NameCensus.

UK surname

Timothy

An anglicized form of the Greek name Timotheos, meaning "honoring God" or "honored by God."

In the 1881 census there were 376 people recorded with the Timothy surname, ranking it #8,326 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 785, ranked #7,030, up from #8,326 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Merthyr Tydfil and Llanover. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Stockport.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Timothy is 813 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 108.8%.

1881 census count

376

Ranked #8,326

Modern count

785

2016, ranked #7,030

Peak year

2010

813 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Timothy had 376 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,326 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 785 in 2016, ranked #7,030.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 432 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Timothy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Timothy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Timothy 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 306 #7,524
1861 historical 357 #7,155
1881 historical 376 #8,326
1891 historical 432 #8,311
1901 historical 416 #9,220
1911 historical 408 #9,161
1997 modern 723 #7,063
1998 modern 773 #6,949
1999 modern 794 #6,844
2000 modern 802 #6,757
2001 modern 788 #6,726
2002 modern 782 #6,904
2003 modern 766 #6,894
2004 modern 766 #6,913
2005 modern 753 #6,935
2006 modern 754 #6,957
2007 modern 779 #6,839
2008 modern 771 #6,950
2009 modern 781 #7,018
2010 modern 813 #6,923
2011 modern 791 #7,018
2012 modern 791 #6,906
2013 modern 799 #6,961
2014 modern 804 #6,976
2015 modern 792 #6,990
2016 modern 785 #7,030

Geography

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Where Timothys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Merthyr Tydfil, Llanover, Bedwelty and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, Stockport and Brent. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire
3 Llanover Monmouthshire
4 Bedwelty Monmouthshire
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torfaen 001 Torfaen
2 Blaenau Gwent 007 Blaenau Gwent
3 Blaenau Gwent 003 Blaenau Gwent
4 Stockport 012 Stockport
5 Brent 009 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Timothy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Timothy

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Timothy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Timothy 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Timothy is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Timothy 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

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

Meaning and origin of Timothy

The surname Timothy is derived from the Greek given name Timotheos, meaning "honoring God" or "honored by God". It originated in ancient Greece and became a popular Christian name in the early days of the religion, due to its biblical associations with the disciple Timothy, who was a companion of the Apostle Paul.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Timothy date back to the late 12th century in England, where it was likely adopted by individuals who were originally given the name Timotheos or a variant thereof. It is believed that the name was brought to England by Norman settlers after the conquest of 1066, as the Normans had close ties with the Byzantine Empire and would have been familiar with Greek names and culture.

In medieval records, the surname appears in various spellings, such as Tymothy, Tymothie, and Tymothee, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time. One notable early bearer of the name was Sir John Timothy, a knight who fought in the Wars of the Roses in the 15th century.

As the surname spread across England, it became associated with certain regions and localities. For example, the village of Timothy Bridge in Cheshire is thought to have been named after an early settler with the surname Timothy.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname Timothy. These include:

1. Samuel Timothy (1609-1692), an English Puritan minister and co-founder of the town of Roxbury, Massachusetts. 2. James Timothy (1719-1793), an American military officer and Patriot during the American Revolutionary War. 3. Ebenezer Timothy (1737-1817), an American physician and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives. 4. Nicholas Timothy (1823-1892), a British architect known for his work on churches and other buildings in London. 5. John Timothy (1858-1924), a British politician and member of parliament for the Liberal Party.

The surname Timothy has also been subject to various spelling variations over time, including Tymothy, Timmothy, and Timmothy, reflecting regional differences in pronunciation and orthographic conventions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Timothy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Timothy 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. Glamorgan leads with 62 Timothys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.71x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 62 9.71x
Cardiganshire 43 48.06x
Monmouthshire 37 13.95x
Surrey 31 1.73x
Middlesex 29 0.79x
Lancashire 22 0.51x
Ayrshire 21 7.65x
Carmarthenshire 18 11.64x
Brecknockshire 13 17.72x
Durham 11 1.01x
Warwickshire 11 1.19x
Staffordshire 10 0.81x
Anglesey 9 13.85x
Renfrewshire 8 2.81x
Caernarfonshire 7 4.72x
Worcestershire 7 1.46x
Nottinghamshire 6 1.21x
Kent 5 0.40x
Angus 4 1.18x
Flintshire 4 4.06x
Montgomeryshire 4 4.76x
Hertfordshire 3 1.19x
Merionethshire 3 4.47x
Cheshire 2 0.25x
Hampshire 2 0.27x
Bedfordshire 1 0.53x
Gloucestershire 1 0.14x
Herefordshire 1 0.66x
Shropshire 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 15 Timothys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.40x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 15 6.40x
Merthyr Tydfil 14 22.81x
Llanover 13 143.49x
Bethnal Green London 12 7.53x
Galston 10 133.16x
Oystermouth 10 202.43x
Penbryn 10 571.43x
St Woollos 9 30.42x
Aberdare 8 18.25x
Cathcart 8 52.02x
Lambeth 8 2.50x
Little Lumley 8 1250.00x
Llanfair Clydogaw 8 1194.03x
North Meols 8 18.78x
Aberystwith 7 90.91x
Bedwellty 7 14.95x
Dudley 7 12.02x
Dundonald 7 69.17x
Llandysilio 7 343.14x
Llanllwchaiarn 7 296.61x
Ystradyfodwg 7 12.50x
Aberystruth 6 25.67x
Briton Ferry 6 78.74x
Llangattock 6 100.50x
Old Stratford 6 114.50x
St Marylebone London 6 3.06x
Walsall Foreign 6 9.38x
Cardigan St Mary 5 145.77x
Eltham 5 68.21x
Llansamlet Lower 5 86.51x
Radford 5 19.90x
Ynyscynhaiarn 5 72.36x
Cardiff St John 4 19.18x
Carmarthen St Peter 4 30.28x
Hackney London 4 1.95x
Holywell 4 32.31x
Kilmarnock 4 12.24x
Kirkdale 4 5.46x
Liff Benvie 4 7.75x
Llandyssil 4 106.95x
Llanfairarybryn 4 248.45x
Llangynog 4 547.95x
West Derby 4 3.14x
Battersea 3 2.22x
Garston 3 23.35x
Hemel Hempstead 3 26.34x
Llangadock 3 70.42x
Lower Ystradgynlais 3 66.37x
Wolverhampton 3 3.15x
Chertsey 2 17.32x
Gateshead 2 2.45x
Holdenhurst 2 10.14x
Islington London 2 0.56x
Lampeterpont Stephen 2 132.45x
Llandingat 2 56.98x
Llangeler 2 97.09x
Llangelynin 2 139.86x
Llanguick 2 17.48x
Llanllechid 2 19.18x
Llanwonno 2 8.71x
Marshfield 2 307.69x
Mile End Old Town 2 3.45x
Myddfai 2 256.41x
Vaynor 2 55.71x
Barrow In Furness 1 1.69x
Beaumaris 1 41.67x
Clase 1 4.21x
Coedfrank 1 22.62x
Coventry St Michael 1 3.37x
Kensington London 1 0.49x
Litherland 1 10.99x
Llanfihangel Nantbrane 1 204.08x
Llanfihangel Y Traethau 1 26.18x
Manchester 1 0.51x
Nottingham St Mary 1 0.78x
Oswestry Town 1 9.85x
South Biddick 1 1666.67x
Southwark St Olave 1 35.71x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 1 19.27x
Woking 1 9.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Elizabeth 19
Jane 12
Sarah 11
Margaret 10
Ann 9
Eliza 5
Anne 4
Louisa 4
Ada 3
Agnes 3
Beatrice 3
Caroline 3
Ellen 3
Emma 3
Hannah 3
Maria 3
Alice 2
Anna 2
Annie 2
Florence 2
Gwen 2
Jennet 2
Margret 2
Matilda 2
Rachel 2
Rebecca 2
Susan 2
Bessie 1
Bridget 1
Catharine 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Cordelia 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Katharine 1
Lucy 1
M.A. 1
Mabel 1
Marg. 1
Margt. 1
Marian 1
Marion 1
Martha 1
Merriah 1
Millicent 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 25
William 20
Thomas 16
David 14
Alfred 5
Arthur 5
Edward 5
Evan 4
Henry 4
James 4
Nicholas 3
Timothy 3
Wm. 3
Charles 2
George 2
Griffith 2
Michael 2
Morgan 2
Patrick 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Vincent 2
Chas. 1
Edwd.B. 1
Edwin 1
Eleanor 1
Eustace 1
Felix 1
Francis 1
Gustave 1
H.V. 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
Jacob 1
Joden 1
Joseph 1
Keeley 1
L. 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Reuben 1
Rewfern 1
Rodolph 1
Rudolph 1
Silas 1
Stephen 1
Talessin 1
Thos. 1
Thos.R. 1
Tim 1

FAQ

Timothy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Timothy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 376 people were recorded with the Timothy surname. That placed it at #8,326 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Timothy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 785 in 2016. That gives Timothy a modern rank of #7,030.

What does the Timothy surname mean?

An anglicized form of the Greek name Timotheos, meaning "honoring God" or "honored by God."

What does the Timothy map show?

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