UK surname
A surname derived from the occupational name referring to a tombstone carver or mason.
In the 1881 census there were 26 people recorded with the Tomblinson surname, ranking it #29,911 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #29,911 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth, Measham and Bicker. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tomblinson is 136 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 73.1%.
1881 census count
26
Ranked #29,911
Modern count
7
2016, ranked #37,967
Peak year
1861
136 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Tomblinson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Tomblinson surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 48 | #24,615 |
| 1861 | historical | 136 | #16,556 |
| 1881 | historical | 26 | #29,911 |
| 1891 | historical | 116 | #21,766 |
| 1901 | historical | 44 | #29,276 |
| 1911 | historical | 33 | #29,703 |
| 1997 | modern | 10 | #37,060 |
| 1998 | modern | 12 | #36,790 |
| 1999 | modern | 10 | #37,072 |
| 2000 | modern | 10 | #37,001 |
| 2001 | modern | 10 | #36,852 |
| 2002 | modern | 10 | #36,902 |
| 2003 | modern | 9 | #37,101 |
| 2004 | modern | 9 | #37,213 |
| 2005 | modern | 7 | #37,581 |
| 2006 | modern | 7 | #37,634 |
| 2007 | modern | 7 | #37,687 |
| 2008 | modern | 7 | #37,735 |
| 2009 | modern | 8 | #37,689 |
| 2010 | modern | 9 | #37,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 9 | #37,598 |
| 2012 | modern | 7 | #37,854 |
| 2013 | modern | 7 | #37,909 |
| 2014 | modern | 7 | #37,929 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 7 | #37,967 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth, Measham, Bicker, Budworth, Great and Sibsey, Carrington, West Ville, Thornton-le-Fen, Langrick Ville, Silt Pits, Frith Ville, Rowlands Ma. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth | Cambridgeshire |
| 2 | Measham | Leicestershire |
| 3 | Bicker | Lincolnshire |
| 4 | Budworth, Great | Cheshire |
| 5 | Sibsey, Carrington, West Ville, Thornton-le-Fen, Langrick Ville, Silt Pits, Frith Ville, Rowlands Ma | Lincolnshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Tomblinson surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tomblinson, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Tomblinson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Tomblinson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Tomblinson is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tomblinson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Tomblinson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Tomblinson is of English origin, originating in the medieval period around the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "tun" meaning enclosure or settlement, and "blin" meaning a small hill or slope, combined with the patronymic suffix "-son" indicating "son of." Thus, the name likely referred to someone who lived near a small hill or slope near a settlement.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which mentions a John Tunblineson. This suggests that the name was present in the eastern regions of England during the late 13th century.
In the 14th century, records show variations of the spelling such as Tunblynson and Tonblynson, reflecting the fluidity of surname spellings during that era. The name may have evolved from a place name, perhaps referring to a specific location with a small hill near a settlement.
The Tomblinson surname is also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379, indicating its presence in the northern regions of England during the late medieval period.
One notable bearer of the name was Sir William Tomblinson, a member of the landed gentry in Gloucestershire, England, who lived from 1612 to 1681. He served as a Member of Parliament for the Borough of Westbury during the English Civil War.
Another early figure was John Tomblinson, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol, who lived from 1652 to 1717. He played a significant role in the city's trade and commerce during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
In the 18th century, the name appears in various parish records across England, indicating its continued presence in different regions. For example, the baptismal records of St. Mary's Church in Whittington, Shropshire, mention a Thomas Tomblinson born in 1720.
A notable bearer of the name in the 19th century was William Tomblinson, a renowned architect and civil engineer who lived from 1810 to 1888. He designed several significant buildings and structures in London, including the Euston Arch and the Holborn Viaduct.
Another notable figure was Mary Tomblinson, a prominent philanthropist and social reformer who lived from 1845 to 1922. She dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of the poor and advocating for women's rights in Manchester, England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tomblinson surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cheshire leads with 7 Tomblinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.50x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cheshire | 7 | 12.50x |
| Lincolnshire | 6 | 14.80x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 1.97x |
| Cambridgeshire | 3 | 18.68x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 3.50x |
| Cardiganshire | 1 | 16.16x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 2.01x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Castle Northwich in Cheshire leads with 6 Tomblinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3157.89x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Castle Northwich | 6 | 3157.89x |
| Chelsea London | 5 | 65.45x |
| Sibsey | 4 | 4444.44x |
| Kingswinford | 3 | 96.46x |
| Manea | 3 | 3000.00x |
| Kirton | 2 | 1250.00x |
| Antrobus | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Cow Honeybourne | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Llanddewi Aberarth | 1 | 833.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Tomblinson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Tomblinson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Tomblinson households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Agr Labr | 2 |
| Brickmaker Employing 3 Men | 1 |
| Butcher Unemployed | 1 |
| Clogger | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Farm Serv | 1 |
| Lab | 1 |
| Labour Gen | 1 |
| Labours Wife | 1 |
| Labs Wife | 1 |
| Salt Maker | 1 |
| Salt Makers Wife | 1 |
| School Mistress | 1 |
| Schoolmaster | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 26 people were recorded with the Tomblinson surname. That placed it at #29,911 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Tomblinson a modern rank of #37,967.
A surname derived from the occupational name referring to a tombstone carver or mason.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Tomblinson bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.