieval France and the enduring legacy of those who carried it.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Tilly families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tilly 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. Middlesex leads with 128 Tillys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.44x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 128 1.44x
Surrey 84 1.93x
Hampshire 66 3.61x
Gloucestershire 63 3.60x
Somerset 61 4.25x
Lancashire 57 0.54x
Kent 55 1.81x
Durham 53 2.00x
Wiltshire 46 5.83x
Berkshire 32 4.78x
Sussex 30 2.00x
Glamorgan 24 1.55x
Cornwall 18 1.78x
Staffordshire 18 0.60x
Leicestershire 17 1.72x
West Lothian 17 12.66x
Worcestershire 17 1.46x
Essex 13 0.74x
Warwickshire 12 0.53x
Yorkshire 12 0.14x
Lanarkshire 10 0.35x
Northumberland 8 0.60x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.58x
Shropshire 7 0.91x
Stirlingshire 7 2.13x
Devon 6 0.32x
Northamptonshire 5 0.60x
Renfrewshire 5 0.72x
Suffolk 5 0.46x
Caernarfonshire 4 1.11x
Cheshire 4 0.20x
Lincolnshire 4 0.28x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.56x
Channel Islands 3 1.14x
Dorset 2 0.34x
Flintshire 2 0.83x
Monmouthshire 2 0.31x
Angus 1 0.12x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.18x
Herefordshire 1 0.27x
Norfolk 1 0.07x
Oxfordshire 1 0.18x
Royal Navy 1 0.94x
Wigtownshire 1 0.84x

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 26 Tillys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.26x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 26 7.26x
Hackney London 18 3.60x
Camberwell 17 2.99x
Bristol St James St Paul 15 25.72x
Mile End Old Town 15 10.66x
Weybridge 13 139.49x
Canterbury St Mary 12 58.79x
Lancaster 12 19.06x
Pilton 12 350.88x
Allington In Devizes 11 2619.05x
Rowley Regis 11 13.12x
Alverstoke 10 15.12x
Aston 10 1.62x
Barony 10 1.37x
Dudley 10 7.07x
Gateshead 10 5.04x
Mitcham 10 36.42x
Peatling Magna 10 1666.67x
Seasalter 10 260.42x
South Stoneham 10 25.23x
Uphall 10 67.70x
Bedminster 9 6.67x
Kensington London 9 1.82x
Newington 9 2.73x
St George In East 9 14.84x
Arundel 8 95.01x
Brislington 8 299.63x
Clewer 8 29.18x
Elvet 8 41.78x
Habergham Eaves 8 8.27x
Lambeth 8 1.03x
Poulton Barre 8 66.45x
Barrow In Furness 7 4.86x
Bishopwearmouth 7 3.07x
Boness 7 37.82x
Budock 7 92.11x
Drymen 7 158.73x
Hornsey 7 6.21x
Lambourn 7 105.58x
Llandaff 7 13.55x
Manchester 7 1.47x
N Lydbury 7 234.11x
Seaton Carew 7 131.33x
Shoreditch London 7 1.81x
West Ham 7 1.80x
Wokingham 7 45.84x
Bermondsey 6 2.26x
Clerkenwell London 6 2.85x
Cookham 6 28.76x
Hammersmith London 6 2.73x
Ludgvan 6 74.63x
Paddington London 6 1.83x
Radford Lenton 6 200.67x
Salisbury St Martin 6 73.08x
St Andrew Holborn 6 19.85x
St John Winchester 6 156.25x
St Marylebone London 6 1.26x
Tarbock 6 312.50x
Washington 6 53.96x
Whitstable 6 40.21x
Avebury 5 225.23x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 3.04x
Crossgate 5 43.10x
Fulham London 5 3.87x
Loughborough 5 11.15x
Netheravon 5 280.90x
Rodborough 5 59.24x
Salisbury St Edmund 5 39.49x
Southampton St Mary 5 4.35x
Uckfield 5 76.34x
Alveston 4 161.29x
Bath St James 4 26.72x
Canterbury St Peter 4 116.62x
Exning 4 72.99x
Falmouth 4 11.20x
Grittleton 4 421.05x
Southwark St Saviour 4 8.73x
St Giles 4 24.15x
Stapleton 4 12.06x
Winterbourne 4 41.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 55
John 50
George 34
James 32
Thomas 26
Charles 20
Alfred 15
Henry 11
Samuel 10
Edward 9
Frederick 9
Frank 8
Albert 7
Joseph 7
Arthur 6
Harry 6
Richard 6
Walter 6
Ernest 5
David 4
Robert 4
Francis 3
Herbert 3
Sidney 3
Stephen 3
Benjamin 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Gwavas 2
Isaac 2
Paul 2
Tobias 2
Alfre 1
Amos 1
Antony 1
Bertram 1
Chas. 1
Chas.Parker 1
Edwin 1
Emile 1
Evan 1
Fanny 1
Fasqeth 1
Ford 1
Hugh 1
Jabez 1
Jasper 1
Jerimiah 1
Josiah 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Tilly surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tilly surname in 1881?

In 1881, 914 people were recorded with the Tilly surname. That placed it at #4,200 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tilly surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 454 in 2016. That gives Tilly a modern rank of #10,732.

What does the Tilly surname mean?

A diminutive of the given name Matilda, ultimately derived from Old High German Mathilt meaning "mighty in battle".

What does the Tilly map show?

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