NameCensus.

UK surname

Timbs

Originated as a nickname for a person with a fiery or temperamental disposition.

In the 1881 census there were 175 people recorded with the Timbs surname, ranking it #13,982 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 98, ranked #31,470, down from #13,982 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Ashton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Tendring and Daventry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Timbs is 175 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 44.0%.

1881 census count

175

Ranked #13,982

Modern count

98

2016, ranked #31,470

Peak year

1881

175 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 2006

Key insights

  • Timbs had 175 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,982 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 98 in 2016, ranked #31,470.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 175 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Timbs surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Timbs surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Timbs 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 136 #13,892
1861 historical 85 #22,922
1881 historical 175 #13,982
1891 historical 160 #17,555
1901 historical 143 #18,570
1911 historical 147 #18,104
1997 modern 99 #27,039
1998 modern 118 #25,041
1999 modern 116 #25,487
2000 modern 124 #24,469
2001 modern 117 #24,974
2002 modern 125 #24,492
2003 modern 116 #25,415
2004 modern 113 #25,999
2005 modern 104 #27,369
2006 modern 112 #26,415
2007 modern 113 #26,641
2008 modern 104 #28,341
2009 modern 107 #28,483
2010 modern 112 #28,336
2011 modern 110 #28,478
2012 modern 103 #29,733
2013 modern 106 #29,740
2014 modern 103 #30,539
2015 modern 101 #30,816
2016 modern 98 #31,470

Geography

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Where Timbs' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Ashton, London parishes, Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace and Cowley, Iffley (Nuneham Courtney, Berkshire, including Littlemoor Liberty), St Clement. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Tendring, Daventry, York and South Oxfordshire. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Ashton Northamptonshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace Shropshire
5 Cowley, Iffley (Nuneham Courtney, Berkshire, including Littlemoor Liberty), St Clement Oxfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 011 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Tendring 008 Tendring
3 Daventry 004 Daventry
4 York 018 York
5 South Oxfordshire 004 South Oxfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Timbs

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Timbs

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

Timbs is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Timbs falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Timbs

The surname TIMBS has its origins in England, first emerging during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from an Old English word "timbor," meaning timber or wood, likely referring to a person who worked with timber or lived near a wooded area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the TIMBS surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared as "Timbres," reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation at the time.

In the 13th century, the TIMBS surname was documented in various records, including the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which listed individuals bearing the name in counties such as Oxfordshire and Berkshire. Some of the earliest recorded examples include Roger Tymbre (1270) and John Tymbre (1279).

The TIMBS surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was William Timbs (c. 1530-1592), an English clergyman and writer who served as the rector of Arley, Staffordshire. Another notable bearer of the name was John Timbs (1801-1875), an English author and antiquarian who wrote extensively on English history and folklore.

In the 17th century, the TIMBS surname gained prominence with Sir John Timbs (1601-1675), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Buckingham. His son, Sir John Timbs (1639-1718), also held political office and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1700.

Other notable individuals with the TIMBS surname include: 1. Samuel Timbs (1809-1875), an English author and editor known for his works on literature and antiquities. 2. John Timbs (1824-1903), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London. 3. Henry Timbs (1861-1935), a British naval officer who served during the First World War and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. 4. George Timbs (1876-1954), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the late 19th century. 5. William Timbs (1899-1982), a British artist and illustrator known for his depictions of rural life in England.

Throughout its history, the TIMBS surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Tymbes, Tymbs, Timbres, and Timmers, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal practices of different areas in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Timbs families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Timbs 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. Gloucestershire leads with 21 Timbs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.27x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 21 6.27x
Buckinghamshire 19 18.41x
Oxfordshire 19 18.02x
Middlesex 17 1.00x
Northamptonshire 14 8.72x
Surrey 12 1.44x
Worcestershire 12 5.38x
Warwickshire 11 2.56x
Shropshire 10 6.78x
Yorkshire 10 0.59x
Cheshire 8 2.12x
Staffordshire 7 1.21x
Kent 6 1.03x
Berkshire 3 2.34x
Monmouthshire 3 2.43x
Herefordshire 1 1.43x
Lincolnshire 1 0.37x
Sussex 1 0.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Donnington in Gloucestershire leads with 20 Timbs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 22222.22x.

Place Total Index
Donnington 20 22222.22x
Shrewsbury St Julian 10 273.97x
Hendon 9 146.58x
Oxford St Clement 9 338.35x
Altrincham 8 121.58x
Ashendon 8 5714.29x
Birmingham 8 5.58x
Northampton St Giles 8 130.72x
Wootton 8 1269.84x
Camberwell 7 6.42x
Stony Stratford West 7 985.92x
Brightside Bierlow 6 18.08x
Dartford 5 83.89x
Warley Wigorn 5 704.23x
Evenlode 4 2500.00x
Wheldrake 4 1142.86x
Wolverhampton 4 9.03x
Ashton In Potterspury 3 1578.95x
Oldbury 3 27.35x
Penkridge 3 201.34x
Shire Newton 3 666.67x
St Andrew Undershaft 3 1578.95x
Streatham 3 23.70x
Hartwell 2 689.66x
Lambeth 2 1.34x
Neithrop 2 56.50x
St Martin Vintry 2 5000.00x
Sutton Coldfield 2 44.25x
Wycombe 2 26.01x
Aston 1 0.84x
Binbrooke 1 147.06x
Bromley 1 11.26x
Bromyard 1 108.70x
Chesham 1 26.32x
Church Icomb 1 1111.11x
Clewer 1 19.05x
Cookham 1 25.06x
Hanslope 1 107.53x
Hornsey 1 4.63x
Horsham 1 17.89x
Northampton St Sepulchre 1 12.24x
St George Hanover 1 4.49x
Willesden 1 6.22x
Woolhampton 1 344.83x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Timbs surname: questions and answers

How common was the Timbs surname in 1881?

In 1881, 175 people were recorded with the Timbs surname. That placed it at #13,982 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Timbs surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 98 in 2016. That gives Timbs a modern rank of #31,470.

What does the Timbs surname mean?

Originated as a nickname for a person with a fiery or temperamental disposition.

What does the Timbs map show?

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