UK surname
A locational surname derived from a place called Tindley or Tindal in England.
In the 1881 census there were 35 people recorded with the Tindley surname, ranking it #28,715 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 58, ranked #34,457, down from #28,715 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Greenwich, Braintree and Glossop. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tindley is 101 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 65.7%.
1881 census count
35
Ranked #28,715
Modern count
58
2016, ranked #34,457
Peak year
1911
101 bearers
Map years
1
1911 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Tindley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Tindley surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 23 | #29,205 |
| 1861 | historical | 82 | #23,321 |
| 1881 | historical | 35 | #28,715 |
| 1891 | historical | 91 | #25,239 |
| 1901 | historical | 77 | #25,627 |
| 1911 | historical | 101 | #22,589 |
| 1997 | modern | 80 | #29,554 |
| 1998 | modern | 83 | #29,638 |
| 1999 | modern | 83 | #29,823 |
| 2000 | modern | 74 | #30,785 |
| 2001 | modern | 71 | #30,907 |
| 2002 | modern | 68 | #31,626 |
| 2003 | modern | 65 | #31,979 |
| 2004 | modern | 70 | #31,681 |
| 2005 | modern | 68 | #32,097 |
| 2006 | modern | 61 | #33,142 |
| 2007 | modern | 61 | #33,440 |
| 2008 | modern | 59 | #33,827 |
| 2009 | modern | 59 | #34,072 |
| 2010 | modern | 66 | #33,791 |
| 2011 | modern | 57 | #34,393 |
| 2012 | modern | 60 | #34,287 |
| 2013 | modern | 59 | #34,435 |
| 2014 | modern | 58 | #34,500 |
| 2015 | modern | 59 | #34,407 |
| 2016 | modern | 58 | #34,457 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Greenwich, Braintree, Glossop, Coggeshall, Great and Lewisham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greenwich | London (South Districts) |
| 2 | Braintree | Essex |
| 3 | Glossop | Derbyshire |
| 4 | Coggeshall, Great | Essex |
| 5 | Lewisham | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Tindley surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tindley, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Tindley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Tindley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Tindley is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tindley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Tindley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Tindley is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "tind," which means "tine" or "spike," and likely referred to a person who lived near a thorny or prickly place.
The name Tindley can be traced back to various historical records and documents from different parts of England. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Tindeleie," referring to a place name in Gloucestershire.
In the 13th century, the name was recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire as "Tyndeleye," indicating its presence in that region. During this time, the name was also found in other parts of the country, such as Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, with variations in spelling like "Tyndeley" and "Tyndelay."
Among the notable individuals bearing the surname Tindley throughout history are:
1. John Tindley (c. 1676 - 1737), an English theologian and author known for his works on Christian doctrine. 2. Elizabeth Tindley (1776 - 1854), a British philanthropist and social reformer who established several schools for underprivileged children in London. 3. Charles Albert Tindley (1851 - 1933), an American Methodist minister and composer of gospel music, often referred to as the "Prince of Preachers." 4. William Tindley (1909 - 1981), a British artist renowned for his landscape paintings, particularly those depicting rural scenes in the English countryside. 5. Mary Tindley (1921 - 2003), an American civil rights activist and educator who played a significant role in desegregating schools in the southern United States.
The name Tindley has also been associated with various place names throughout England, including Tindley Manor in Gloucestershire, Tindley Green in Oxfordshire, and Tindley Hill in Yorkshire. These place names may have influenced the development and distribution of the surname over time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tindley surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Essex leads with 7 Tindleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.39x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Essex | 7 | 10.39x |
| Kent | 7 | 6.01x |
| Surrey | 6 | 3.61x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 1.23x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 1.17x |
| Northumberland | 3 | 5.91x |
| Suffolk | 3 | 7.22x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Greenwich in Kent leads with 7 Tindleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 128.91x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Greenwich | 7 | 128.91x |
| Croydon | 6 | 65.01x |
| Liverpool | 5 | 20.33x |
| Great Coggeshall | 4 | 1142.86x |
| Elswick | 3 | 74.07x |
| St Luke London | 3 | 54.84x |
| Sudbury All Sts | 3 | 2307.69x |
| Braintree | 2 | 333.33x |
| Colchester St Botolph | 1 | 175.44x |
| Willesden | 1 | 31.06x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Tindley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Tindley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Tindley households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Apprentice | 1 |
| Book Binder | 1 |
| Book Folder | 1 |
| Brass Finisher | 1 |
| Brass Finishers Wife | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Oil & Colorman (Master) | 1 |
| Silk Weaver | 1 |
| Weaver (Master)(Silk) | 1 |
| Weaver (Silk) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 35 people were recorded with the Tindley surname. That placed it at #28,715 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 58 in 2016. That gives Tindley a modern rank of #34,457.
A locational surname derived from a place called Tindley or Tindal in England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Tindley bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.