NameCensus.

UK surname

Travis

An English occupational surname for a gate keeper or toll collector, derived from the Old French "travers".

In the 1881 census there were 3,520 people recorded with the Travis surname, ranking it #1,291 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,044, ranked #1,678, down from #1,291 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Manchester and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, St. Helens and Tameside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Travis is 4,363 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.9%.

1881 census count

3,520

Ranked #1,291

Modern count

4,044

2016, ranked #1,678

Peak year

1911

4,363 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Travis had 3,520 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,291 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,044 in 2016, ranked #1,678.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,363 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Travis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Travis surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Travis 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 2,072 #1,402
1861 historical 1,852 #1,564
1881 historical 3,520 #1,291
1891 historical 3,476 #1,371
1901 historical 4,143 #1,359
1911 historical 4,363 #1,184
1997 modern 3,938 #1,654
1998 modern 4,035 #1,678
1999 modern 4,109 #1,652
2000 modern 4,129 #1,643
2001 modern 4,040 #1,643
2002 modern 4,063 #1,661
2003 modern 3,987 #1,657
2004 modern 3,989 #1,657
2005 modern 3,963 #1,643
2006 modern 3,990 #1,627
2007 modern 4,030 #1,627
2008 modern 4,010 #1,650
2009 modern 4,080 #1,663
2010 modern 4,200 #1,651
2011 modern 4,194 #1,628
2012 modern 4,066 #1,650
2013 modern 4,097 #1,672
2014 modern 4,115 #1,669
2015 modern 4,082 #1,672
2016 modern 4,044 #1,678

Geography

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Where Travis' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Manchester, Sheffield, Stockport and Ashton-under-Lyne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doncaster, St. Helens, Tameside and Sheffield. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Stockport Lancashire
5 Ashton-under-Lyne Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doncaster 004 Doncaster
2 St. Helens 004 St. Helens
3 St. Helens 005 St. Helens
4 Tameside 008 Tameside
5 Sheffield 039 Sheffield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Travis

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Travis

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Travis, 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 Travis surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Travis 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Travis is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Travis is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Travis falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Travis

The surname Travis is believed to have originated in France, derived from the Old French word "travers," which means "crosswise" or "oblique." The name likely referred to someone who lived near a crossroads or a winding path.

In the early 12th century, the surname was recorded in various forms, such as "de Travers" or "de Trauers," indicating a placename origin. The first recorded instance of the surname was in Normandy, France, around 1180, when a man named Radulfus de Travers was mentioned in a legal document.

The name Travis made its way to England after the Norman Conquest in 1066, when many French nobles and their families settled in the country. One of the earliest recorded Englishmen with the surname Travis was William de Travers, who lived in Leicestershire in the late 12th century.

During the Middle Ages, the Travis family held lands and properties in various parts of England, including Northamptonshire, Gloucestershire, and Yorkshire. One notable member of the family was Sir John Travis (c. 1380-1452), a knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War and was rewarded with lands in Somersetshire.

In the 16th century, the surname Travis began to appear in its modern spelling, as seen in the records of John Travis (c. 1520-1590), a wealthy merchant from Bristol. Another prominent figure was Thomas Travis (1595-1654), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works.

As the Travis family spread across England, variations of the surname emerged, such as Traviss, Travers, and Travas. One notable individual was Benjamin Travers (1783-1858), a British surgeon and anatomist who made significant contributions to the field of medicine.

Other historical figures with the surname Travis include:

1. Meriwether Travis (1809-1836), an American lawyer and soldier who commanded the Texian forces at the Battle of the Alamo. 2. William Barrett Travis (1809-1836), an American lawyer and soldier who also fought and died at the Alamo alongside his cousin Meriwether Travis. 3. William Pitt Travis (1864-1935), an American lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. Senator from Kentucky. 4. Walter Travis (1862-1927), an Australian-born American amateur golfer and course architect, known for his contributions to the game of golf. 5. Thomas Travis (1786-1859), an English engraver and painter who produced numerous portraits and historical scenes.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Travis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Travis 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. Lancashire leads with 2,080 Travis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.12x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 2,080 5.12x
Yorkshire 513 1.51x
Cheshire 298 3.94x
Lincolnshire 109 1.99x
Middlesex 90 0.26x
Derbyshire 77 1.44x
Staffordshire 76 0.66x
Essex 29 0.43x
Surrey 25 0.15x
Somerset 21 0.38x
Nottinghamshire 20 0.43x
Warwickshire 18 0.21x
Devon 16 0.22x
Hampshire 14 0.20x
Lanarkshire 14 0.13x
Kent 13 0.11x
Norfolk 12 0.23x
Stirlingshire 10 0.79x
Durham 9 0.09x
Suffolk 9 0.22x
Westmorland 9 1.20x
Northamptonshire 7 0.22x
Denbighshire 5 0.39x
Isle of Man 5 0.79x
Leicestershire 5 0.13x
Worcestershire 5 0.11x
Sussex 4 0.07x
Caernarfonshire 3 0.22x
Berkshire 2 0.08x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.09x
Cornwall 2 0.05x
Dorset 2 0.09x
Flintshire 2 0.22x
Kincardineshire 2 0.48x
Ayrshire 1 0.04x
Cumberland 1 0.03x
Northumberland 1 0.02x
Royal Navy 1 0.24x
Shropshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oldham in Lancashire leads with 218 Travis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.61x.

Place Total Index
Oldham 218 16.61x
Ashton Under Lyne 162 18.23x
Dukinfield 96 27.46x
Chadderton 78 39.24x
Newton 61 19.46x
Salford 60 5.02x
Wardleworth 57 24.53x
Crompton 56 48.36x
Hulme 52 6.13x
West Derby 52 4.37x
Manchester 51 2.79x
Liverpool 50 2.02x
Ecclesall Bierlow 49 7.09x
Sheffield 45 4.16x
Butterworth 44 44.41x
Royton 44 35.37x
Warrington 43 8.92x
Failsworth 41 44.07x
Brightside Bierlow 40 6.01x
Everton 39 3.01x
Chorlton On Medlock 37 5.73x
Eccleston In Prescot 37 18.12x
Broughton In Salford 34 9.14x
Castleton 34 8.37x
Wuerdle Wardle 33 26.73x
Barton Upon Irwell 32 10.45x
Preston 30 2.76x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 27 8.53x
Pendleton In Salford 27 5.57x
Todmorden Walsden 27 24.78x
Blatchinworth 25 27.00x
Kirkdale 24 3.51x
Bradford 23 12.08x
Haydock 23 32.82x
Heaton Norris 23 9.94x
Knowsley 23 156.57x
Huyton With Roby 22 46.17x
Blackley 21 29.46x
Checkley 21 69.91x
Gorton 21 5.49x
Newton In Makerfield 21 16.86x
Cridling Stubbs 19 582.82x
Darley 18 83.03x
Mile End Old Town 18 3.33x
Openshaw 18 9.45x
Prescot 18 24.48x
Sutton 18 13.20x
Aspull 17 17.77x
North Meols 16 4.02x
Harpurhey 15 26.58x
Sale 15 16.16x
Spotland 15 3.32x
St Swithin Lincoln 15 17.41x
Bury 14 3.01x
Elton 14 9.96x
Islington London 14 0.42x
Macclesfield 14 4.16x
St Pancras London 14 0.51x
Wakefield 14 5.37x
Nether Hallam 13 2.83x
Stainforth In Thorne 13 150.29x
Stayley 13 15.04x
Thurgoland 13 56.74x
Birkenhead 12 1.99x
Birmingham 12 0.42x
Hyde 12 5.38x
Middleton In Oldham 12 9.84x
Owston 12 77.17x
Poynton 12 47.19x
Thurnscoe 12 410.96x
Tonge 12 14.06x
Bollington In 11 16.34x
Hale 11 163.93x
Ollersett 11 105.16x
Stoke Upon Trent 11 0.90x
Chorley 10 4.38x
Denton 10 11.10x
Gainsborough 10 7.74x
Hackney London 10 0.52x
Leek Lowe 10 6.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 297
Sarah 170
Elizabeth 138
Ann 87
Jane 73
Alice 67
Hannah 63
Ellen 50
Emma 50
Annie 47
Margaret 44
Eliza 41
Emily 35
Martha 28
Maria 24
Harriet 23
Ada 21
Clara 21
Esther 21
Fanny 18
Betty 17
Florence 15
Edith 14
Anne 13
Louisa 13
Susan 12
Caroline 11
Lucy 11
Agnes 9
Amy 9
Eleanor 9
Jessie 9
Charlotte 8
Gertrude 8
Kate 8
Rachel 8
Amelia 7
Betsy 7
Isabella 7
Catherine 6
Susannah 6
Lilly 5
Rebecca 5
Susanah 5
Bertha 4
Eva 4
Frances 4
Henrietta 4
Nancy 4
Ruth 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 280
William 215
James 159
Thomas 123
George 120
Joseph 100
Henry 46
Samuel 46
Robert 44
Charles 38
Edward 28
Arthur 26
Benjamin 22
Richard 22
Alfred 20
Walter 19
Frederick 17
Peter 16
Albert 14
Wm. 14
David 12
Harry 12
Edwin 11
Herbert 11
Francis 10
Fred 10
Ernest 9
Frank 9
Matthew 9
Christopher 8
Edmund 7
Tom 7
Abraham 6
Ashton 5
Isaac 5
Michael 5
Percy 5
Adam 4
Andrew 4
Elijah 4
Enoch 4
Joe 4
Patrick 4
Ralph 4
Saml. 4
Thos. 4
Jno. 3
Job 3
Joshua 3
Robt. 3

FAQ

Travis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Travis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,520 people were recorded with the Travis surname. That placed it at #1,291 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Travis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,044 in 2016. That gives Travis a modern rank of #1,678.

What does the Travis surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a gate keeper or toll collector, derived from the Old French "travers".

What does the Travis map show?

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