UK surname
A surname denoting a wanderer or itinerant worker.
In the 1881 census there were 66 people recorded with the Traveller surname, ranking it #24,256 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 86, ranked #32,570, down from #24,256 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Houghton Conquest, St Pancras and Roydon. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Traveller is 122 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.3%.
1881 census count
66
Ranked #24,256
Modern count
86
2016, ranked #32,570
Peak year
1911
122 bearers
Map years
3
1891 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Traveller surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Traveller surname density by area, 1911 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 | 45 | #25,168 |
| 1861 | historical | 62 | #26,041 |
| 1881 | historical | 66 | #24,256 |
| 1891 | historical | 111 | #22,421 |
| 1901 | historical | 120 | #20,545 |
| 1911 | historical | 122 | #20,245 |
| 1997 | modern | 84 | #29,106 |
| 1998 | modern | 92 | #28,680 |
| 1999 | modern | 98 | #28,050 |
| 2000 | modern | 97 | #28,142 |
| 2001 | modern | 94 | #28,246 |
| 2002 | modern | 95 | #28,666 |
| 2003 | modern | 96 | #28,381 |
| 2004 | modern | 98 | #28,297 |
| 2005 | modern | 93 | #29,133 |
| 2006 | modern | 94 | #29,264 |
| 2007 | modern | 95 | #29,493 |
| 2008 | modern | 89 | #30,713 |
| 2009 | modern | 94 | #30,538 |
| 2010 | modern | 91 | #31,497 |
| 2011 | modern | 87 | #31,905 |
| 2012 | modern | 85 | #32,395 |
| 2013 | modern | 85 | #32,658 |
| 2014 | modern | 83 | #32,910 |
| 2015 | modern | 84 | #32,782 |
| 2016 | modern | 86 | #32,570 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Houghton Conquest, St Pancras, Roydon, Sawbridgeworth 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 No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houghton Conquest | Bedfordshire |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Roydon | Essex |
| 4 | Sawbridgeworth | Hertfordshire |
| 5 | London parishes | London 2 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Traveller 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 Traveller, 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 Traveller surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Traveller 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, Traveller 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 Traveller is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Traveller, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Traveller has its origins in the Anglo-Norman French language, derived from the Old French word "travel," which means "to journey" or "to make a voyage." The name likely emerged in England during the Middle Ages, possibly around the 12th or 13th century, when many Norman families settled in Britain after the Norman Conquest of 1066.
The earliest known record of the Traveller surname can be traced back to the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which were census-like surveys of landowners in England. The name is also found in various medieval tax records and legal documents from that period, often spelled as "Traveler" or "Travailer."
One of the earliest documented instances of the Traveller surname is found in the Feet of Fines for Essex, a collection of legal records from 1310, which mentions a John le Traveler. Another early reference is in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327, where a William le Traveller is recorded.
In the 14th century, the Traveller surname appeared in several places across England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Oxfordshire. This suggests that the name was relatively widespread during that time, perhaps reflecting the nomadic lifestyle of some individuals or families.
One notable individual with the Traveller surname was Thomas Traveller (c. 1537-1613), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Provost of King's College, Cambridge, from 1591 until his death. Another prominent figure was Sir John Traveller (1640-1701), a British politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Huntingdonshire.
The Traveller surname also has connections to various place names across England, such as Travelwyn in Shropshire and Travelgar in Cornwall. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in certain regions.
Other notable individuals with the Traveller surname include:
1. William Traveller (c. 1500-1568), an English merchant and explorer who is believed to have been one of the first Englishmen to establish trade relations with Russia.
2. Elizabeth Traveller (c. 1570-1640), an English herbalist and author of one of the earliest published works on herbal remedies in the English language.
3. Richard Traveller (1609-1680), an English mathematician and astronomer who contributed to the development of calculus and the study of planetary motion.
4. Anne Traveller (1718-1789), a British writer and feminist who campaigned for women's rights and education during the Age of Enlightenment.
5. James Traveller (1812-1892), a Scottish-born explorer and surveyor who was instrumental in mapping and charting parts of western Canada and the Rocky Mountains.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Traveller 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. Essex leads with 30 Travellers recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.26x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Essex | 30 | 23.26x |
| Middlesex | 22 | 3.37x |
| Hertfordshire | 6 | 13.32x |
| Kent | 4 | 1.79x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.63x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.96x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 1.03x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.61x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Roydon in Essex leads with 16 Travellers recorded in 1881 and an index of 8421.05x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Roydon | 16 | 8421.05x |
| West Ham | 8 | 28.09x |
| Chelsea London | 7 | 35.55x |
| St Pancras London | 7 | 13.31x |
| West Mersea | 4 | 1600.00x |
| Paddington London | 3 | 12.48x |
| Wormley | 3 | 1875.00x |
| Chelmsford | 2 | 90.50x |
| Gillingham | 2 | 43.48x |
| Northaw | 2 | 1538.46x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 1.82x |
| Chatham | 1 | 16.31x |
| Elswick | 1 | 12.89x |
| Frindsbury | 1 | 119.05x |
| Knaith Lea Gate Burton | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Mile End Old Town | 1 | 9.69x |
| Newington | 1 | 4.14x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 1 | 7.60x |
| Spitalfields London | 1 | 20.33x |
| St Giles In Fields | 1 | 44.44x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 2.87x |
| Tottenham | 1 | 9.61x |
| Ware | 1 | 77.52x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Traveller 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 Traveller 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 Traveller households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 11 |
| Ag Lab | 5 |
| Barmaid | 3 |
| AB Pensioner | 1 |
| Able Seaman R N | 1 |
| Agr Labourer | 1 |
| Agricul Lab | 1 |
| Assistant To Florists Carman | 1 |
| Barman | 1 |
| Cabt Mattress Maker | 1 |
| Coal Dealer | 1 |
| Commision Agent | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Garden Lab | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Laundry | 1 |
| Laundry Maid | 1 |
| Licensed Victualler | 1 |
| Police Sergeant | 1 |
| Printer | 1 |
| Printer & Compositor Unable To Work | 1 |
| Rail Signalman | 1 |
| Railway Porter | 1 |
| Railway Servant | 1 |
| Slipper Maker (Shoe) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 66 people were recorded with the Traveller surname. That placed it at #24,256 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 86 in 2016. That gives Traveller a modern rank of #32,570.
A surname denoting a wanderer or itinerant worker.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Traveller 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.