NameCensus.

UK surname

Tompkin

An English surname originally denoting someone from the town of Thomkin, derived from the given name Thomas.

In the 1881 census there were 219 people recorded with the Tompkin surname, ranking it #12,122 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 200, ranked #19,591, down from #12,122 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, Whitmore and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North West Leicestershire and West Oxfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tompkin is 306 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 8.7%.

1881 census count

219

Ranked #12,122

Modern count

200

2016, ranked #19,591

Peak year

1911

306 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tompkin had 219 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,122 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 200 in 2016, ranked #19,591.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 306 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Tompkin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tompkin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tompkin 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 105 #16,618
1861 historical 230 #10,611
1881 historical 219 #12,122
1891 historical 299 #11,140
1901 historical 239 #13,489
1911 historical 306 #11,281
1997 modern 208 #17,219
1998 modern 227 #16,754
1999 modern 229 #16,744
2000 modern 229 #16,695
2001 modern 218 #17,017
2002 modern 227 #16,877
2003 modern 210 #17,559
2004 modern 213 #17,492
2005 modern 201 #18,080
2006 modern 207 #17,892
2007 modern 207 #18,080
2008 modern 212 #17,950
2009 modern 221 #17,848
2010 modern 235 #17,477
2011 modern 221 #18,039
2012 modern 210 #18,604
2013 modern 210 #18,932
2014 modern 206 #19,318
2015 modern 205 #19,269
2016 modern 200 #19,591

Geography

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Where Tompkins are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to North West Leicestershire and West Oxfordshire. 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
2 Whitmore Staffordshire
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Blaby Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North West Leicestershire 007 North West Leicestershire
2 North West Leicestershire 010 North West Leicestershire
3 West Oxfordshire 004 West Oxfordshire
4 West Oxfordshire 005 West Oxfordshire
5 North West Leicestershire 005 North West Leicestershire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tompkin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tompkin

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tompkin, 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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Tompkin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Tompkin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Tompkin is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Tompkin 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

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

Meaning and origin of Tompkin

The surname Tompkin is of English origin, derived from the medieval given name "Thomkin." This is a diminutive form of the name Thomas, combined with the diminutive suffix "-kin." The name Thomas is derived from the Aramaic name "Toma," meaning "twin." The earliest recorded instances of the surname Tompkin date back to the 13th century in various counties of England, such as Essex, Somerset, and Kent.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Tompkin appeared in various historical records, including the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which list a John Thompekyn in Oxfordshire. The Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327 mention a William Thompkyn, and the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1381 record a John Tompkyn.

In the 16th century, the surname Tompkin was found in various spellings, such as Thompkyn, Tompkyn, and Tompkins. One notable bearer of the name was Roger Tompkins (c. 1540-1603), an English lawyer and member of the Parliament of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

The 17th century saw the emergence of several noteworthy individuals with the surname Tompkin. Daniel Tompkins (1619-1681) was an English clergyman and author who served as a chaplain to King Charles II. Nathaniel Tompkins (1644-1718) was an English mathematician and astronomer who published works on navigation and astronomy.

In the 18th century, the surname Tompkin continued to be prominent. Daniel D. Tompkins (1774-1825) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 6th Vice President of the United States under James Monroe. Another notable figure was David Tompkins (1793-1846), an American naval officer and explorer who led expeditions to the South Pacific.

As the surname Tompkin spread across different regions, it also developed variations in spelling, such as Tomkins, Tompkyns, and Thompkins. These variations often reflected local dialects and pronunciation patterns.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tompkin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tompkin 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. Leicestershire leads with 44 Tompkins recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.58x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 44 18.58x
Yorkshire 38 1.80x
Staffordshire 30 4.16x
Nottinghamshire 25 8.68x
Middlesex 20 0.94x
Surrey 15 1.44x
Kent 12 1.65x
Northamptonshire 8 3.98x
Bedfordshire 7 6.33x
Herefordshire 5 5.71x
Buckinghamshire 3 2.32x
Cumberland 2 1.09x
Derbyshire 2 0.60x
Lancashire 2 0.08x
Oxfordshire 2 1.52x
Shropshire 1 0.54x
Sussex 1 0.28x
Warwickshire 1 0.19x
Worcestershire 1 0.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Countesthorpe in Leicestershire leads with 17 Tompkins recorded in 1881 and an index of 2098.77x.

Place Total Index
Countesthorpe 17 2098.77x
Nottingham St Mary 15 20.14x
Whitmore 15 7894.74x
Leicester St Mary 11 57.50x
Brightside Bierlow 10 24.08x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 10 387.60x
Leicester Newarke 9 731.71x
Kimberworth 8 68.09x
Northampton All Sts 8 117.30x
Sheffield 8 11.87x
Bermondsey 7 11.01x
Camberwell 6 4.40x
St Pancras London 6 3.49x
Wolstanton Chesterton 6 162.60x
Houghton Regis 5 284.09x
Leicester St Margaret 5 8.66x
Northfleet 5 77.88x
Swynnerton 5 877.19x
Tonbridge 5 19.02x
Weobley 5 769.23x
Isleworth 4 42.11x
Willesden 4 19.86x
Basford 3 22.61x
Chesham 3 63.03x
Kensington London 3 2.53x
Mucklestone 3 434.78x
Radford 3 20.51x
Clophill 2 246.91x
Deptford St Nicholas 2 34.60x
Lambeth 2 1.07x
Littlemore 2 555.56x
Snenton 2 17.68x
St George Hanover 2 7.17x
Worksop 2 23.42x
Bow London 1 3.68x
Burton Upon Trent 1 5.93x
Cleator 1 13.07x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 2.32x
Frant 1 39.22x
Leicester All Sts 1 21.51x
Ludlow St Lawrence 1 27.25x
Norton 1 36.23x
Oldham 1 1.22x
Pickwell Leesthorpe 1 555.56x
Preston Quarter 1 19.42x
Rothwell 1 23.36x
Tanworth 1 70.42x
Wardleworth 1 6.90x
Whitwell 1 75.19x
Worcester All Sts 1 61.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Elizabeth 9
Sarah 7
Alice 6
Ann 5
Annie 4
Eliza 3
Emma 3
Fanny 3
Harriett 3
Jane 3
Ada 2
Anne 2
Caroline 2
Emily 2
Florence 2
Kate 2
Lizzie 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Minnie 2
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Civill 1
Clara 1
E.A. 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elezabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Ethel 1
Harriet 1
Hester 1
Julia 1
Lois 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
May 1
Milliceant 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Sarahann 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 24
John 18
George 13
James 7
Samuel 7
Henry 6
Alfred 4
Robert 4
Thomas 4
Walter 4
Benjamin 2
Harry 2
Leonard 2
Albert 1
Ambrose 1
Aurther 1
Bernard 1
Charles 1
Earnest 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
G.H. 1
Geoge 1
Horice 1
Johnson 1
Joseph 1
Michael 1
Richard 1
Septimus 1
Thos.H.J. 1
Timothy 1
Willm 1
Wm.G. 1

FAQ

Tompkin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tompkin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 219 people were recorded with the Tompkin surname. That placed it at #12,122 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tompkin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 200 in 2016. That gives Tompkin a modern rank of #19,591.

What does the Tompkin surname mean?

An English surname originally denoting someone from the town of Thomkin, derived from the given name Thomas.

What does the Tompkin map show?

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