NameCensus.

UK surname

Tompsett

A variant spelling of the English surname Tompson, meaning "son of Thomas".

In the 1881 census there were 509 people recorded with the Tompsett surname, ranking it #6,690 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 618, ranked #8,511, down from #6,690 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes and Brenchley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ashford, North Devon and Maidstone.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tompsett is 733 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.4%.

1881 census count

509

Ranked #6,690

Modern count

618

2016, ranked #8,511

Peak year

1998

733 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tompsett had 509 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,690 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 618 in 2016, ranked #8,511.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 678 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tompsett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tompsett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tompsett 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 276 #8,128
1861 historical 278 #8,998
1881 historical 509 #6,690
1891 historical 475 #7,734
1901 historical 584 #7,219
1911 historical 678 #6,231
1997 modern 718 #7,109
1998 modern 733 #7,229
1999 modern 722 #7,349
2000 modern 729 #7,270
2001 modern 701 #7,358
2002 modern 702 #7,492
2003 modern 681 #7,558
2004 modern 686 #7,517
2005 modern 615 #8,113
2006 modern 608 #8,206
2007 modern 602 #8,331
2008 modern 605 #8,360
2009 modern 606 #8,535
2010 modern 620 #8,568
2011 modern 623 #8,440
2012 modern 644 #8,130
2013 modern 660 #8,117
2014 modern 655 #8,203
2015 modern 642 #8,278
2016 modern 618 #8,511

Geography

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Where Tompsetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes, Brenchley, Yalding, Aylesford, Burham, Mereworth, Wateringbury, Nettlestead and West Firle. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ashford, North Devon, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells. 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 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
2 London parishes London 3
3 Brenchley Kent
4 Yalding, Aylesford, Burham, Mereworth, Wateringbury, Nettlestead Kent
5 West Firle Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ashford 013 Ashford
2 North Devon 011 North Devon
3 Maidstone 013 Maidstone
4 Tunbridge Wells 004 Tunbridge Wells
5 Maidstone 016 Maidstone

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tompsett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tompsett

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

Tompsett is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tompsett falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Tompsett

The surname Tompsett has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from a place name, possibly from the village of Tompset or Tompsett, located in Kent or Sussex. The earliest known spelling of the name was "de Tompsete," found in tax records from 1275.

One of the earliest known references to the Tompsett name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were ancient census records. The name appears as "Walter de Tompsete," indicating that someone with this surname resided in the area at that time.

During the 14th century, the Tompsett surname appeared in various medieval manuscripts and records. In 1327, a John Tompsett was recorded as a landowner in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex. Additionally, the name was mentioned in the Court Rolls of Kent in 1386, where a Richard Tompsett was listed as a tenant farmer.

The earliest known person with the Tompsett surname was Robert de Tompsete, born around 1240 in Kent. He was a wealthy landowner and is mentioned in the Feet of Fines records of 1290, which documented land transactions.

In the 16th century, the Tompsett family appeared to have a presence in the county of Surrey. William Tompsett, born in 1512, was a prominent merchant and alderman in the town of Guildford. His son, John Tompsett (1542-1622), was a respected clergyman and served as the vicar of St. Mary's Church in Guildford.

Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Tompsett (1628-1689), a wealthy businessman and Member of Parliament for the borough of Guildford. He was knighted by King Charles II in 1662 for his contributions to the local community.

During the 17th century, the Tompsett name also appeared in parish records in the counties of Kent and Essex. One such record mentions the baptism of Mary Tompsett in 1674 at St. Peter's Church in Sandwich, Kent.

In the 18th century, the Tompsett family continued to have a presence in the southern counties of England. Samuel Tompsett (1712-1784) was a renowned clockmaker from the village of Cranbrook in Kent, and his clocks are now highly sought after by collectors.

Throughout the centuries, the Tompsett surname has been associated with various professions, including landowners, merchants, clergymen, and tradesmen. While the name may have originated from a specific place in Kent or Sussex, it eventually spread to other parts of England, reflecting the mobility of families over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tompsett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tompsett 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. Sussex leads with 230 Tompsetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.75x.

County Total Index
Sussex 230 27.75x
Kent 193 11.51x
Surrey 46 1.92x
Middlesex 14 0.28x
Somerset 10 1.26x
Hampshire 8 0.79x
Derbyshire 2 0.26x
Lancashire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wadhurst in Sussex leads with 47 Tompsetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 863.97x.

Place Total Index
Wadhurst 47 863.97x
Tonbridge 30 49.59x
Eastbourne 28 73.41x
Yalding 22 518.87x
Slaugham 20 746.27x
West Firle 20 2083.33x
Brenchley 19 316.67x
Maidstone 16 32.02x
Hollington 15 508.47x
Thornham 15 1376.15x
Camberwell 14 4.46x
Crewkerne 10 119.05x
Newington 10 5.51x
East Farleigh 9 320.28x
Kingston On Thames 9 15.64x
Maresfield 9 257.88x
Pembury 9 378.15x
Speldhurst 9 105.39x
Battersea 8 4.42x
Etchingham 8 522.88x
Frant 7 119.25x
Newhaven 7 104.01x
Bentley 6 508.47x
Hangleton 6 4615.38x
Rotherfield 6 82.19x
Seaford 6 212.77x
Shoreditch London 6 2.82x
West Farleigh 6 923.08x
Boughton Monchelsea 5 270.27x
Boxley 5 193.80x
Deal 5 34.94x
Islington London 5 1.05x
Laughton 5 409.84x
Lee 5 20.53x
Lewes St John Under 5 442.48x
Piddinghoe 5 1315.79x
Tudeley 5 543.48x
Chart Sutton 4 344.83x
Croydon 4 3.01x
Deptford St Paul 4 3.09x
Greenwich 4 5.11x
Lindfield 4 114.29x
Withyam 4 112.68x
Brighton 3 1.79x
East Peckham 3 86.21x
Erith 3 18.15x
Lewisham 3 3.35x
Salehurst 3 83.57x
Ticehurst 3 59.17x
Cuckfield 2 23.89x
Hailsham 2 39.84x
Hastings St Mary 2 9.69x
Holybourne 2 202.02x
Hove 2 5.50x
Linton 2 136.05x
Littlehampton 2 30.21x
Middletonby Wirksworth 2 263.16x
Ripe 2 307.69x
Wateringbury 2 91.32x
Wivelsfield 2 61.73x
Aldington 1 87.72x
Ashford 1 6.12x
Battle 1 17.89x
Bearsted 1 99.01x
Farnham 1 5.37x
Goudhurst 1 21.55x
Hackney London 1 0.36x
Hastings St Mary In The 1 5.66x
Hever 1 86.96x
Hurstpierpoint 1 21.69x
Jevington 1 200.00x
Lewes St Michael 1 60.61x
Marden 1 25.45x
Moss Side 1 3.26x
Sevenoaks 1 7.35x
Sunbury 1 16.92x
Swanscombe 1 13.26x
Westminster St 1 5.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 32
Elizabeth 18
Ann 12
Ellen 9
Sarah 9
Annie 8
Caroline 8
Fanny 7
Florence 7
Hannah 7
Edith 6
Emily 6
Ada 5
Emma 5
Harriet 5
Maria 5
Alice 4
Frances 4
Harriett 4
Louisa 4
Lucy 4
Martha 4
Clara 3
Elizth. 3
Kate 3
Matilda 3
Anna 2
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Eliza 2
Helen 2
Henrietta 2
Jane 2
Jemima 2
Laura 2
Lily 2
Lois 2
Nellie 2
Phoebe 2
Rebecca 2
Rhoda 2
Sophia 2
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Bessie 1
Cara 1
Ella 1
Evilena 1
Lilian 1
Theodore 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 20
George 18
Henry 17
Charles 16
James 15
John 12
Albert 11
Frederick 11
Benjamin 10
Alfred 8
Edward 8
Samuel 8
Arthur 7
Frank 7
Thomas 6
Harry 4
Joseph 4
Edwin 3
Jesse 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Stephen 3
Barnham 2
David 2
Eli 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Gilham 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Israel 2
Owen 2
Percy 2
Walter 2
Dennis 1
Ebenezer 1
Edwd. 1
Frederic 1
Fredk.Jno. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Geo.M. 1
Geo.Wm. 1
Gordon 1
Luke 1
Luther 1
Mary 1
Noel 1
Oliver 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Tompsett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tompsett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 509 people were recorded with the Tompsett surname. That placed it at #6,690 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tompsett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 618 in 2016. That gives Tompsett a modern rank of #8,511.

What does the Tompsett surname mean?

A variant spelling of the English surname Tompson, meaning "son of Thomas".

What does the Tompsett map show?

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