NameCensus.

UK surname

Try

An English surname derived from the Old English word "triu" meaning tree or wood.

In the 1881 census there were 84 people recorded with the Try surname, ranking it #21,690 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 209, ranked #19,009, up from #21,690 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Darlington, Rickmansworth and Rotherfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St Edmundsbury, Runnymede and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Try is 233 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 148.8%.

1881 census count

84

Ranked #21,690

Modern count

209

2016, ranked #19,009

Peak year

1999

233 bearers

Map years

5

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Try had 84 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,690 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 209 in 2016, ranked #19,009.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 183 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Try surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Try surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Try 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 164 #12,116
1881 historical 84 #21,690
1901 historical 183 #15,996
1997 modern 221 #16,565
1998 modern 226 #16,800
1999 modern 233 #16,554
2000 modern 225 #16,891
2001 modern 216 #17,103
2002 modern 219 #17,288
2003 modern 219 #17,085
2004 modern 211 #17,590
2005 modern 209 #17,629
2006 modern 212 #17,612
2007 modern 207 #18,080
2008 modern 204 #18,403
2009 modern 206 #18,657
2010 modern 208 #18,956
2011 modern 212 #18,575
2012 modern 197 #19,408
2013 modern 210 #18,932
2014 modern 221 #18,412
2015 modern 212 #18,842
2016 modern 209 #19,009

Geography

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Where Trys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Darlington, Rickmansworth, Rotherfield, St Pancras 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 St Edmundsbury, Runnymede, Cornwall, York and Colinton Mains and Firrhill. 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 Darlington Durham
2 Rickmansworth Hertfordshire
3 Rotherfield Sussex
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St Edmundsbury 014 St Edmundsbury
2 Runnymede 002 Runnymede
3 Cornwall 065 Cornwall
4 York 006 York
5 Colinton Mains and Firrhill City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Try

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Try

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Try surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Try household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Try 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

Try is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Try falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Try

The surname TRY is believed to have originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "trygg," which means "faithful" or "trustworthy." The name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone who was known for their reliability or loyalty.

The earliest recorded instance of the name TRY can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this record, the name appears as "Triga," which was likely a variant spelling.

During the Middle Ages, the surname TRY was particularly prevalent in the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire in the southwest region of England. It is possible that the name may have originated from a place name or a location with a similar-sounding name, such as the village of Tring in Hertfordshire.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname TRY was John Try, who was born in the late 14th century and served as a member of the English Parliament for the borough of Devizes in Wiltshire in 1395.

Another notable individual with the surname TRY was Sir Walter Try (1501-1572), who was a prominent English lawyer and judge during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as a Justice of the King's Bench and was knighted in 1564.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname TRY also gained recognition in Scotland. One of the most famous Scottish bearers of the name was Sir Henry Try (1580-1653), who was a prominent merchant and served as the Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1638 to 1640.

In the 18th century, the TRY surname was found among the early settlers of the American colonies. One notable figure was John Try (1703-1778), who was born in England but later emigrated to Pennsylvania, where he became a successful merchant and landowner.

Another individual of note was William Try (1745-1823), an English poet and clergyman who served as the Vicar of Compton Beauchamp in Berkshire. He published several volumes of poetry and was known for his religious writings.

Overall, the surname TRY has a rich history dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period in England, with connections to various regions and notable individuals throughout the centuries. Its origins can be traced back to the Old English word "trygg," reflecting the values of faithfulness and trustworthiness that may have been associated with the name's earliest bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Try families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Try 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. Middlesex leads with 30 Trys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.71x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 30 3.71x
Surrey 24 6.08x
Durham 10 4.15x
Berkshire 4 6.58x
Yorkshire 4 0.50x
Hertfordshire 3 5.38x
Kent 3 1.09x
Lancashire 2 0.21x
Cornwall 1 1.09x
Glamorgan 1 0.71x
Hampshire 1 0.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mortlake in Surrey leads with 11 Trys recorded in 1881 and an index of 625.00x.

Place Total Index
Mortlake 11 625.00x
St Pancras London 11 16.88x
Darlington 10 107.53x
Twickenham 8 230.55x
Bradford Girlington 4 1111.11x
Camberwell 4 7.74x
Chobham 4 571.43x
Lambourn 4 666.67x
Greenwich 3 23.27x
Westminster St James 3 36.06x
Cowley 2 1428.57x
Croydon 2 9.13x
Hillingdon 2 77.52x
Lambeth 2 2.83x
Liverpool 2 3.43x
Paddington London 2 6.72x
Rickmansworth 2 129.87x
Clase 1 19.08x
Hampstead London 1 7.93x
Putney 1 27.10x
Southampton St Mary 1 9.59x
St Erth 1 178.57x
Watford 1 23.09x
Westminster St 1 33.56x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Try surname: questions and answers

How common was the Try surname in 1881?

In 1881, 84 people were recorded with the Try surname. That placed it at #21,690 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Try surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 209 in 2016. That gives Try a modern rank of #19,009.

What does the Try surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English word "triu" meaning tree or wood.

What does the Try map show?

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