NameCensus.

UK surname

Tipple

A surname derived from the word "tipple," meaning to drink alcoholic beverages habitually or excessively.

In the 1881 census there were 426 people recorded with the Tipple surname, ranking it #7,620 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 684, ranked #7,836, down from #7,620 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Castle Cary, Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) and Rudham, East. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waveney, Breckland and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tipple is 772 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 60.6%.

1881 census count

426

Ranked #7,620

Modern count

684

2016, ranked #7,836

Peak year

1999

772 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tipple had 426 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,620 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 684 in 2016, ranked #7,836.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 698 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tipple surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tipple surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tipple 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 262 #8,456
1861 historical 251 #9,830
1881 historical 426 #7,620
1891 historical 488 #7,581
1901 historical 545 #7,575
1911 historical 698 #6,092
1997 modern 730 #7,011
1998 modern 757 #7,041
1999 modern 772 #6,985
2000 modern 747 #7,124
2001 modern 727 #7,146
2002 modern 725 #7,308
2003 modern 714 #7,261
2004 modern 693 #7,463
2005 modern 697 #7,380
2006 modern 674 #7,591
2007 modern 674 #7,666
2008 modern 686 #7,600
2009 modern 718 #7,499
2010 modern 712 #7,679
2011 modern 709 #7,627
2012 modern 685 #7,732
2013 modern 687 #7,855
2014 modern 702 #7,756
2015 modern 685 #7,854
2016 modern 684 #7,836

Geography

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Where Tipples are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Castle Cary, Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Rudham, East, London parishes and St James Clerkenwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waveney, Breckland, Leeds and Northumberland. 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 Castle Cary Somerset
2 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
3 Rudham, East Norfolk
4 London parishes London 3
5 St James Clerkenwell London (Central Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waveney 011 Waveney
2 Breckland 014 Breckland
3 Waveney 010 Waveney
4 Leeds 092 Leeds
5 Northumberland 008 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tipple

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tipple

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Tipple surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Tipple 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Tipple is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tipple 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

Tipple falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Tipple

The surname Tipple is believed to have originated in England, possibly in the 14th or 15th century. It is thought to be derived from the Middle English word "tipelen," which meant "to tipple" or drink alcoholic beverages. This suggests that the name may have been initially applied as a nickname to someone who was known for their fondness for drinking or working in a tavern or ale house.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tipple can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1524, which mention a John Typyll. It's likely that the name was initially spelled in various ways, such as Typyll, Typpell, or Tippill, before the modern spelling of Tipple became standardized.

In the 16th century, the name appears in several records, including the Parish Registers of St. Dunstan's in Stepney, London, which mention a Joane Typell in 1569. Additionally, the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Wiltshire from 1576 include a reference to a William Typell.

The Visitation of Oxfordshire in 1634 mentions a George Tipple, indicating that the name had spread to other parts of England by that time. Another notable figure was John Tipple, who was born in Chard, Somerset, in 1679 and became a respected clergyman in the Church of England.

In the 18th century, the name can be found in various parts of England, such as Yorkshire, where a George Tipple was born in Beverley in 1726. Another notable bearer of the name was John Tipple, a renowned artist and engraver from London, who lived from 1736 to 1803.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Tipple was Sir John Tipple, a British diplomat and civil servant who served as the Governor of Bombay from 1847 to 1853. He was born in Gloucestershire in 1792 and played a significant role in the administration of British India.

Other notable figures throughout history include William Tipple (1830-1910), a prominent engineer and inventor from Yorkshire; Elizabeth Tipple (1861-1945), a pioneer in women's education in the United States; and James Tipple (1871-1952), a respected theologian and author from Ohio.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tipple families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tipple 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. Norfolk leads with 95 Tipples recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.83x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 95 14.83x
Suffolk 68 13.40x
Middlesex 51 1.22x
Yorkshire 36 0.87x
Surrey 35 1.72x
Essex 22 2.68x
Kent 22 1.55x
Somerset 20 2.98x
Bedfordshire 14 6.49x
Derbyshire 13 1.99x
Cheshire 9 0.98x
Lincolnshire 7 1.05x
Warwickshire 7 0.67x
Lancashire 6 0.12x
Durham 5 0.40x
Hampshire 4 0.47x
Devon 3 0.35x
Leicestershire 2 0.43x
Berkshire 1 0.32x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.38x
Gloucestershire 1 0.12x
Hertfordshire 1 0.35x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.18x
Royal Navy 1 2.01x
Staffordshire 1 0.07x
Sussex 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newington in Surrey leads with 21 Tipples recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.65x.

Place Total Index
Newington 21 13.65x
Castle Cary 18 616.44x
Brightside Bierlow 14 17.29x
Honington 14 3333.33x
Bardwell 13 1203.70x
East Rudham 13 1150.44x
Clerkenwell London 12 12.21x
West Ham 12 6.61x
Clenchwarton 11 1157.89x
Guist 11 1964.29x
Holy Trinity 11 11.08x
Rochester St Margaret 10 66.71x
Ashover 9 276.92x
Aspley Guise 9 436.89x
Cheadle 9 51.25x
Grays Thurrock 9 117.80x
Sapiston 9 2432.43x
Bethnal Green London 8 4.42x
Bungay Holy Trinity 8 307.69x
Stoke Ferry 8 824.74x
Bedworth 7 91.26x
Castle Acre 7 368.42x
Palgrave 7 654.21x
Quarrington 7 1346.15x
Swanton Abbott 7 972.22x
Thornham 7 752.69x
Diss 6 109.29x
Formby 6 107.14x
Islington London 6 1.49x
Terrington St Clement 6 207.61x
Barningham 5 833.33x
Biggleswade 5 70.82x
Bermondsey 4 3.23x
Chesterfield 4 16.36x
Croydon 4 3.55x
Hindolveston 4 425.53x
Lambeth 4 1.10x
Northfleet 4 31.95x
Poplar London 4 5.09x
Skelton In Guisbrough 4 35.81x
Whitechapel London 4 9.74x
Wortley In Bramley 4 12.24x
Deptford St Paul 3 2.74x
Houghton Le Spring 3 35.01x
Icklingham 3 491.80x
Kensington London 3 1.30x
St George Hanover 3 5.52x
St Pancras London 3 0.89x
Swanscombe 3 47.02x
Almsford 2 476.19x
Cringleford 2 625.00x
Ditchingham 2 130.72x
Plymouth Charles The 2 5.24x
South Cove 2 909.09x
St George Martyr 2 28.49x
Stranton 2 4.79x
Thorpe By Ixworth 2 952.38x
Wortham 2 147.06x
Alverstoke 1 3.24x
Chelsea London 1 0.80x
Devonport 1 10.04x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 1.19x
Eye 1 30.49x
Felmingham 1 178.57x
Hastings St Mary 1 5.72x
Heigham 1 2.91x
Hursley 1 50.51x
Lowestoft 1 4.17x
Maltby In Rotherham 1 86.96x
North Walsham 1 21.65x
Portsea 1 0.60x
South Stoneham 1 5.40x
Southwark St Olave 1 31.45x
St Albans 1 17.01x
Steeple Bumpstead 1 66.23x
Stibbard 1 149.25x
Thurgarton 1 303.03x
Tuttington 1 357.14x
Woking 1 8.18x
Woolwich 1 1.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Elizabeth 16
Sarah 12
Eliza 9
Emma 8
Alice 7
Jane 7
Annie 6
Emily 6
Anna 5
Ann 4
Caroline 4
Charlotte 4
Ellen 4
Fanny 4
Hannah 4
Harriett 4
Eleanor 3
Esther 3
Florence 3
Harriet 3
Kate 3
Martha 3
Adelaide 2
Beatrice 2
Georgina 2
Isabella 2
Louisa 2
Marian 2
Maude 2
Minnie 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Agnes 1
Bessie 1
Blanch 1
Blanche 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Eleana 1
Elizth. 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Harott 1
Ida 1
Iseblla 1
Ivy 1
Johana 1
Julia 1
Zillah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 25
John 20
George 18
James 15
Thomas 15
Charles 11
Alfred 9
Robert 8
Edward 7
Frank 6
Frederick 5
Henry 5
Walter 5
Ernest 4
Arthur 3
David 3
Edwin 3
Harry 3
Horace 3
Fred 2
Frederic 2
Herbert 2
Leonard 2
Robt. 2
Wm. 2
Archibald 1
Azariah 1
Caleb 1
Earnest 1
Ebenezer 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Howes 1
Hudson 1
Isaac 1
Jasper 1
Jeremiah 1
Jno 1
Johathan 1
Jonah 1
Joseph 1
Mortimer 1
Ollie 1
Otley 1
Patrick 1
R.H. 1
Raynor 1
Richard 1
Robart 1

FAQ

Tipple surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tipple surname in 1881?

In 1881, 426 people were recorded with the Tipple surname. That placed it at #7,620 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tipple surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 684 in 2016. That gives Tipple a modern rank of #7,836.

What does the Tipple surname mean?

A surname derived from the word "tipple," meaning to drink alcoholic beverages habitually or excessively.

What does the Tipple map show?

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