NameCensus.

UK surname

Titman

An obsolete nickname for a small, insignificant person.

In the 1881 census there were 196 people recorded with the Titman surname, ranking it #13,006 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 204, ranked #19,320, down from #13,006 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Peterborough St John the Baptist and Newborough, Borough Fen. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Peterborough, Gravesham and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Titman is 295 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.1%.

1881 census count

196

Ranked #13,006

Modern count

204

2016, ranked #19,320

Peak year

1911

295 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Titman had 196 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,006 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 204 in 2016, ranked #19,320.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 295 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Titman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Titman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Titman 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 110 #16,093
1861 historical 110 #19,562
1881 historical 196 #13,006
1891 historical 187 #15,679
1901 historical 260 #12,817
1911 historical 295 #11,597
1997 modern 289 #13,859
1998 modern 294 #14,060
1999 modern 286 #14,412
2000 modern 279 #14,636
2001 modern 272 #14,654
2002 modern 280 #14,660
2003 modern 269 #14,855
2004 modern 263 #15,189
2005 modern 246 #15,802
2006 modern 243 #16,052
2007 modern 245 #16,134
2008 modern 234 #16,827
2009 modern 235 #17,151
2010 modern 233 #17,606
2011 modern 229 #17,633
2012 modern 222 #17,921
2013 modern 217 #18,493
2014 modern 212 #18,945
2015 modern 208 #19,085
2016 modern 204 #19,320

Geography

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Where Titmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Peterborough St John the Baptist, Newborough, Borough Fen, Sheffield and Ipswich St Mary Stoke. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Peterborough, Gravesham, Wiltshire, Coventry and Fenland. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Peterborough St John the Baptist Northamptonshire
3 Newborough, Borough Fen Northamptonshire
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Ipswich St Mary Stoke Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Peterborough 001 Peterborough
2 Gravesham 004 Gravesham
3 Wiltshire 012 Wiltshire
4 Coventry 025 Coventry
5 Fenland 006 Fenland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Titman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Titman

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

Titman is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Titman 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 Titman 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 Titman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Titman

The surname Titman is of English origin, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "tit," meaning a small horse or pony, and the suffix "-man," indicating an occupation or profession. The name likely referred to someone who worked with small horses, perhaps a groom or stable worker.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Titman can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire, a tax record from 1273, where it appears as "Tyteman." This spelling variation suggests that the name may have been initially pronounced with a long "i" sound.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where it is spelled "Tyteman," and the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1332, where it appears as "Tytemon."

During the late Middle Ages, the surname Titman was associated with several notable individuals. For instance, Robert Titman, born in 1412 in Nottinghamshire, was a prominent landowner and member of the gentry class. Another example is John Titman, who lived in Oxfordshire in the late 15th century and served as a local sheriff.

As the centuries passed, the surname continued to evolve, with variations such as "Tittman," "Tytman," and "Tyttman" appearing in various records. In the 16th century, the name was found in the Parish Records of Gloucestershire, where it was spelled "Tytman."

One notable bearer of the Titman surname was Thomas Titman, born in 1587 in Warwickshire. He was a respected scholar and theologian who authored several works on religious topics.

Another significant figure was William Titman, born in 1652 in Somerset. He was a successful merchant and landowner, and his descendants went on to establish themselves as prominent members of the local gentry.

In the 18th century, the surname Titman gained further recognition with the birth of John Titman (1720-1795) in Shropshire. He was a renowned painter and portraitist, whose works are still celebrated today.

Throughout its history, the surname Titman has been associated with various locations in England, including Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Somerset, and Shropshire, reflecting its widespread distribution across the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Titman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Titman 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. Northamptonshire leads with 89 Titmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.50x.

County Total Index
Northamptonshire 89 49.50x
Lincolnshire 26 8.51x
Middlesex 14 0.73x
Surrey 13 1.40x
Derbyshire 11 3.68x
Huntingdonshire 11 28.98x
Staffordshire 6 0.93x
Yorkshire 6 0.32x
Suffolk 5 2.15x
Lancashire 4 0.18x
Berkshire 2 1.39x
Hampshire 2 0.51x
Hertfordshire 2 1.52x
Bedfordshire 1 1.01x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.83x
Dorset 1 0.80x
Essex 1 0.27x
Kent 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Peterborough in Northamptonshire leads with 19 Titmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 145.93x.

Place Total Index
Peterborough 19 145.93x
Polebrook 19 6333.33x
Glinton 10 3846.15x
Gosberton 10 735.29x
Peakirk 9 5625.00x
Islington London 7 3.78x
Penge 7 57.33x
Sutton St Mary 7 242.21x
Abbots Ripton 6 2307.69x
Eckington 6 82.53x
Newborough 6 1304.35x
Wolverhampton 6 12.09x
Northborough 5 3571.43x
Tottenham 5 16.42x
Castleton 4 17.65x
Church Brampton 4 3333.33x
Ipswich St Margaret 4 50.63x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 3 17.00x
Bermondsey 3 5.27x
Croft 3 600.00x
Godmanchester 3 208.33x
Kettering 3 41.27x
Lambeth 3 1.80x
Langtoft 3 789.47x
Ripley 3 81.08x
Tichmarsh 3 491.80x
Wellingborough 3 33.19x
Benefield 2 645.16x
Chaddesden 2 500.00x
Kelmarsh 2 1428.57x
Market Rasen 2 116.96x
Millbrook 2 20.26x
Newbury 2 43.48x
Sheffield 2 3.32x
Weston 2 317.46x
Chiswick 1 9.57x
Colchester St Botolph 1 31.15x
Ecclesfield 1 7.20x
Eltisley 1 333.33x
Fletton 1 82.64x
Fulham London 1 3.61x
Great Grimsby 1 5.15x
Ipswich St Mathew 1 15.31x
Luton 1 5.83x
Lutton 1 833.33x
Northampton Priory St 1 9.27x
Oundle 1 49.75x
Paston 1 131.58x
Portland 1 14.81x
Ripton Kings 1 833.33x
Sevenoaks 1 18.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Elizabeth 10
Sarah 9
Alice 5
Emma 5
Ann 4
Harriet 4
Annie 3
Lucy 3
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Jane 2
Lydia 2
Matilda 2
Sophia 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Florance 1
Flroence 1
Frances 1
Georgeina 1
Gert. 1
Lavinia 1
Levenia 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Margt. 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Nelly 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rosina 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Titman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Titman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 196 people were recorded with the Titman surname. That placed it at #13,006 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Titman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 204 in 2016. That gives Titman a modern rank of #19,320.

What does the Titman surname mean?

An obsolete nickname for a small, insignificant person.

What does the Titman map show?

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