NameCensus.

UK surname

Tubby

A nickname surname referring to someone overweight or plump.

In the 1881 census there were 442 people recorded with the Tubby surname, ranking it #7,414 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 627, ranked #8,409, down from #7,414 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hemsby, Cawston and Great and Little Poringland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Broadland, North Norfolk and Great Yarmouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tubby is 746 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.9%.

1881 census count

442

Ranked #7,414

Modern count

627

2016, ranked #8,409

Peak year

1998

746 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tubby had 442 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,414 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 627 in 2016, ranked #8,409.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 678 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tubby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tubby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tubby 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 294 #7,758
1861 historical 282 #8,895
1881 historical 442 #7,414
1891 historical 572 #6,649
1901 historical 628 #6,820
1911 historical 678 #6,231
1997 modern 703 #7,229
1998 modern 746 #7,135
1999 modern 742 #7,208
2000 modern 708 #7,428
2001 modern 705 #7,330
2002 modern 704 #7,474
2003 modern 697 #7,403
2004 modern 682 #7,563
2005 modern 643 #7,832
2006 modern 639 #7,911
2007 modern 628 #8,068
2008 modern 635 #8,054
2009 modern 649 #8,085
2010 modern 658 #8,165
2011 modern 637 #8,290
2012 modern 633 #8,242
2013 modern 655 #8,163
2014 modern 640 #8,366
2015 modern 637 #8,326
2016 modern 627 #8,409

Geography

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Where Tubbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hemsby, Cawston, Great and Little Poringland, Tottenham and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Broadland, North Norfolk and Great Yarmouth. 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 Hemsby Norfolk
2 Cawston Norfolk
3 Great and Little Poringland Norfolk
4 Tottenham Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Broadland 018 Broadland
2 Broadland 002 Broadland
3 Broadland 014 Broadland
4 North Norfolk 014 North Norfolk
5 Great Yarmouth 003 Great Yarmouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tubby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tubby

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tubby, 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 Tubby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Tubby 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Tubby is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Tubby is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tubby falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Tubby

The surname Tubby has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the late Middle Ages, around the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "tubb," which was a nickname given to someone who was stout or plump in appearance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mention a John Tubbe. This suggests that the name had already become established as a surname by that time.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Tubbe, Tubby, and Tubbie, reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that period. These variations likely arose from the way the name was pronounced in different regions of England.

The surname Tubby can also be traced back to certain place names in England, such as Tubbenden in Kent and Tubney in Berkshire. These place names may have contributed to the spread and adoption of the surname in their respective areas.

One notable individual with the surname Tubby was Sir John Tubby, who lived in the late 16th century and served as a Member of Parliament for Lewes in 1597. Another was Thomas Tubby, an English clergyman born in 1590, who became the Rector of Lydney in Gloucestershire.

In the 17th century, the surname gained further recognition with individuals like Captain Samuel Tubby, a naval officer who served during the Anglo-Dutch Wars in the 1660s. around the same time, the poet and playwright John Tubby was active in London's literary circles.

Moving into the 18th century, we find William Tubby, born in 1713, who was a prominent landowner and philanthropist in Gloucestershire. He founded several schools and endowed charities in the region.

As we can see, the surname Tubby has a rich history spanning several centuries in England, with roots that can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including politicians, clergymen, military officers, and landowners, leaving a lasting mark on the annals of English history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tubby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tubby 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. Norfolk leads with 225 Tubbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.02x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 225 34.02x
Middlesex 106 2.46x
Suffolk 44 8.40x
Surrey 16 0.76x
Essex 11 1.30x
Northumberland 11 1.72x
Yorkshire 9 0.21x
Buckinghamshire 8 3.08x
Oxfordshire 5 1.88x
Kent 2 0.14x
Sussex 2 0.28x
Berkshire 1 0.31x
Cheshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cawston in Norfolk leads with 36 Tubbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2222.22x.

Place Total Index
Cawston 36 2222.22x
Islington London 32 7.67x
Poringland 19 2714.29x
Great Yarmouth 15 27.38x
Hemsby 15 1578.95x
Potter Heigham 14 2295.08x
Bedlington 11 51.47x
Halesworth 11 295.70x
Thorpe Next Norwich 11 156.92x
Broome 10 1315.79x
Tottenham 10 14.60x
St Pancras London 9 2.60x
Finchley 8 48.51x
Worminghall 8 1777.78x
Belton 7 760.87x
Brandiston 7 3333.33x
Gorleston 7 52.59x
Hornsey 7 12.87x
Ipswich St Nicholas 7 242.21x
Wacton 7 2058.82x
Bramerton 6 1621.62x
Ellingham 6 1200.00x
Friern Barnet 6 63.29x
Fritton 6 1764.71x
Haveringland 6 3529.41x
Hempnall 6 461.54x
Lambeth 6 1.60x
Mile End Old Town 6 8.84x
Wanstead 6 40.35x
Bow London 5 9.13x
Clerkenwell London 5 4.92x
Holy Trinity 5 4.88x
Norwich St Saviour 5 215.52x
Bethnal Green London 4 2.14x
Bunwell 4 314.96x
Caston 4 500.00x
Ipswich St Clement 4 30.03x
Lowestoft 4 16.16x
Norwich St Andrew 4 353.98x
Pulham St Mary Virgin 4 330.58x
Ditchingham 3 189.87x
Guisbrough 3 32.19x
Holy Trinity Less 3 326.09x
Kirkley 3 68.49x
Newington 3 1.89x
Norwich St Clement 3 39.11x
Norwich St Swithin 3 263.16x
Runham 3 227.27x
St Ann Blackfriars 3 508.47x
Surlingham 3 416.67x
Waterperry 3 1200.00x
Briston 2 160.00x
Gayton 2 178.57x
Heckingham 2 408.16x
Hingham 2 87.34x
Penge 2 7.28x
Richmond 2 6.81x
St George Hanover 2 3.56x
Tacolnestone 2 307.69x
Walthamstow 2 6.54x
Ashwellthorpe 1 185.19x
Bermondsey 1 0.78x
Bexley 1 7.70x
Brighton 1 0.68x
Chiswick 1 4.25x
Croydon 1 0.86x
Frant 1 19.46x
Headington 1 24.27x
Heigham 1 2.82x
Ingham 1 149.25x
Lewisham 1 1.28x
Leyton Low 1 5.79x
Morley St Peter 1 500.00x
Narborough 1 156.25x
New Windsor 1 9.21x
Oxford St Ebbe 1 12.79x
Paddington London 1 0.63x
St Martin In Fields 1 3.88x
St Marylebone London 1 0.44x
Tasburgh 1 151.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 22
Mary 18
Sarah 17
Emma 11
Jane 8
Emily 7
Ann 6
Charlotte 6
Hannah 6
Harriet 6
Maria 6
Annie 5
Eliza 5
Florence 5
Alice 4
Esther 4
Louisa 4
Martha 4
Rachael 4
Ada 3
Beatrice 3
Christiana 3
Anna 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Elizth. 2
Ellen 2
Gertrude 2
Grace 2
Kate 2
Margerett 2
Rachel 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2
Susanna 2
Teresa 2
Thirza 2
Angelina 1
Bessie 1
Christana 1
Emilie 1
Ester 1
Fanny 1
Helenor 1
Honor 1
Isabeller 1
Jannet 1
Jeanette 1
Jessie 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 29
James 24
John 19
Robert 17
Henry 14
George 13
Charles 11
Edward 7
Thomas 6
Walter 6
Arthur 5
Samuel 5
Albert 4
Alfred 4
Daniel 3
Richard 3
Abraham 2
Chas. 2
Edwin 2
Fredrick 2
Joseph 2
Oliver 2
Alandery 1
Anthony 1
Artha 1
Authur 1
C.H. 1
Christopher 1
Cornelius 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredk.Geo. 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
Jacob 1
Leonard 1
Levi 1
Martin 1
Phillip 1
Simon 1
Stephen 1
Thimothy 1
Wim. 1
Wm.John 1

FAQ

Tubby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tubby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 442 people were recorded with the Tubby surname. That placed it at #7,414 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tubby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 627 in 2016. That gives Tubby a modern rank of #8,409.

What does the Tubby surname mean?

A nickname surname referring to someone overweight or plump.

What does the Tubby map show?

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