NameCensus.

UK surname

Tuck

Derived from a nickname for a clever or crafty person, from an Old English word meaning "to pull or draw."

In the 1881 census there were 3,796 people recorded with the Tuck surname, ranking it #1,203 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,498, ranked #1,511, down from #1,203 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Symondsbury and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset, South Somerset and Southwark.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tuck is 4,924 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18.5%.

1881 census count

3,796

Ranked #1,203

Modern count

4,498

2016, ranked #1,511

Peak year

1911

4,924 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tuck had 3,796 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,203 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,498 in 2016, ranked #1,511.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,924 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tuck surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tuck surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tuck 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 2,530 #1,174
1861 historical 2,030 #1,426
1881 historical 3,796 #1,203
1891 historical 3,439 #1,384
1901 historical 4,617 #1,228
1911 historical 4,924 #1,059
1997 modern 4,771 #1,375
1998 modern 4,887 #1,393
1999 modern 4,876 #1,403
2000 modern 4,850 #1,404
2001 modern 4,740 #1,398
2002 modern 4,816 #1,411
2003 modern 4,636 #1,435
2004 modern 4,622 #1,436
2005 modern 4,566 #1,434
2006 modern 4,534 #1,444
2007 modern 4,515 #1,462
2008 modern 4,522 #1,472
2009 modern 4,620 #1,476
2010 modern 4,724 #1,480
2011 modern 4,629 #1,486
2012 modern 4,545 #1,485
2013 modern 4,589 #1,499
2014 modern 4,602 #1,503
2015 modern 4,525 #1,512
2016 modern 4,498 #1,511

Geography

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Where Tucks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Symondsbury, Portsmouth, Portsea 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 West Dorset, South Somerset, Southwark and North Norfolk. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Symondsbury Dorset
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 006 West Dorset
2 South Somerset 021 South Somerset
3 West Dorset 008 West Dorset
4 Southwark 030 Southwark
5 North Norfolk 002 North Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tuck

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tuck

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Tuck 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

Tuck is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Tuck

The surname Tuck is believed to have originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "tucc," meaning "coarse cloth" or "tunic." This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname given to someone who worked with or produced coarse cloth.

One of the earliest records of the name Tuck can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Tuca." This reference indicates that the name was already in use during the Norman era in England. Over time, the spelling evolved to its more modern form of "Tuck."

In the 13th century, the name Tuck was associated with various place names in England, such as Tuckwell in Gloucestershire and Tuckfield in Sussex. These place names may have been derived from the surname or vice versa, reflecting the close relationship between surnames and locations during that period.

One notable individual with the surname Tuck was Robert Tuck, a 14th-century English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Lichfield from 1349 to 1358. Another early bearer of the name was John Tuck, a 15th-century English merchant and Member of Parliament for Gloucester in 1472.

In the 16th century, the name Tuck gained literary prominence through the character of Friar Tuck in the legendary tales of Robin Hood. Although a fictional character, Friar Tuck's name became closely associated with the English folklore surrounding Robin Hood's Merry Men.

During the 17th century, the name Tuck was found in various parts of England, including London, where Thomas Tuck, a prominent merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers, lived and worked.

As the British Empire expanded, the surname Tuck began to spread to other parts of the world. One notable example is Sir Ralph Tuck (1886-1973), a British civil engineer who played a significant role in the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia.

Throughout history, the surname Tuck has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including clergymen, merchants, politicians, and engineers. While its origins can be traced back to medieval England, the name has since taken on a global presence, reflecting the diverse journeys and contributions of those who bear it.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tuck families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tuck 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 583 Tucks recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.11x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 583 10.11x
Middlesex 547 1.46x
Hampshire 265 3.45x
Wiltshire 256 7.72x
Surrey 217 1.19x
Dorset 204 8.29x
Gloucestershire 189 2.57x
Somerset 151 2.50x
Cambridgeshire 130 5.47x
Devon 130 1.67x
Yorkshire 100 0.27x
Lancashire 91 0.20x
Suffolk 81 1.77x
Berkshire 80 2.84x
Essex 80 1.08x
Kent 80 0.63x
Durham 73 0.65x
Lincolnshire 65 1.08x
Huntingdonshire 52 6.98x
Northumberland 49 0.88x
Glamorgan 47 0.72x
Monmouthshire 46 1.70x
Channel Islands 42 3.78x
Hertfordshire 39 1.51x
Sussex 36 0.57x
Radnorshire 34 11.24x
Oxfordshire 27 1.17x
Cheshire 20 0.24x
Staffordshire 19 0.15x
Cumberland 15 0.46x
Cornwall 13 0.31x
Midlothian 11 0.22x
Northamptonshire 9 0.26x
Royal Navy 9 2.01x
Brecknockshire 7 0.93x
Warwickshire 6 0.06x
Buckinghamshire 5 0.22x
Derbyshire 5 0.09x
Leicestershire 5 0.12x
Rutland 5 1.82x
Angus 4 0.12x
Bedfordshire 3 0.15x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.06x
Shropshire 3 0.09x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.06x
Flintshire 2 0.20x
Lanarkshire 2 0.02x
Herefordshire 1 0.07x
Merionethshire 1 0.15x
Worcestershire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 63 Tucks recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.09x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 63 2.09x
Islington London 57 1.57x
Portsea 57 3.78x
Camberwell 50 2.09x
Christchurch 48 28.79x
Symondsbury 44 280.61x
Wootton Bassett 40 138.65x
Shoreditch London 37 2.28x
Kensington London 34 1.63x
Lambeth 32 0.98x
Sopley 31 293.28x
St Andrewthe Less 30 11.05x
Crewkerne 29 45.23x
Beaminster 28 102.34x
Heigham 28 9.05x
Hawkesbury 27 107.83x
Great Yarmouth 26 5.44x
Hackney London 26 1.24x
Swindon 25 9.72x
Paddington London 24 1.74x
Liddiard Millicent 23 201.93x
West Ham 23 1.41x
Newington 22 1.59x
North Creake 22 279.54x
Brisley 21 474.04x
Hindringham 21 277.78x
Portishead 21 46.80x
Lakenham 20 24.41x
Mile End Old Town 20 3.38x
Ripton Kings 20 851.06x
Bethnal Green London 19 1.17x
Chideock 19 219.15x
St Michaelinthe Vale 19 47.90x
Bermondsey 18 1.61x
East Dereham 18 24.70x
Great Grimsby 18 4.73x
Romsey Infra 18 69.10x
St Marylebone London 18 0.90x
Bow London 17 3.56x
Clapham 17 3.63x
Fakenham 17 59.86x
Farnham 17 11.96x
North Elmham 17 121.52x
Bromley London 16 1.94x
Newchurch 16 4.39x
Southampton St Mary 16 3.31x
Bisley 15 22.50x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 15 2.17x
Cookham 15 17.09x
Minchinhampton 15 25.59x
Abbots Ripton 14 276.68x
Barking 14 6.46x
Finchley 14 9.74x
Great Faringdon 14 34.60x
Norwich St Giles 14 75.84x
Winterbourne 14 34.44x
Hornsey 13 2.74x
Purton 13 44.04x
Runton 13 198.78x
Shadwell London 13 12.39x
Chatteris 12 19.80x
Chipping Sodbury 12 87.53x
Corfe Castle 12 52.61x
Denver 12 111.63x
East Chinnock 12 161.07x
Kirkley 12 31.40x
Misterton 12 140.19x
Southcoates 12 5.82x
St George Martyr 12 18.98x
Stroud 12 8.38x
Thetford St Peter 12 79.05x
Bedwellty 11 2.30x
Bristol St Paul In 11 5.61x
Broadwinsor 11 68.20x
Feltwell 11 98.39x
Leeds 11 0.52x
Lymm 11 18.28x
St Martin In Fields 11 4.90x
Swaffham 11 23.45x
Terrington St Clement 11 42.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 233
Elizabeth 157
Sarah 124
Eliza 70
Jane 67
Emily 64
Emma 63
Alice 61
Ellen 58
Ann 55
Annie 49
Florence 35
Charlotte 34
Hannah 31
Margaret 29
Caroline 28
Louisa 28
Martha 28
Susan 27
Harriet 25
Ada 23
Clara 23
Fanny 22
Kate 22
Edith 20
Maria 20
Amelia 15
Anna 15
Julia 15
Frances 14
Agnes 13
Elizth. 13
Harriett 12
Lucy 12
Matilda 12
Anne 11
Rachel 11
Rebecca 10
Catherine 9
Esther 9
Jessie 9
Laura 9
Rose 9
Sophia 9
Marion 8
Selina 8
Amy 7
Bessie 7
Eleanor 7
Ethel 7

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 249
John 172
George 150
Thomas 108
James 107
Henry 99
Charles 85
Robert 73
Alfred 65
Joseph 54
Edward 47
Frederick 47
Arthur 38
Harry 25
Albert 24
Isaac 22
Walter 22
Ernest 19
Richard 18
Samuel 17
Frank 15
Edwin 13
Edmund 11
Francis 11
Wm. 11
Herbert 9
Stephen 9
Robt. 8
David 7
Fred 7
Geo. 7
Earnest 6
Fredk. 6
Fredrick 6
Philip 6
Horace 5
Jesse 5
Mark 5
Thos. 5
Benjamin 4
Chas. 4
Cornelius 4
Josiah 4
Levi 4
Matthew 4
Percy 4
Reuben 4
Sidney 4
Tom 4
Joshua 3

FAQ

Tuck surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tuck surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,796 people were recorded with the Tuck surname. That placed it at #1,203 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tuck surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,498 in 2016. That gives Tuck a modern rank of #1,511.

What does the Tuck surname mean?

Derived from a nickname for a clever or crafty person, from an Old English word meaning "to pull or draw."

What does the Tuck map show?

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