NameCensus.

UK surname

Torbet

A variant spelling of a Scottish place name meaning "hamlet by the hill".

In the 1881 census there were 152 people recorded with the Torbet surname, ranking it #15,372 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 264, ranked #16,172, down from #15,372 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cumnock South and Craigens, Machars North and Greenock Town Centre and East Central.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Torbet is 272 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 73.7%.

1881 census count

152

Ranked #15,372

Modern count

264

2016, ranked #16,172

Peak year

2010

272 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Torbet had 152 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,372 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 264 in 2016, ranked #16,172.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 158 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Torbet surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Torbet surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Torbet 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 89 #18,446
1861 historical 126 #17,569
1881 historical 152 #15,372
1891 historical 107 #22,967
1901 historical 158 #17,507
1911 historical 30 #30,073
1997 modern 221 #16,565
1998 modern 240 #16,117
1999 modern 250 #15,802
2000 modern 253 #15,623
2001 modern 239 #15,963
2002 modern 238 #16,378
2003 modern 243 #15,911
2004 modern 248 #15,779
2005 modern 252 #15,551
2006 modern 257 #15,448
2007 modern 251 #15,861
2008 modern 256 #15,817
2009 modern 265 #15,756
2010 modern 272 #15,811
2011 modern 258 #16,284
2012 modern 252 #16,424
2013 modern 250 #16,778
2014 modern 259 #16,509
2015 modern 253 #16,669
2016 modern 264 #16,172

Geography

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Where Torbets are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Aberdeen and Old Machar and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cumnock South and Craigens, Machars North, Greenock Town Centre and East Central, Rhins North and Rhins South. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Aberdeen and Old Machar Aberdeen
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cumnock South and Craigens East Ayrshire
2 Machars North Dumfries and Galloway
3 Greenock Town Centre and East Central Inverclyde
4 Rhins North Dumfries and Galloway
5 Rhins South Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Torbet

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Torbet

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Torbet surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Torbet household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Torbet is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Torbet is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Torbet falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Torbet

The surname Torbet is of Scottish origin, with records indicating its presence in the region as early as the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "turbet," which referred to a small tower or turret, often found in medieval fortifications or castles. The name may have been initially adopted by individuals who lived near such structures or worked in their construction or maintenance.

Early written references to the name can be found in various Scottish historical documents, including the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, which date back to the late 13th and early 14th centuries. These records mention individuals bearing variations of the surname, such as Torbett, Torbet, and Turbitt, indicating the name's evolution over time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Torbet was John Torbet, who was mentioned in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland in 1462. This document, which recorded official acts and charters, provides valuable insights into the lives and activities of prominent individuals during that period.

In the 16th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of John Torbet (c. 1530-1597), a Scottish clergyman and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation in Scotland. He served as the minister of the parish of Wigtown and was known for his advocacy of religious reforms.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Torbet was James Torbet (1640-1708), a Scottish minister and author. He served as the minister of the parish of Strathmiglo and was known for his religious writings, including a treatise on the sacraments.

During the 17th century, the Torbet surname was also associated with land ownership and nobility. In 1664, John Torbet was recognized as the Laird of Kilsyth, a Scottish landed estate located near the town of Kilsyth in North Lanarkshire.

In the 19th century, one of the most prominent individuals with the surname Torbet was William Torbet (1807-1878), a Scottish-born architect and builder who made significant contributions to the architectural landscape of New Zealand. He was responsible for designing and constructing several notable buildings, including the Dunedin Town Hall and the University of Otago Registry Building.

Throughout history, the Torbet surname has been associated with various locations and place names within Scotland, such as Torbethill in Ayrshire and Torbeckhill in Lanarkshire. These place names likely derived from the surname itself, reflecting the presence and influence of individuals bearing the name in those areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Torbet families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Torbet 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. Ayrshire leads with 40 Torbets recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.05x.

County Total Index
Ayrshire 40 36.05x
Wigtownshire 37 187.91x
Midlothian 18 9.06x
Lanarkshire 17 3.55x
Angus 11 8.01x
Fife 7 7.98x
Lancashire 6 0.34x
Perthshire 6 9.02x
Aberdeenshire 3 2.18x
Yorkshire 3 0.20x
Hampshire 2 0.66x
East Lothian 1 5.09x
West Lothian 1 4.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kirkcolm in Wigtownshire leads with 14 Torbets recorded in 1881 and an index of 1489.36x.

Place Total Index
Kirkcolm 14 1489.36x
Dundee 11 21.45x
Lasswade 11 242.29x
Stoneykirk 10 709.22x
Barony 9 7.42x
Sorn 9 412.84x
Dalmellington 7 214.72x
Dunfermline 7 51.85x
Edinburgh Lady Yesters 6 434.78x
Inch 6 312.50x
Kirkmichael 6 594.06x
Leswalt 6 444.44x
Perth Middle Church 6 240.00x
Muirkirk 4 153.26x
Preston 4 8.50x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 3 11.68x
Ayr 3 57.25x
Colmonell 3 267.86x
Ecclesall Bierlow 3 10.04x
Galston 3 99.01x
Govan 3 2.53x
Dalziel 2 38.76x
Formby 2 100.50x
Lanark 2 51.81x
Ochiltree 2 263.16x
St Quivox 2 53.33x
Dailly 1 88.50x
Hamilton 1 7.48x
Holdenhurst 1 12.55x
Liberton 1 32.57x
Portsmouth 1 14.29x
Stranraer 1 55.56x
Tranent 1 37.74x
Whitburn 1 30.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Agnes 2
Emma 1
Isabella 1
Jemina 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 2
Enoch 1
Francis 1
George 1

Top occupations

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 Torbet households.

FAQ

Torbet surname: questions and answers

How common was the Torbet surname in 1881?

In 1881, 152 people were recorded with the Torbet surname. That placed it at #15,372 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Torbet surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 264 in 2016. That gives Torbet a modern rank of #16,172.

What does the Torbet surname mean?

A variant spelling of a Scottish place name meaning "hamlet by the hill".

What does the Torbet map show?

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