NameCensus.

UK surname

Tremain

A derived surname indicating one dwelling at a town boundary or border.

In the 1881 census there were 381 people recorded with the Tremain surname, ranking it #8,240 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 531, ranked #9,559, down from #8,240 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Teath, Newlyn and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Medway and Plymouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tremain is 601 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.4%.

1881 census count

381

Ranked #8,240

Modern count

531

2016, ranked #9,559

Peak year

1998

601 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tremain had 381 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,240 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 531 in 2016, ranked #9,559.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 481 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Tremain surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tremain surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tremain 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 304 #7,559
1861 historical 193 #12,371
1881 historical 381 #8,240
1891 historical 389 #9,085
1901 historical 463 #8,526
1911 historical 481 #8,062
1997 modern 553 #8,617
1998 modern 601 #8,384
1999 modern 588 #8,561
2000 modern 577 #8,630
2001 modern 560 #8,684
2002 modern 586 #8,581
2003 modern 564 #8,679
2004 modern 567 #8,672
2005 modern 545 #8,842
2006 modern 546 #8,867
2007 modern 551 #8,894
2008 modern 556 #8,892
2009 modern 566 #8,969
2010 modern 566 #9,158
2011 modern 571 #9,002
2012 modern 565 #8,993
2013 modern 567 #9,093
2014 modern 550 #9,395
2015 modern 536 #9,517
2016 modern 531 #9,559

Geography

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Where Tremains are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Teath, Newlyn, London parishes, Devonport Stoke Damerel and St Merryn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Medway and Plymouth. 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 Teath Cornwall
2 Newlyn Cornwall
3 London parishes London 3
4 Devonport Stoke Damerel Devon
5 St Merryn Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 019 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 008 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 003 Cornwall
4 Medway 011 Medway
5 Plymouth 022 Plymouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tremain

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tremain

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Tremain is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tremain 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

Tremain falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Tremain

The surname Tremain has its origins in medieval England, and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "tremaine," which means "from Lorraine," referring to the region in northeastern France. The name likely originated with individuals who emigrated from Lorraine to England during the Norman Conquest.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, which mentions a William Tremaine. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also contain references to a John Tremain and a Robert Tremain, both residing in Oxfordshire at the time.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as Tremayne, Tremaine, and Tremain. These variations were likely due to the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping during that period.

The Tremain surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One prominent figure was Sir John Tremain (c. 1450 - 1518), a Member of Parliament and High Sheriff of Cornwall during the reign of Henry VII. Another was Sir Nicholas Tremain (c. 1550 - 1624), a renowned lawyer and judge who served as a Member of Parliament and Speaker of the House of Commons under Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the name was linked to the village of Tremayne in Cornwall, which may have been named after an early bearer of the surname. This connection is evidenced by the presence of a family of Tremains who were landowners in the area during that time.

Other notable individuals with the surname Tremain include William Tremain (1709 - 1776), a British Army officer who fought in the French and Indian War, and Sir Henry Tremain (1819 - 1897), a prominent Australian politician and landowner who served as a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales.

Throughout its history, the Tremain surname has maintained a strong association with England, particularly in the counties of Cornwall, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire. While variations in spelling have occurred over the centuries, the name's origins can be traced back to the Norman influence in medieval England and the Lorraine region of France.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tremain families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tremain 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. Cornwall leads with 165 Tremains recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.11x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 165 39.11x
Middlesex 60 1.61x
Kent 57 4.48x
Devon 23 2.97x
Surrey 18 0.99x
Hampshire 9 1.18x
Gloucestershire 7 0.96x
Warwickshire 7 0.74x
Nottinghamshire 5 1.00x
Staffordshire 5 0.40x
Aberdeenshire 4 1.16x
Lancashire 4 0.09x
Sussex 4 0.64x
Yorkshire 4 0.11x
Glamorgan 3 0.46x
Durham 2 0.18x
Somerset 2 0.33x
Essex 1 0.14x
Monmouthshire 1 0.37x
Royal Navy 1 2.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Teath in Cornwall leads with 25 Tremains recorded in 1881 and an index of 984.25x.

Place Total Index
St Teath 25 984.25x
Mile End Old Town 23 39.10x
St Minver 16 1240.31x
St Eval 14 4117.65x
Kenwyn 11 99.73x
Orpington 11 282.78x
St Allen 11 1486.49x
Bow London 10 21.08x
Caterham 10 124.53x
Cudham 9 692.31x
Rochester St Margaret 9 67.11x
St Austell 9 62.41x
St Merryn 9 1285.71x
Chatham 8 22.87x
Ratcliffe London 8 38.87x
St Stithians 8 343.35x
Tywardreath 8 295.20x
Alveston 7 673.08x
Aston 7 2.71x
Exeter St Thomas The 7 88.50x
Fulham London 7 12.95x
Plymouth St Andrew 7 11.72x
St Ervan 7 1400.00x
Strood 7 96.55x
Bethnal Green London 6 3.71x
Little Petherick 6 2142.86x
Michaelstow 6 2142.86x
St Breock 6 263.16x
St Mewan 6 461.54x
Askham 5 1785.71x
Burntwood Edial 5 62.27x
Gillingham 5 19.08x
Portsea 5 3.34x
St Endellion 5 342.47x
Arundel 4 113.64x
Croydon 4 3.97x
Fraserburgh 4 41.19x
West Derby 4 3.09x
Blaenhonddan 3 99.34x
Brotton 3 62.24x
Gunwalloe 3 1304.35x
Padstow 3 107.14x
Plymouth Charles The 3 8.78x
Rochester St Nicholas 3 75.76x
St Columb Minor 3 84.75x
Faversham 2 16.50x
Islington London 2 0.55x
Kingston 2 186.92x
Lyncombe Widcombe 2 12.74x
Newington 2 1.45x
Roche 2 93.46x
Stoke Damerel 2 3.68x
Whitworth 2 24.63x
Alverstoke 1 3.62x
Bedwellty 1 2.10x
Breage 1 25.97x
Chawleigh 1 116.28x
Chislehurst 1 14.66x
East Stonehouse 1 6.54x
East Worlington 1 370.37x
Falmouth 1 6.70x
Greenwich 1 1.69x
Hammersmith London 1 1.09x
Hutton Le Hole 1 285.71x
Kensington London 1 0.48x
Lezant 1 106.38x
Lidford 1 28.74x
Margate St John Baptist 1 4.30x
Portsmouth 1 5.69x
Probus 1 57.80x
Royal Navy 1 2.63x
Southwark St Thomas 1 100.00x
St Clement 1 22.73x
St Marylebone London 1 0.50x
Tintagel 1 86.96x
Treneglos 1 476.19x
Walthamstow 1 3.78x
Walton On Thames 1 11.99x
Westminster St 1 7.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Elizabeth 18
Ann 8
Eliza 8
Emma 7
Alice 6
Annie 6
Jane 6
Ellen 5
Caroline 4
Catherine 4
Emily 4
Hannah 4
Sarah 4
Ada 3
Fanny 3
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Bessie 2
Edith 2
Kate 2
Katherine 2
Louisa 2
Martha 2
Minnie 2
Philippa 2
Phillis 2
Rosina 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Theresa 2
Agusta 1
Betsy 1
Carry 1
Cecilie 1
Elizh 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Georgina 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Jessie 1
Josephine 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Leonara 1
Leonora 1
Lizzie 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 33
William 23
Thomas 17
George 16
Charles 11
Edward 7
James 7
Robert 7
Henry 6
Richard 6
Arthur 5
Frederick 5
Alfred 4
Samuel 4
Frank 3
Joseph 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Jesse 2
Thos. 2
A. 1
Daniel 1
Elias 1
Ernes 1
Erwin 1
Fredk. 1
H. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Jame 1
Jno. 1
M.J. 1
Mark 1
Mascena 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Michl. 1
Nehemiah 1
Nelson 1
Paul 1
Philip 1
Richd. 1
Sampson 1
Wiliam 1
Willian 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Tremain surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tremain surname in 1881?

In 1881, 381 people were recorded with the Tremain surname. That placed it at #8,240 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tremain surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 531 in 2016. That gives Tremain a modern rank of #9,559.

What does the Tremain surname mean?

A derived surname indicating one dwelling at a town boundary or border.

What does the Tremain map show?

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