NameCensus.

UK surname

Titmus

Derived from a diminutive form of the given name Matthew or the surname Titmuss.

In the 1881 census there were 318 people recorded with the Titmus surname, ranking it #9,342 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 429, ranked #11,214, down from #9,342 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lilley, Croydon with Clapton and Pirton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire and North East Derbyshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Titmus is 472 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.9%.

1881 census count

318

Ranked #9,342

Modern count

429

2016, ranked #11,214

Peak year

2009

472 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Titmus had 318 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,342 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 429 in 2016, ranked #11,214.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 424 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Titmus surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Titmus surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Titmus 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 174 #11,590
1861 historical 114 #19,011
1881 historical 318 #9,342
1891 historical 310 #10,812
1901 historical 423 #9,113
1911 historical 424 #8,905
1997 modern 451 #10,049
1998 modern 459 #10,250
1999 modern 446 #10,513
2000 modern 448 #10,477
2001 modern 436 #10,500
2002 modern 459 #10,264
2003 modern 442 #10,434
2004 modern 433 #10,644
2005 modern 423 #10,713
2006 modern 438 #10,469
2007 modern 444 #10,445
2008 modern 456 #10,306
2009 modern 472 #10,286
2010 modern 468 #10,550
2011 modern 463 #10,551
2012 modern 433 #10,996
2013 modern 449 #10,850
2014 modern 442 #11,057
2015 modern 436 #11,099
2016 modern 429 #11,214

Geography

Back to top

Where Titmus' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lilley, Croydon with Clapton, Pirton, Gamlingay and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire, North East Derbyshire, Denbighshire and Luton. 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 Lilley Hertfordshire
2 Croydon with Clapton Cambridgeshire
3 Pirton Hertfordshire
4 Gamlingay Cambridgeshire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Cambridgeshire 013 South Cambridgeshire
2 Central Bedfordshire 003 Central Bedfordshire
3 North East Derbyshire 012 North East Derbyshire
4 Denbighshire 004 Denbighshire
5 Luton 020 Luton

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Titmus

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Titmus

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Titmus is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Titmus 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

Titmus falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Titmus

The surname Titmus is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "tit" and "mus," which translate to "small bird" and "mouse," respectively. This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a nickname for someone who was small or quick, like a bird or a mouse.

The earliest known record of the Titmus surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this document, the name appears as "Titmouse," which provides further evidence of its etymological origins.

During the 13th century, the name began to appear in various records with slightly different spellings, such as "Tytmous" and "Tytmuse." These variations likely reflect the local dialects and scribal practices of the time.

One of the earliest known individuals with the Titmus surname was John Tytmouse, who was born in the village of Bromley, Kent, around 1320. He was a farmer and landowner, and his name appears in several local records from that period.

In the 16th century, the Titmus surname spread beyond its initial geographic origins in Kent and became more widely dispersed throughout England. Notable individuals from this era include William Titmouse (c. 1520 - 1587), a merchant and alderman in the city of London, and Robert Titmus (c. 1560 - 1635), a clergyman and author from Oxfordshire.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Titmus surname continued to be found in various parts of England, with several individuals achieving notable accomplishments. For example, Edward Titmus (1638 - 1707) was a renowned mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics.

Another noteworthy figure was Sir John Titmus (1712 - 1795), a British naval officer who played a crucial role in several battles during the American Revolutionary War. He rose through the ranks to become an Admiral of the Red and was knighted for his distinguished service.

In the 19th century, the Titmus name gained further prominence with individuals such as Charles Titmus (1808 - 1882), a prominent industrialist and philanthropist from Yorkshire, and Mary Titmus (1842 - 1921), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights.

Throughout its history, the Titmus surname has been associated with various place names and locations across England, including Titmus Hill in Kent, Titmus Farm in Oxfordshire, and the village of Titmus Green in Buckinghamshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Titmus families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Titmus 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. Hertfordshire leads with 123 Titmus' recorded in 1881 and an index of 57.71x.

County Total Index
Hertfordshire 123 57.71x
Middlesex 62 2.00x
Warwickshire 50 6.41x
Surrey 19 1.26x
Huntingdonshire 13 21.17x
Bedfordshire 12 7.49x
Berkshire 9 3.88x
Cambridgeshire 7 3.57x
Essex 6 0.98x
Derbyshire 5 1.03x
Kent 4 0.38x
Lancashire 2 0.05x
Norfolk 2 0.42x
Hampshire 1 0.16x
Westmorland 1 1.47x
Worcestershire 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Pirton in Hertfordshire leads with 56 Titmus' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4666.67x.

Place Total Index
Pirton 56 4666.67x
Birmingham 28 10.77x
Islington London 25 8.34x
Ickleford 17 2833.33x
Welwyn 15 810.81x
Eynesbury 12 845.07x
Elmdon 10 4545.45x
North Mimms 10 746.27x
St Pancras London 10 4.02x
Richmond 9 42.63x
St Albans St Michael 9 378.15x
Reading St Giles 8 35.13x
Aston 7 3.26x
Bromley London 7 10.29x
Croydon 7 8.37x
Gamlingay 7 343.14x
Offley 7 503.60x
Clophill 6 512.82x
Leyton Low 6 48.35x
Luton 6 21.65x
Chesterfield 5 27.55x
Hitchin 5 51.98x
Solihull 5 89.13x
Bethnal Green London 4 2.98x
St Luke London 4 8.06x
Hampstead London 3 6.23x
St Anne Soho London 3 16.99x
Great Amwell 2 93.46x
Great Yarmouth 2 5.08x
Hackney London 2 1.15x
Lewisham 2 3.55x
Penge 2 10.13x
Tottenham 2 4.06x
Beetham 1 95.24x
Burnley 1 3.24x
Holdenhurst 1 6.02x
Hougham 1 15.95x
Lambeth 1 0.37x
Lower Mitton 1 28.09x
Rainham 1 34.48x
Reading St Mary 1 5.38x
St Andrew Holborn 1 9.54x
St George Bloomsbury 1 5.64x
St Neots 1 29.94x
St Paul Walden 1 92.59x
Stevenage 1 30.30x
Thornton In Fylde 1 12.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Charles 22
William 21
George 19
John 14
Thomas 9
Arthur 8
Frederick 6
James 6
Henry 5
Robert 4
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Joseph 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Daniel 2
David 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Alf. 1
Alfred 1
Algeinon 1
Archibald 1
Arthure 1
Christopher 1
Earnest 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Fred 1
Gabriel 1
Horace 1
Jacob 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Mathew 1
Norman 1
Owen 1
Ralph 1
Rowland 1
Willm.B. 1

FAQ

Titmus surname: questions and answers

How common was the Titmus surname in 1881?

In 1881, 318 people were recorded with the Titmus surname. That placed it at #9,342 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Titmus surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 429 in 2016. That gives Titmus a modern rank of #11,214.

What does the Titmus surname mean?

Derived from a diminutive form of the given name Matthew or the surname Titmuss.

What does the Titmus map show?

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