NameCensus.

UK surname

Tippett

Derived from a Middle English occupational name for a maker or seller of tipets, a type of scarf or cape.

In the 1881 census there were 1,057 people recorded with the Tippett surname, ranking it #3,725 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 954, ranked #6,024, down from #3,725 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Columb Major and Newlyn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Ross and Cromarty South West and Bridgend.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tippett is 1,257 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 9.7%.

1881 census count

1,057

Ranked #3,725

Modern count

954

2016, ranked #6,024

Peak year

1901

1,257 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tippett had 1,057 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,725 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 954 in 2016, ranked #6,024.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,257 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Tippett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tippett surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Tippett 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 641 #4,050
1861 historical 480 #5,436
1881 historical 1,057 #3,725
1891 historical 1,019 #4,084
1901 historical 1,257 #3,942
1911 historical 1,201 #3,913
1997 modern 959 #5,672
1998 modern 1,017 #5,605
1999 modern 1,000 #5,717
2000 modern 989 #5,738
2001 modern 977 #5,681
2002 modern 1,030 #5,565
2003 modern 1,032 #5,454
2004 modern 1,025 #5,494
2005 modern 996 #5,572
2006 modern 984 #5,626
2007 modern 989 #5,657
2008 modern 994 #5,675
2009 modern 1,004 #5,747
2010 modern 1,025 #5,761
2011 modern 1,011 #5,769
2012 modern 970 #5,872
2013 modern 977 #5,930
2014 modern 993 #5,894
2015 modern 969 #5,966
2016 modern 954 #6,024

Geography

Back to top

Where Tippetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Columb Major, Newlyn, London parishes and Kenwyn, Tregavethan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Ross and Cromarty South West and Bridgend. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 St Columb Major Cornwall
3 Newlyn Cornwall
4 London parishes London 3
5 Kenwyn, Tregavethan Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 018 Cornwall
2 Ross and Cromarty South West Highland
3 Bridgend 004 Bridgend
4 Cornwall 047 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 024 Cornwall

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Tippett

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Tippett

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Tippett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Tippett household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Tippett is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tippett is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tippett falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tippett 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 Tippett, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Tippett

The surname Tippett has its origins in England and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "toppa" or "topp," which means a hilltop or a summit. This name was likely given to someone who lived on or near a hilltop or a prominent ridge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tippett can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, dated 1196, where a person named Reginald Toppet is mentioned. Another early reference is in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1272, which records a Thomas Toppet.

The name Tippett also appears in various historical records and manuscripts, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a John Toppet is recorded. In the Feet of Fines for Staffordshire in 1428, a Thomas Tippett is mentioned.

One notable person with the surname Tippett was Sir John Tiptoft, also known as the "Butcher of England," who lived from 1427 to 1470. He was an English nobleman and served as Lord High Constable of England during the Wars of the Roses.

Another historical figure with the surname Tippett was Thomas Tippett, a 16th-century English clergyman and writer born in 1535. He was a fellow of New College, Oxford, and published several works on theology and education.

In the 17th century, John Tippett (1639-1718) was an English Puritan minister and author who served as the chaplain to Sir William Waller during the English Civil War.

Later, in the 19th century, Sir Michael Tippett (1905-1998) was a renowned English composer known for his operas and orchestral works. He was born in London and is considered one of the most influential British composers of the 20th century.

The surname Tippett has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Tippett's Heath in Oxfordshire and Tippett's Farm in Gloucestershire, reflecting the historical presence of families with this surname in those regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Tippett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tippett 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. Cornwall leads with 433 Tippetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.16x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 433 37.16x
Middlesex 117 1.14x
Devon 98 4.57x
Gloucestershire 98 4.86x
Lancashire 52 0.43x
Kent 48 1.37x
Surrey 42 0.84x
Somerset 21 1.27x
Glamorgan 19 1.06x
Warwickshire 18 0.69x
Yorkshire 16 0.16x
Leicestershire 14 1.23x
Sussex 14 0.81x
Hampshire 11 0.52x
Midlothian 11 0.80x
Monmouthshire 9 1.21x
Denbighshire 7 1.80x
Cheshire 4 0.18x
Dorset 3 0.44x
Norfolk 3 0.19x
Durham 2 0.07x
Northumberland 2 0.13x
Royal Navy 2 1.63x
Staffordshire 2 0.06x
Bedfordshire 1 0.19x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.15x
Derbyshire 1 0.06x
Essex 1 0.05x
Lincolnshire 1 0.06x
Northamptonshire 1 0.10x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.31x
Radnorshire 1 1.20x
Worcestershire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newlyn in Cornwall leads with 50 Tippetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 1006.04x.

Place Total Index
Newlyn 50 1006.04x
St Just In Penwith 33 145.95x
Kenwyn 30 98.46x
Camborne 25 52.07x
Bitton Oldland 23 111.49x
Padstow 23 297.16x
Bristol St George 22 23.57x
Stoke Damerel 20 13.34x
Islington London 18 1.80x
Plymouth Charles The 18 19.07x
St Columb Minor 18 184.05x
Perranzabuloe 17 169.15x
Plymouth St Andrew 17 10.30x
Redruth 17 51.58x
St Columb Major 17 175.80x
St Blazey 14 136.85x
St Luke London 14 8.48x
Gwennap 13 59.14x
Lanteglos By Fowey 13 274.26x
Minster In Sheppey 13 22.35x
Shoreditch London 13 2.91x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 12 6.31x
Rotherhithe 12 9.44x
St Agnes 12 73.53x
Lasswade 11 34.90x
St Pancras London 11 1.33x
Tormoham 11 12.14x
Aston 10 1.40x
Compton Gifford 10 149.03x
Lambeth 10 1.11x
Llantrisant 10 22.14x
Siston 10 277.01x
St Ervan 10 724.64x
Bristol St James St Paul 9 13.37x
Easton In Gordano 9 134.93x
Feock 9 123.46x
Hackney London 9 1.56x
Illogan 9 29.17x
St Austell 9 22.60x
Camberwell 8 1.22x
Dalton In Furness 8 16.97x
Habergham Eaves 8 7.17x
Leicester St Mary 8 8.68x
Spitalfields London 8 10.33x
St Clement 8 65.79x
Strood 8 39.94x
Trevethin 8 11.39x
Bedminster 7 4.50x
Birmingham 7 0.81x
Horfield 7 34.47x
Kingston On Thames 7 5.81x
Llanferres 7 288.07x
Madron 7 74.39x
Pevensey 7 542.64x
St Enoder 7 176.77x
Brotton 6 45.08x
Colan 6 697.67x
Helston 6 49.55x
Kensington London 6 1.05x
Ladock 6 181.82x
Merther 6 689.66x
Openshaw 6 10.49x
Paddington London 6 1.59x
Pemberton 6 12.32x
Roche 6 101.35x
St Marylebone London 6 1.09x
Bredgar 5 230.41x
Falmouth 5 12.12x
Langley 5 384.62x
Lansallos 5 197.63x
Leicester St Margaret 5 1.80x
Llansamlet Higher 5 37.40x
Portsea 5 1.21x
Radcliffe 5 8.49x
Blackawton 4 107.24x
Breage 4 37.59x
Chester St Oswald 4 9.72x
Gorton 4 3.48x
Sithney 4 33.98x
Woolwich 4 3.08x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 72
John 69
James 37
Thomas 33
George 31
Charles 25
Henry 23
Richard 19
Joseph 16
Edward 11
Albert 9
Robert 9
Walter 9
Samuel 8
Alfred 7
Arthur 7
Ernest 7
Francis 7
Edwin 6
Frederick 5
Wm. 5
Benjamin 3
Willm. 3
David 2
Frank 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Jonathan 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Richd.H. 2
Thos. 2
Wallace 2
Adolphus 1
Aubrey 1
Cyrus 1
Edw. 1
Frederic 1
Gilbert 1
Giles 1
Harrold 1
Herbert 1
Louis 1
Martin 1
Michael 1
Montigue 1
Morris 1
Nicholas 1
Oliver 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Tippett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tippett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,057 people were recorded with the Tippett surname. That placed it at #3,725 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tippett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 954 in 2016. That gives Tippett a modern rank of #6,024.

What does the Tippett surname mean?

Derived from a Middle English occupational name for a maker or seller of tipets, a type of scarf or cape.

What does the Tippett map show?

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