NameCensus.

UK surname

Tivey

A habitational surname derived from a place name in England.

In the 1881 census there were 312 people recorded with the Tivey surname, ranking it #9,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 564, ranked #9,103, up from #9,451 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ibstock, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and St Werburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Derbyshire, East Staffordshire and Newark and Sherwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tivey is 594 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 80.8%.

1881 census count

312

Ranked #9,451

Modern count

564

2016, ranked #9,103

Peak year

1998

594 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tivey had 312 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,451 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 564 in 2016, ranked #9,103.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 454 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tivey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tivey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tivey 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 217 #9,784
1861 historical 161 #14,392
1881 historical 312 #9,451
1891 historical 334 #10,198
1901 historical 425 #9,081
1911 historical 454 #8,445
1997 modern 551 #8,644
1998 modern 594 #8,456
1999 modern 586 #8,580
2000 modern 586 #8,542
2001 modern 562 #8,664
2002 modern 573 #8,710
2003 modern 564 #8,679
2004 modern 562 #8,721
2005 modern 546 #8,827
2006 modern 560 #8,706
2007 modern 563 #8,739
2008 modern 584 #8,591
2009 modern 575 #8,866
2010 modern 580 #8,999
2011 modern 577 #8,942
2012 modern 567 #8,971
2013 modern 578 #8,981
2014 modern 588 #8,936
2015 modern 577 #8,985
2016 modern 564 #9,103

Geography

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Where Tiveys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ibstock, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, St Werburgh, Sheepshead and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Derbyshire, East Staffordshire, Newark and Sherwood and Derby. 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 Ibstock Leicestershire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 St Werburgh Derbyshire
4 Sheepshead Leicestershire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Derbyshire 006 South Derbyshire
2 East Staffordshire 010 East Staffordshire
3 Newark and Sherwood 011 Newark and Sherwood
4 East Staffordshire 014 East Staffordshire
5 Derby 031 Derby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tivey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tivey

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

Tivey 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

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

Meaning and origin of Tivey

The surname Tivey is of English origin, with roots dating back to the late medieval period in the county of Somerset. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "tiv," meaning a small stream or rivulet. This suggests that the name may have been an occupational surname, referring to someone who lived near or worked on a small stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tivey can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset from 1327, where a John Tivey is mentioned. The spelling of the name varied in these early records, appearing as Tyveye, Tyvey, and Tivie, among others.

In the 16th century, the name Tivey was particularly concentrated in the Somerset parishes of Cheddar, Axbridge, and Compton Bishop. This suggests that the name may have originated in this region and then spread to other parts of the county and beyond.

One notable bearer of the Tivey name was William Tivey (c. 1580-1655), a merchant and landowner from Cheddar. He was a prominent figure in the local community and served as a churchwarden for the parish church.

Another early record of the name can be found in the Protestation Returns of 1641-1642, where a Thomas Tivey is listed as a resident of the parish of Axbridge.

In the 18th century, the Tivey name appeared in various parish records across Somerset, such as baptisms, marriages, and burials. One notable individual from this period was John Tivey (1738-1808), a farmer from the village of Compton Bishop.

The 19th century saw the Tivey name spread further across England, with records of the surname appearing in counties like Devon, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire. One notable figure was Elizabeth Tivey (1819-1896), a schoolteacher from the village of Whatley in Somerset.

Overall, the surname Tivey has a rich history deeply rooted in the Somerset region of England, with a possible occupational origin related to small streams or rivulets. While the name may have originated in a specific area, it eventually spread to other parts of the country, with bearers of the name contributing to various walks of life over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tivey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tivey 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. Derbyshire leads with 134 Tiveys recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.03x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 134 28.03x
Leicestershire 37 10.93x
Staffordshire 30 2.91x
Yorkshire 26 0.86x
Middlesex 23 0.75x
Nottinghamshire 21 5.10x
Worcestershire 11 2.76x
Lanarkshire 9 0.91x
Lancashire 8 0.22x
Somerset 4 0.81x
Hertfordshire 2 0.95x
Kent 2 0.19x
Sussex 2 0.39x
Warwickshire 2 0.26x
Gloucestershire 1 0.17x
Northamptonshire 1 0.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Melbourne in Derbyshire leads with 91 Tiveys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2782.87x.

Place Total Index
Melbourne 91 2782.87x
Derby St Werburgh 20 72.46x
Burton Upon Trent 16 66.36x
Sheffield 16 16.61x
Sheepshed 15 323.28x
Derby St Alkmund 11 76.76x
Dudley 11 22.69x
Carlton 10 212.77x
Barony 9 3.60x
Breedon On The Hill 9 882.35x
Hampstead London 8 16.82x
Clifton In York 7 110.58x
Derby St Peter 6 39.40x
Tutbury 6 239.04x
Whitwick 6 139.53x
Heather 5 1063.83x
Mile End Old Town 5 10.38x
Ardwick 4 12.24x
Bedminster 4 8.66x
Harborne 4 12.11x
Hulme 4 5.29x
Radford Lenton 4 392.16x
Bow London 3 7.72x
Doncaster 3 13.57x
Etwall 3 545.45x
Fulham London 3 6.78x
Radford 3 14.35x
St Anne Soho London 3 17.20x
Sutton Bonnington 3 285.71x
Aston 2 0.94x
Chapel En Le Frith 2 45.87x
Deptford St Nicholas 2 24.18x
Wormley 2 259.74x
Breedon 1 133.33x
Brighton 1 0.96x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 5.01x
Broadwater 1 8.47x
Burton Extra 1 16.92x
Canwell 1 2500.00x
Darlaston 1 7.02x
Hackney London 1 0.58x
Leicester St Mary 1 3.66x
Long Buckby 1 37.59x
Nottingham St Peter 1 21.79x
Tapton 1 526.32x
Wolstanton Chesterton 1 18.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 19
Mary 18
Ann 11
Elizabeth 10
Emma 9
Alice 6
Jane 6
Ada 5
Eliza 5
Emily 5
Fanny 5
Gertrude 4
Amelia 3
Catherine 3
Clara 3
Lydia 3
Martha 3
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Anne 2
Annie 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Kate 2
Lois 2
Louisa 2
Betsy 1
Constance 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizh. 1
Ellen 1
Esther 1
Francis 1
Harriet 1
Lillian 1
Lilly 1
Lily 1
Lissetta 1
Lizzie 1
Louise 1
Lucretia 1
M.E. 1
Maria 1
Marie 1
Nelly 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Sophia 1
Tamer 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 13
George 12
William 12
John 9
Charles 8
Alfred 7
Joseph 6
Arthur 5
James 5
Sidney 5
Frank 4
Frederick 4
Henry 4
Tom 4
Albert 3
Chas. 3
Edward 3
Leonard 3
Edwin 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Alma 1
Arnold 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Harry 1
Hy. 1
J.W. 1
Jim 1
Jos. 1
Louis 1
Matthew 1
Not 1
Philip 1
Reuben 1
Roland 1
Rostsleigh 1
Sonya 1
Sydney 1
Wallace 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Tivey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tivey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 312 people were recorded with the Tivey surname. That placed it at #9,451 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tivey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 564 in 2016. That gives Tivey a modern rank of #9,103.

What does the Tivey surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name in England.

What does the Tivey map show?

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