UK surname
An Anglo-Norman French surname derived from the Old French name "Tristrám", meaning a sad or sorrowful person.
In the 1881 census there were 70 people recorded with the Trish surname, ranking it #23,670 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 37, ranked #35,582, down from #23,670 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Sidbury, Chipstead and Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Trish is 181 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 47.1%.
1881 census count
70
Ranked #23,670
Modern count
37
2016, ranked #35,582
Peak year
1891
181 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Trish surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Trish surname density by area, 1891 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 | 88 | #18,569 |
| 1861 | historical | 115 | #18,880 |
| 1881 | historical | 70 | #23,670 |
| 1891 | historical | 181 | #16,065 |
| 1901 | historical | 57 | #27,846 |
| 1911 | historical | 51 | #27,708 |
| 1997 | modern | 30 | #34,701 |
| 1998 | modern | 28 | #35,053 |
| 1999 | modern | 28 | #35,127 |
| 2000 | modern | 32 | #34,705 |
| 2001 | modern | 32 | #34,537 |
| 2002 | modern | 28 | #35,139 |
| 2003 | modern | 28 | #35,200 |
| 2004 | modern | 27 | #35,444 |
| 2005 | modern | 29 | #35,431 |
| 2006 | modern | 31 | #35,467 |
| 2007 | modern | 28 | #35,801 |
| 2008 | modern | 28 | #35,875 |
| 2009 | modern | 27 | #36,045 |
| 2010 | modern | 29 | #36,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 28 | #36,071 |
| 2012 | modern | 26 | #36,166 |
| 2013 | modern | 26 | #36,217 |
| 2014 | modern | 33 | #35,843 |
| 2015 | modern | 35 | #35,702 |
| 2016 | modern | 37 | #35,582 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Sidbury, Chipstead, Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead, Coulsdon and Bromsgrove, Upton Warren. 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 | Sidbury | Devon |
| 2 | Chipstead | Surrey |
| 3 | Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead | Surrey |
| 4 | Coulsdon | Surrey |
| 5 | Bromsgrove, Upton Warren | Worcestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Trish 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 Trish, 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 Trish surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Trish 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, Trish 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 Trish is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Trish, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Trish originated in England during the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "triss," which referred to a tuft or knot of hair. This suggests that the name may have initially been given as a descriptive nickname to someone with a distinctive hairstyle or appearance.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1379, which mention a person named Willelmus Trissh. The variant spelling "Trissh" indicates that the name likely evolved from its Old English roots over time.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Trish surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Devon and Cornwall in southwestern England. Parish records from this region show several individuals bearing the name, such as John Trish, who was born in Tavistock, Devon, in 1592.
The Trish surname has also been associated with various place names throughout England. For example, the village of Trishull in Staffordshire may have lent its name to some early bearers of the surname. Additionally, the hamlet of Trisham in Gloucestershire shares a similar linguistic root.
Notable individuals with the surname Trish include:
1. William Trish (c. 1520-1585), an English merchant and politician who served as the Mayor of Exeter in 1570. 2. Thomas Trish (1638-1703), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious treatises. 3. Mary Trish (1726-1789), a British author and poet known for her works on education and moral instruction. 4. James Trish (1785-1862), a British naval officer who participated in the Napoleonic Wars and rose to the rank of Rear Admiral. 5. Henry Trish (1831-1901), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall.
While the Trish surname may not be as widely recognized as some others, its long history and ties to various regions of England make it a fascinating subject for study in the field of onomatology.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Trish 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. Devon leads with 28 Trishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.22x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sidbury in Devon leads with 12 Trishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 4285.71x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Sidbury | 12 | 4285.71x |
| Tavistock | 9 | 600.00x |
| Chipstead | 8 | 5714.29x |
| Coulsdon | 8 | 1428.57x |
| Croydon | 4 | 23.32x |
| Widdecombeinthe Moor | 4 | 2222.22x |
| Newington | 3 | 12.81x |
| Swanage | 3 | 588.24x |
| Brixham | 2 | 130.72x |
| St George Hanover | 2 | 24.18x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 5.91x |
| Brighton | 1 | 4.64x |
| Clapham | 1 | 12.61x |
| Compton Gifford | 1 | 243.90x |
| Cottered | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Ditchingham | 1 | 434.78x |
| Hanwell | 1 | 89.29x |
| St Bartholomew Less | 1 | 303.03x |
| Wellington | 1 | 72.46x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Trish 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 Trish 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 Trish households.
FAQ
In 1881, 70 people were recorded with the Trish surname. That placed it at #23,670 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 37 in 2016. That gives Trish a modern rank of #35,582.
An Anglo-Norman French surname derived from the Old French name "Tristrám", meaning a sad or sorrowful person.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Trish 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.