NameCensus.

UK surname

Timmis

A patronymic surname derived from the medieval given name Timothy.

In the 1881 census there were 698 people recorded with the Timmis surname, ranking it #5,198 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,209, ranked #4,920, up from #5,198 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Eccleshall, Wolstanton and Burslem. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Stafford and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Timmis is 1,270 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 73.2%.

1881 census count

698

Ranked #5,198

Modern count

1,209

2016, ranked #4,920

Peak year

2000

1,270 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Timmis had 698 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,198 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,209 in 2016, ranked #4,920.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,095 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Timmis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Timmis surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Timmis 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 464 #5,343
1861 historical 391 #6,549
1881 historical 698 #5,198
1891 historical 742 #5,363
1901 historical 1,090 #4,434
1911 historical 1,095 #4,234
1997 modern 926 #5,832
1998 modern 1,252 #4,711
1999 modern 1,249 #4,754
2000 modern 1,270 #4,671
2001 modern 1,229 #4,707
2002 modern 1,244 #4,743
2003 modern 1,244 #4,656
2004 modern 1,218 #4,754
2005 modern 1,236 #4,641
2006 modern 1,249 #4,613
2007 modern 1,239 #4,698
2008 modern 1,238 #4,727
2009 modern 1,236 #4,822
2010 modern 1,266 #4,823
2011 modern 1,267 #4,763
2012 modern 1,193 #4,937
2013 modern 1,228 #4,900
2014 modern 1,243 #4,860
2015 modern 1,217 #4,906
2016 modern 1,209 #4,920

Geography

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Where Timmis' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Eccleshall, Wolstanton, Burslem, Coppenhall and Stone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Stafford, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Cheshire East. 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 Eccleshall Staffordshire
2 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 Burslem Staffordshire
4 Coppenhall Cheshire
5 Stone Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 005 Shropshire
2 Stafford 015 Stafford
3 Newcastle-under-Lyme 007 Newcastle-under-Lyme
4 Stafford 005 Stafford
5 Cheshire East 041 Cheshire East

Forenames

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First names often paired with Timmis

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Timmis

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Timmis 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

Timmis is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Timmis

The surname Timmis is of English origin, deriving from the medieval personal name "Timme" which was a pet form of the name Timothy. This name ultimately traces back to the Greek name "Timotheos" meaning "honoring God" or "honored by God."

The Timmis surname first appeared in records in the 13th century in various counties across central and northern England, including Staffordshire, Cheshire, and Yorkshire. Early spellings of the name included Tymme, Tymmes, Tymes, and Tymys.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was William Tymme, mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1292. Another early example is John Tymmes, listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Cheshire in 1327.

While the surname Timmis did not appear in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, it is possible that some of the name's earliest ancestors were recorded under different spellings or anglicized versions of the name Timothy.

In the 16th century, the Timmis surname is found in various records in Lancashire, such as the christening of Thomas Timmis in Blackburn in 1564. During this time, the name was also found in nearby areas like Whalley and Accrington.

Notable historical figures with the surname Timmis include John Timmis (1564-1616), an English Puritan minister and author; Benjamin Timmis (1670-1718), an English Baptist minister and writer; and Samuel Timmis (1826-1902), an English landscape painter and watercolorist.

Other individuals of note include Robert Timmis (1826-1893), a British civil engineer who worked on railways in India; and James Timmis Chance (1814-1887), an English glass manufacturer and pioneer in the production of optical glass.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Timmis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Timmis 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. Staffordshire leads with 328 Timmis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.33x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 328 14.33x
Cheshire 149 9.96x
Lancashire 65 0.81x
Shropshire 52 8.88x
Worcestershire 32 3.61x
Warwickshire 25 1.46x
Middlesex 8 0.12x
Derbyshire 6 0.57x
Hampshire 5 0.36x
Surrey 5 0.15x
Leicestershire 4 0.53x
Yorkshire 4 0.06x
Huntingdonshire 3 2.23x
Norfolk 3 0.29x
Montgomeryshire 2 1.29x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.36x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.23x
Gloucestershire 1 0.08x
Kent 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 67 Timmis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.61x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 67 27.61x
Wolstanton 31 44.60x
Stone 30 102.49x
Audley 24 106.01x
Newcastle Under Lyme 20 49.39x
Failsworth 17 92.34x
Monks Coppenhall 17 30.10x
Birmingham 15 2.63x
Eccleshall 15 172.81x
Haslington 15 356.29x
Walgherton 15 3846.15x
Madeley 14 245.61x
Wolstanton Knutton 13 93.06x
Wolstanton Thursfield 13 467.63x
Burslem 12 18.30x
Stone 12 827.59x
Eccleshall Croxton 10 1470.59x
Manchester 10 2.76x
Norton In Moors 10 82.58x
Walsall Foreign 10 8.46x
Aston 9 1.91x
Buerton In Nantwich 9 825.69x
Drayton In Hales 9 74.57x
Lea 9 5625.00x
Wellington 9 27.34x
Audlem 8 226.63x
Newhall In Nantwich 7 424.24x
Rugeley 7 42.63x
Chiswick 6 16.19x
Church Coppenhall 6 89.69x
Condover 6 145.63x
Hough 6 937.50x
Norton By Kempsey 6 310.88x
Runcorn 6 17.39x
Shavington Cum Gresty 6 241.94x
Upperswinford 6 80.11x
Whitchurch 6 52.77x
Alsager 5 134.41x
Castle Church 5 36.36x
Garston 5 21.06x
Little Budworth 5 400.00x
Pendleton In Salford 5 5.22x
South Stoneham 5 16.59x
Willaston In Nantwich 5 108.23x
Wroxeter 5 442.48x
Golborne 4 38.17x
Kirkdale 4 2.96x
Liverpool 4 0.82x
Stretford 4 9.04x
Worthen 4 64.31x
Birkenhead 3 2.51x
Caverswall 3 25.21x
Denston 3 291.26x
Edgmond 3 46.51x
Gnosall 3 54.35x
Handsworth 3 5.32x
Hingham 3 83.10x
Kings Norton 3 3.78x
Lambeth 3 0.51x
Leighton In Nantwich 3 750.00x
Norton In Hales 3 344.83x
Poulton With Fearnhead 3 174.42x
Spaldwick 3 361.45x
Stafford St Mary 3 9.26x
Standon 3 361.45x
Trentham 3 15.42x
Tyrley 3 168.54x
Wolstanton Chatterly 3 127.66x
Wolstanton Oldcott 3 36.19x
Altofts 2 26.99x
Berkswich 2 143.88x
Bowling 2 3.01x
Cheadle 2 18.20x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 1.56x
Congleton 2 7.73x
Great Neston 2 40.49x
Leicester St Margaret 2 1.09x
Stourbridge 2 8.78x
Tranmere 2 3.64x
Weston In Nantwich 2 166.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 59
Sarah 33
Elizabeth 32
Jane 17
Ann 15
Annie 13
Martha 13
Alice 11
Emma 11
Ellen 9
Hannah 9
Eliza 8
Harriet 8
Emily 7
Fanny 7
Caroline 5
Lydia 5
Florence 4
Charlotte 3
Clara 3
Esther 3
Frances 3
Gertrude 3
Julia 3
Lucy 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Rebecca 3
Rose 3
Ada 2
Agusta 2
Anna 2
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Elen 2
Janet 2
Kate 2
Lizzie 2
Louisa 2
Matilda 2
Minnie 2
Phoebe 2
Rachel 2
Selina 2
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Blanche 1
Elizh. 1
Elzbth. 1
Emmiline 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 37
Thomas 31
William 30
George 28
Richard 18
Robert 16
James 15
Samuel 15
Joseph 14
Henry 12
Albert 7
Alfred 7
Saml. 6
Francis 5
Frank 5
Harry 5
Walter 4
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Geo. 3
Daniel 2
Ebenezer 2
Herbert 2
Lewis 2
Noah 2
Percy 2
Ralph 2
Tavenor 2
Thos. 2
Allan 1
Danl. 1
Douglas 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Fieldg. 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Hezekiah 1
Hugh 1
Jos. 1
Josiah 1
Louis 1
Matthew 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Samson 1
Samual 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Timmis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Timmis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 698 people were recorded with the Timmis surname. That placed it at #5,198 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Timmis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,209 in 2016. That gives Timmis a modern rank of #4,920.

What does the Timmis surname mean?

A patronymic surname derived from the medieval given name Timothy.

What does the Timmis map show?

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