NameCensus.

UK surname

Titcomb

A locational surname referring to someone living near a titmouse's hollow or treetop dwelling.

In the 1881 census there were 326 people recorded with the Titcomb surname, ranking it #9,167 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 226, ranked #18,044, down from #9,167 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Swindon, Lyddington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stratford-on-Avon, South Somerset and West Oxfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Titcomb is 382 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 30.7%.

1881 census count

326

Ranked #9,167

Modern count

226

2016, ranked #18,044

Peak year

1911

382 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Titcomb had 326 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,167 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 226 in 2016, ranked #18,044.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 382 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Titcomb surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Titcomb surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Titcomb 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 351 #6,715
1861 historical 207 #11,687
1881 historical 326 #9,167
1891 historical 310 #10,812
1901 historical 329 #10,927
1911 historical 382 #9,615
1997 modern 238 #15,760
1998 modern 268 #14,978
1999 modern 263 #15,267
2000 modern 263 #15,228
2001 modern 264 #14,958
2002 modern 253 #15,677
2003 modern 251 #15,563
2004 modern 250 #15,695
2005 modern 244 #15,900
2006 modern 233 #16,560
2007 modern 228 #16,984
2008 modern 231 #16,973
2009 modern 226 #17,587
2010 modern 238 #17,323
2011 modern 228 #17,673
2012 modern 227 #17,630
2013 modern 238 #17,354
2014 modern 233 #17,707
2015 modern 232 #17,689
2016 modern 226 #18,044

Geography

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Where Titcombs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Swindon, Lyddington, London parishes, Lydiard Tregoz and Shrivenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stratford-on-Avon, South Somerset, West Oxfordshire, Basingstoke and Deane and Waverley. 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 Swindon, Lyddington Wiltshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 Lydiard Tregoz Wiltshire
5 Shrivenham Berkshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stratford-on-Avon 008 Stratford-on-Avon
2 South Somerset 008 South Somerset
3 West Oxfordshire 003 West Oxfordshire
4 Basingstoke and Deane 004 Basingstoke and Deane
5 Waverley 007 Waverley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Titcomb

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Titcomb

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Titcomb, 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 Titcomb surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Titcomb 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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Titcomb is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Titcomb is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Titcomb falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Titcomb

The surname Titcomb is an English locational name that originated in the county of Somerset, England, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "tit" meaning a small hill or tumulus, and "cumb" meaning a valley or hollow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Titecome." This entry refers to a place in Somerset, suggesting that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name was also recorded as "Tytecumbe" and "Tittecombe," reflecting regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. These variations likely arose from the geographic distribution of the name, as families bearing the surname spread across different parts of Somerset and neighboring counties.

One notable early bearer of the name was Robert Titcomb, who was born in Taunton, Somerset, around 1580. He served as a Member of Parliament for Taunton during the reign of King Charles I.

Another prominent figure was John Titcomb, born in 1621 in Taunton, Somerset. He was a renowned Puritan minister and author, known for his work "The Folly of Idolatry and Profaneness," published in 1681.

In the 17th century, the name also appeared in the New World, as some Titcomb families emigrated from England to the American colonies. For instance, Jonathan Titcomb, born in 1628 in Newbury, Massachusetts, was one of the early settlers in the region.

During the 18th century, the Titcomb name was found in various parts of England, with concentrations in Somerset, Dorset, and Devon. One notable figure from this period was Thomas Titcomb, born in 1757 in Devon, who served as a naval officer during the American Revolutionary War.

In the 19th century, the Titcomb family continued to spread across England and beyond. One notable individual was John Titcomb, born in 1803 in Taunton, Somerset, who became a successful businessman and philanthropist, contributing to the establishment of several educational institutions in his hometown.

Throughout its history, the surname Titcomb has been associated with various occupations, including agriculture, military service, religious leadership, and entrepreneurship. Its enduring presence in regions like Somerset and neighboring counties reflects the deep roots of this locational name in the English countryside.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Titcomb families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Titcomb 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. Wiltshire leads with 129 Titcombs recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.73x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 129 45.73x
Berkshire 64 26.73x
Middlesex 40 1.25x
Oxfordshire 35 17.77x
Gloucestershire 11 1.76x
Sussex 11 2.05x
Warwickshire 11 1.37x
Dorset 9 4.30x
Surrey 5 0.32x
Staffordshire 4 0.37x
Essex 2 0.32x
Bedfordshire 1 0.61x
Lancashire 1 0.03x
Monmouthshire 1 0.43x
Royal Navy 1 2.63x
Worcestershire 1 0.24x
Yorkshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Highworth in Wiltshire leads with 33 Titcombs recorded in 1881 and an index of 914.13x.

Place Total Index
Highworth 33 914.13x
Shrivenham 27 2268.91x
Purton 25 996.02x
Wanborough 17 1770.83x
Witney 13 395.14x
Woolstone 12 5454.55x
Aston 11 4.97x
Enstone 11 909.09x
Liddiard Tregooze 11 1527.78x
Stratton St Margaret 10 230.95x
Canford Magna 9 743.80x
Brighton 8 7.37x
Hammersmith London 8 10.18x
Kensington London 8 4.51x
Swindon 8 36.56x
Great Faringdon 7 203.49x
Littlemore 7 1296.30x
Reading St Giles 7 29.80x
Ashton Keynes 6 571.43x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 5 87.72x
Marlborough St Mary Virgin 5 251.26x
Box 4 165.98x
Brinkworth 4 314.96x
Bristol St Augustine 4 39.60x
Newbury 4 52.15x
Sandon 4 714.29x
St George Hanover 4 9.61x
Westminster St 4 34.01x
Whitechapel London 4 12.72x
Hove 3 12.71x
St George Martyr 3 55.76x
Wootton Bassett 3 122.45x
Avebury 2 253.16x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.44x
Burford 2 116.96x
Charlbury 2 90.50x
Clewer 2 20.39x
Dorking 2 19.16x
Leyton 2 18.43x
Paddington London 2 1.71x
Reading St Mary 2 10.43x
St George In East 2 9.22x
Stroud 2 16.43x
Wantage 2 52.36x
Acton 1 5.35x
Aighton Bailey 1 54.95x
Chelsham 1 204.08x
Chepstow 1 25.45x
Felmersham 1 185.19x
Islington London 1 0.32x
Kings Norton 1 2.68x
Kingston On Thames 1 2.68x
Liddiard Millicent 1 103.09x
Royal Navy 1 3.08x
Sandhurst 1 21.55x
Spitalfields London 1 4.17x
Walton On Thames 1 14.01x
Wickersley 1 114.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Elizabeth 9
Ellen 9
Alice 8
Jane 7
Sarah 7
Annie 5
Emily 5
Emma 5
Martha 5
Ann 4
Charlotte 4
Clara 4
Hannah 4
Eliza 3
Fanny 3
Margaret 3
Minnie 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Caroline 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Sophia 2
Beatrice 1
Belinda 1
Bertha 1
Dianna 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Elsie 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Eveline 1
Florence 1
George 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Infant 1
Isabella 1
Laura 1
Letty 1
Linda 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Marline 1
Matilda 1
Miriam 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 22
John 19
Thomas 17
Charles 11
George 10
Albert 9
James 8
Edward 5
Henry 5
Ralph 5
Richard 5
Walter 5
Arthur 4
Edwin 4
Joseph 4
David 3
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Austin 1
Caleb 1
Cornelius 1
Dolphus 1
Edmund 1
Eli 1
Elijah 1
Emanuel 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredk.H. 1
Herbert 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Lawence 1
Leonard 1
Mark 1
Percy 1
Reginald 1
Reuben 1
Samuel 1
Sarah 1
Sidney 1
Simeon 1
Tom 1
W.R. 1
Willm.A.E. 1
Willm.H. 1
Willm.Herbert 1

FAQ

Titcomb surname: questions and answers

How common was the Titcomb surname in 1881?

In 1881, 326 people were recorded with the Titcomb surname. That placed it at #9,167 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Titcomb surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 226 in 2016. That gives Titcomb a modern rank of #18,044.

What does the Titcomb surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone living near a titmouse's hollow or treetop dwelling.

What does the Titcomb map show?

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