UK surname
A surname referring to someone who worked as a tinner or tinsmith.
In the 1881 census there were 57 people recorded with the Tinner surname, ranking it #25,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 36, ranked #35,648, down from #25,575 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Cocking, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tinner is 189 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 36.8%.
1881 census count
57
Ranked #25,575
Modern count
36
2016, ranked #35,648
Peak year
1861
189 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Tinner surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Tinner surname density by area, 1891 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 | 128 | #14,474 |
| 1861 | historical | 189 | #12,570 |
| 1881 | historical | 57 | #25,575 |
| 1891 | historical | 130 | #20,173 |
| 1901 | historical | 63 | #27,134 |
| 1911 | historical | 57 | #27,099 |
| 1997 | modern | 34 | #34,282 |
| 1998 | modern | 39 | #33,967 |
| 1999 | modern | 35 | #34,418 |
| 2000 | modern | 40 | #33,976 |
| 2001 | modern | 38 | #34,004 |
| 2002 | modern | 40 | #34,133 |
| 2003 | modern | 35 | #34,609 |
| 2004 | modern | 34 | #34,868 |
| 2005 | modern | 33 | #35,119 |
| 2006 | modern | 33 | #35,329 |
| 2007 | modern | 31 | #35,592 |
| 2008 | modern | 32 | #35,610 |
| 2009 | modern | 31 | #35,794 |
| 2010 | modern | 33 | #35,794 |
| 2011 | modern | 33 | #35,777 |
| 2012 | modern | 35 | #35,645 |
| 2013 | modern | 36 | #35,643 |
| 2014 | modern | 37 | #35,616 |
| 2015 | modern | 38 | #35,526 |
| 2016 | modern | 36 | #35,648 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Cocking, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Leonard Shoreditch, St Pancras and Lambeth. 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 | Cocking | Sussex |
| 2 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Tinner 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 Tinner, 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 Tinner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Tinner 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, Tinner 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 Tinner is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Tinner, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Tinner has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the 13th century. It is an occupational name, derived from the Old English word "tinnere," which referred to someone who worked with tin or pewter. This surname would have originally been given to someone whose profession involved making, repairing, or selling tin or pewter vessels and objects.
The earliest known record of the name Tinner appears in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it is listed as "Johannes le Tinnere." This suggests that the name was already well-established by that time. Similar spellings from that era include "le Tynner" and "le Tynnere."
In the 14th century, the name Tinner can be found in various historical records, such as the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379, where it is spelled as "Tynner." This indicates that the name had spread across different regions of England by that time.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Tinner was William Tinner, who was born in Gloucestershire in the late 15th century. He was a prominent merchant and landowner in the area.
Another notable bearer of the name was John Tinner, a wealthy tin merchant from Cornwall who lived in the 16th century. He played a significant role in the local tin trade and left a substantial fortune upon his death in 1587.
During the 17th century, the name Tinner appeared in various parish records across England. For example, there are records of a Thomas Tinner who was baptized in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1634, and a Richard Tinner who was born in the village of Ashford in Kent in 1657.
In the 18th century, one notable figure with the surname Tinner was James Tinner, a renowned clockmaker from London who was active in the 1740s and 1750s. His clocks were highly sought after and are now considered valuable antiques.
Another individual of note was William Tinner, a respected architect from Gloucestershire who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He designed several notable buildings in the region, including churches and country houses.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tinner 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. Middlesex leads with 24 Tinners recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.32x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 24 | 4.32x |
| Lancashire | 7 | 1.06x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 1.09x |
| Devon | 5 | 4.32x |
| Cornwall | 4 | 6.36x |
| Cumberland | 4 | 8.36x |
| Flintshire | 3 | 20.08x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.12x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 1.48x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.37x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 1.38x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shoreditch London in Middlesex leads with 10 Tinners recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.49x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Shoreditch London | 10 | 41.49x |
| Islington London | 7 | 12.99x |
| Kimberworth | 6 | 196.08x |
| Radcliffe | 6 | 188.68x |
| Tormoham | 5 | 102.04x |
| Mile End Old Town | 4 | 45.56x |
| Millom | 4 | 272.11x |
| Holywell | 3 | 159.57x |
| St Pancras London | 3 | 6.70x |
| St Hilary | 2 | 1111.11x |
| Tywardreath | 2 | 500.00x |
| Bath St James | 1 | 107.53x |
| Bury St Edmunds St Mary | 1 | 78.74x |
| Great Malvern | 1 | 66.23x |
| Kirkby Ireleth | 1 | 303.03x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 2.06x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Tinner 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 Tinner 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 Tinner households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 10 |
| Certificated Teacher (School) | 2 |
| Dress Maker | 2 |
| Assist Grocer | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Fishmonger | 1 |
| General Serv. (Domestic) | 1 |
| Grocer & Cheesemonger | 1 |
| Head Porter Serv (Hosp) | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Iron Miner | 1 |
| Labourer (Paper Works) | 1 |
| Manageress Of Public House | 1 |
| Mason | 1 |
| Oilmans Manager | 1 |
| Railway Porter | 1 |
| Retired | 1 |
| Tin Framer | 1 |
| Warehouseman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 57 people were recorded with the Tinner surname. That placed it at #25,575 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 36 in 2016. That gives Tinner a modern rank of #35,648.
A surname referring to someone who worked as a tinner or tinsmith.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Tinner 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.