NameCensus.

UK surname

Timoney

A variant of the Irish surname Timmoney, derived from the Gaelic name O'Tomaonaigh meaning "descendant of Tomhaon".

In the 1881 census there were 34 people recorded with the Timoney surname, ranking it #28,837 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 434, ranked #11,102, up from #28,837 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Portsmouth, Portsea and St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Fernhill and Cathkin and Poole.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Timoney is 434 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1176.5%.

1881 census count

34

Ranked #28,837

Modern count

434

2016, ranked #11,102

Peak year

2016

434 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Timoney had 34 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,837 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 434 in 2016, ranked #11,102.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 121 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Timoney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Timoney surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Timoney 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 10 #31,497
1861 historical 17 #31,714
1881 historical 34 #28,837
1891 historical 61 #29,103
1901 historical 121 #20,444
1911 historical 22 #31,030
1997 modern 384 #11,336
1998 modern 395 #11,452
1999 modern 400 #11,439
2000 modern 409 #11,221
2001 modern 398 #11,276
2002 modern 403 #11,382
2003 modern 400 #11,262
2004 modern 385 #11,607
2005 modern 366 #11,964
2006 modern 388 #11,496
2007 modern 391 #11,570
2008 modern 389 #11,723
2009 modern 412 #11,461
2010 modern 433 #11,242
2011 modern 424 #11,314
2012 modern 414 #11,431
2013 modern 416 #11,575
2014 modern 423 #11,488
2015 modern 424 #11,364
2016 modern 434 #11,102

Geography

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Where Timoneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Portsmouth, Portsea, St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace, Glasgow and St Giles Camberwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Fernhill and Cathkin, Poole, Bothwell South and Castlemilk. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
3 St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace London (West Districts)
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 045 County Durham
2 Fernhill and Cathkin South Lanarkshire
3 Poole 008 Poole
4 Bothwell South South Lanarkshire
5 Castlemilk Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Timoney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Timoney

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Timoney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Timoney household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Timoney is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Timoney is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Timoney falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Timoney is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Timoney

The surname Timoney is of Irish origin, originating from the Gaelic 'O'Tiomanaigh' clan, which was located in County Fermanagh, Ulster province. The name is derived from the Irish word 'tiomana,' meaning a will or bequest, suggesting that the first bearer of the name may have been a solicitor or someone involved in legal affairs.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Timoney can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, where it appears as 'O'Tiomanaigh' in the 14th century. The name is also found in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a collection of public records from the 16th century.

In the 17th century, the Timoney family was among the Irish Catholics who were dispossessed of their lands during the Plantation of Ulster, a process of colonization and confiscation of land by the English crown. Many Timoneys were forced to migrate to other parts of Ireland or emigrate to other countries.

One notable bearer of the name was Patrick Timoney (1619-1688), an Irish Franciscan friar and historian who wrote extensively about the Plantation of Ulster and the plight of the Irish Catholics during that period.

In the 18th century, John Timoney (1725-1792) was a prominent Irish Catholic landowner and merchant in County Fermanagh, known for his involvement in local politics and his support for the Irish Patriot movement.

During the 19th century, the Timoney name became more widespread as Irish immigrants settled in various parts of the world, particularly in the United States, Canada, and Australia. One notable figure from this period was Michael Timoney (1846-1921), an Irish-American politician who served as the Mayor of Scranton, Pennsylvania, from 1906 to 1908.

Another notable Timoney was Mary Timoney (1869-1944), an Irish-born teacher and women's rights activist who campaigned for equal pay and better working conditions for women in New Zealand.

In the 20th century, John Timoney (1949-present) was a prominent Irish-American police officer who served as the Chief of Police in Miami, Florida, and later as the Police Commissioner of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Overall, the surname Timoney has a rich history rooted in Irish culture and tradition, with bearers of the name making significant contributions in various fields across different parts of the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Timoney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Timoney 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. Lanarkshire leads with 21 Timoneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.58x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 21 19.58x
Lancashire 6 1.52x
Middlesex 3 0.90x
Ayrshire 2 8.06x
Angus 1 3.26x
Renfrewshire 1 3.89x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glasgow in Lanarkshire leads with 10 Timoneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.52x.

Place Total Index
Glasgow 10 52.52x
Govan 8 30.17x
Tottington Lower End 6 320.86x
Barony 3 11.05x
St George Hanover 3 69.28x
Dundee 1 8.72x
Maybole 1 131.58x
St Quivox 1 119.05x
West Greenock 1 21.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Catherine 2
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 2
John 1
Patrick 1

Top occupations

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 Timoney households.

FAQ

Timoney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Timoney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 34 people were recorded with the Timoney surname. That placed it at #28,837 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Timoney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 434 in 2016. That gives Timoney a modern rank of #11,102.

What does the Timoney surname mean?

A variant of the Irish surname Timmoney, derived from the Gaelic name O'Tomaonaigh meaning "descendant of Tomhaon".

What does the Timoney map show?

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