NameCensus.

UK surname

Tubb

A variant spelling of an English surname derived from the Old French "tub", meaning a water trough or open vessel.

In the 1881 census there were 1,251 people recorded with the Tubb surname, ranking it #3,253 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,127, ranked #5,232, down from #3,253 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Abingdon St Helen, Abingdon St Nicholas, London parishes and West Tytherley, East Tytherley, West Dean, East and West Buckholt (incl. Crown Farm), Broughton, Bos. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Taunton Deane, Wycombe and Winchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tubb is 1,716 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 9.9%.

1881 census count

1,251

Ranked #3,253

Modern count

1,127

2016, ranked #5,232

Peak year

1911

1,716 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tubb had 1,251 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,253 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,127 in 2016, ranked #5,232.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,716 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tubb surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tubb surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tubb 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 1,027 #2,724
1861 historical 929 #2,990
1881 historical 1,251 #3,253
1891 historical 1,426 #3,061
1901 historical 1,578 #3,269
1911 historical 1,716 #2,855
1997 modern 1,320 #4,342
1998 modern 1,311 #4,535
1999 modern 1,308 #4,578
2000 modern 1,291 #4,606
2001 modern 1,268 #4,585
2002 modern 1,295 #4,592
2003 modern 1,257 #4,623
2004 modern 1,221 #4,743
2005 modern 1,202 #4,752
2006 modern 1,192 #4,802
2007 modern 1,180 #4,886
2008 modern 1,190 #4,869
2009 modern 1,198 #4,945
2010 modern 1,217 #4,981
2011 modern 1,205 #4,950
2012 modern 1,156 #5,066
2013 modern 1,153 #5,167
2014 modern 1,149 #5,204
2015 modern 1,135 #5,212
2016 modern 1,127 #5,232

Geography

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Where Tubbs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Abingdon St Helen, Abingdon St Nicholas, London parishes, West Tytherley, East Tytherley, West Dean, East and West Buckholt (incl. Crown Farm), Broughton, Bos and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Taunton Deane, Wycombe, Winchester, Christchurch and East Hampshire. 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 Abingdon St Helen, Abingdon St Nicholas Berkshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 West Tytherley, East Tytherley, West Dean, East and West Buckholt (incl. Crown Farm), Broughton, Bos Hampshire
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Taunton Deane 012 Taunton Deane
2 Wycombe 022 Wycombe
3 Winchester 003 Winchester
4 Christchurch 005 Christchurch
5 East Hampshire 011 East Hampshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tubb

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tubb

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Tubb is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tubb is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tubb 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 Tubb 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 Tubb, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Tubb

The surname TUBB is believed to have originated in England, possibly in the late medieval period or earlier. It is thought to have derived from an Old English word "tubb," meaning a wooden tub or barrel, suggesting an occupational origin for individuals involved in the making or transportation of such containers.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where a person named Richard Tubb was listed. This document provides evidence of the name's existence in England during the 12th century.

Over the centuries, the name appeared in various historical records, including the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, where a Thomas Tubbe was recorded. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327 also mention a John Tubbe, indicating the name's presence in different regions of England.

The TUBB surname has also been associated with certain place names, such as Tubbenden in Kent, which may have influenced the development of the name's spelling variations. Other early spellings include Tub, Tubbe, and Tubbs.

Notable individuals with the surname TUBB throughout history include:

1. William Tubb (c. 1600-1677), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Wroughton in Wiltshire. 2. John Tubb (1701-1783), a British naval officer who served as a captain in the Royal Navy and participated in various battles during the 18th century. 3. Henry Tubb (1769-1842), an English architect known for designing several notable buildings in London, including St. James's Church and the Royal Botanic Gardens. 4. Elizabeth Tubb (1777-1859), a British botanical illustrator and artist who produced numerous drawings and watercolors of plants and flowers. 5. Thomas Tubb (1854-1932), a New Zealand farmer and politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives for the Wairarapa electorate.

While the TUBB surname has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, through various migration patterns over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tubb families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tubb 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. Hampshire leads with 285 Tubbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.47x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 285 11.47x
Middlesex 202 1.67x
Berkshire 137 15.05x
Surrey 112 1.90x
Oxfordshire 101 13.49x
Warwickshire 55 1.80x
Kent 47 1.14x
Buckinghamshire 26 3.55x
Devon 26 1.03x
Yorkshire 26 0.22x
Sussex 24 1.17x
Gloucestershire 23 0.97x
Lancashire 23 0.16x
Wiltshire 22 2.05x
Dorset 20 2.51x
Cornwall 16 1.17x
Essex 13 0.54x
Lanarkshire 11 0.28x
Leicestershire 8 0.60x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.49x
Staffordshire 8 0.20x
Derbyshire 5 0.26x
Glamorgan 5 0.24x
Lincolnshire 5 0.26x
Northumberland 5 0.28x
Shropshire 5 0.48x
Worcestershire 5 0.32x
Royal Navy 4 2.77x
Somerset 4 0.20x
Northamptonshire 3 0.26x
Cheshire 2 0.07x
Berwickshire 1 0.68x
Cumberland 1 0.10x
Denbighshire 1 0.22x
Durham 1 0.03x
Herefordshire 1 0.20x
Norfolk 1 0.05x
Suffolk 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 38 Tubbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.80x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 38 7.80x
Abingdon St Helen 31 116.50x
Millbrook 28 44.74x
Birmingham 22 2.16x
St Pancras London 22 2.25x
Camberwell 21 2.71x
West Dean 21 1615.38x
Kensington London 20 2.97x
Romsey Extra 17 115.02x
Rotherwick 17 890.05x
Aston 16 1.90x
Shoreditch London 15 2.85x
Cookham 14 49.35x
Harlington 14 219.09x
Andover 13 55.37x
Hackney London 13 1.91x
Hungerford 12 97.48x
Islington London 12 1.02x
Send Ripley 12 155.84x
St George Hanover 12 7.58x
Wycombe 12 21.96x
Bray 11 41.14x
Govan 11 1.13x
Houghton 11 611.11x
Newington 11 2.46x
Southampton St Mary 11 7.04x
Battersea 10 2.24x
Ipsden 10 338.98x
Mile End New Town 10 60.39x
Northwood 10 28.26x
Bethnal Green London 9 1.71x
Deptford St Paul 9 2.82x
Hartley Wintney 9 120.48x
Hornsey 9 5.87x
Long Sutton 9 681.82x
Newhaven 9 54.18x
Richmond 9 10.87x
Sonning 9 89.55x
Studland 9 355.73x
Castle Church 8 32.52x
Culham 8 357.14x
Egham 8 22.06x
Hursley 8 138.65x
Littlehampton 8 49.02x
Reading St Giles 8 8.96x
Shipton Under Wychwood 8 165.98x
St Marylebone London 8 1.24x
Wareham Holy Trinity 8 230.55x
West Derby 8 1.90x
Basingstoke 7 24.49x
Cowley 7 29.95x
Great Marlow 7 35.37x
Michelmersh 7 145.23x
Minster In Thanet 7 81.30x
Oxford St Clement 7 37.04x
Reading St Mary 7 9.60x
Shiplake 7 274.51x
Waltham Holy Cross 7 31.29x
Wheatley 7 165.48x
Wimbledon 7 10.55x
Bossington 6 4285.71x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 2.68x
Bromley 6 9.52x
Cubbington 6 147.06x
Eston 6 22.93x
Finchley 6 12.91x
Hanwell 6 27.91x
Lambeth 6 0.57x
Lambourn 6 66.52x
Mongewell 6 983.61x
North Stoke 6 869.57x
Odiham 6 55.00x
St Thomas Apostle 6 141.84x
Tandridge 6 236.22x
Westminster St 6 13.42x
Wootton 6 392.16x
Acton 5 7.03x
Calverton 5 96.71x
Hammersmith London 5 1.67x
Leeds 5 0.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 72
Elizabeth 43
Sarah 43
Ann 27
Alice 23
Eliza 22
Ellen 21
Jane 20
Emma 19
Emily 18
Annie 16
Kate 12
Charlotte 10
Edith 10
Anne 9
Louisa 9
Ada 8
Martha 8
Caroline 7
Fanny 7
Hannah 7
Harriett 7
Maria 7
Susan 7
Agnes 6
Amelia 6
Florence 6
Lucy 6
Margaret 6
Rose 6
Selina 6
Bessie 5
Catherine 5
Harriet 5
Rosa 5
Amy 4
Anna 4
Clara 4
Frances 4
Jessie 4
Julia 4
Matilda 4
Grace 3
Helen 3
Laura 3
Lydia 3
Minnie 3
Susannah 3
Ethel 2
Thurza 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 73
George 64
John 52
Charles 51
James 47
Henry 35
Thomas 29
Alfred 18
Joseph 17
Frederick 16
Albert 13
Harry 13
Edward 11
Francis 10
Frank 10
Arthur 9
Edwin 9
Richard 7
Walter 7
Daniel 5
Ernest 5
Herbert 5
Benjamin 4
David 4
Stephen 4
Fredk. 3
Robert 3
Samuel 3
Chas. 2
Ezra 2
Jesse 2
Job 2
Louis 2
Richd. 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Algernon 1
Anthony 1
Ben 1
Chas.W. 1
Edwd. 1
Elias 1
F. 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Hy. 1
Isaac 1
J. 1
Jacob 1
Wm.G. 1

FAQ

Tubb surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tubb surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,251 people were recorded with the Tubb surname. That placed it at #3,253 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tubb surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,127 in 2016. That gives Tubb a modern rank of #5,232.

What does the Tubb surname mean?

A variant spelling of an English surname derived from the Old French "tub", meaning a water trough or open vessel.

What does the Tubb map show?

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