NameCensus.

UK surname

Tuff

A surname derived from the Old English word "tuf" meaning a clump or tuft of grass, weeds, or bushes.

In the 1881 census there were 368 people recorded with the Tuff surname, ranking it #8,454 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 520, ranked #9,720, down from #8,454 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Witham, Rochester and Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blaby, Test Valley and Dacorum.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tuff is 549 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.3%.

1881 census count

368

Ranked #8,454

Modern count

520

2016, ranked #9,720

Peak year

1998

549 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tuff had 368 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,454 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 520 in 2016, ranked #9,720.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 532 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tuff surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tuff surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tuff 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 260 #8,512
1861 historical 340 #7,497
1881 historical 368 #8,454
1891 historical 483 #7,638
1901 historical 463 #8,526
1911 historical 532 #7,480
1997 modern 528 #8,934
1998 modern 549 #8,951
1999 modern 548 #9,012
2000 modern 534 #9,157
2001 modern 526 #9,112
2002 modern 519 #9,390
2003 modern 504 #9,433
2004 modern 489 #9,652
2005 modern 474 #9,826
2006 modern 471 #9,907
2007 modern 481 #9,844
2008 modern 495 #9,720
2009 modern 503 #9,804
2010 modern 527 #9,667
2011 modern 535 #9,480
2012 modern 508 #9,748
2013 modern 528 #9,633
2014 modern 529 #9,683
2015 modern 523 #9,694
2016 modern 520 #9,720

Geography

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Where Tuffs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Witham, Rochester, Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, London parishes and Gateshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blaby, Test Valley, Dacorum, North East Lincolnshire and Teignbridge. 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 Witham Essex
2 Rochester Kent
3 Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst Sussex
4 London parishes London 3
5 Gateshead Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blaby 013 Blaby
2 Test Valley 008 Test Valley
3 Dacorum 017 Dacorum
4 North East Lincolnshire 021 North East Lincolnshire
5 Teignbridge 019 Teignbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tuff

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tuff

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Tuff is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Tuff is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tuff falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Tuff

The surname Tuff has its origins in England and dates back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "tuf," meaning a clump or tuft, potentially referring to someone who lived near a distinctive tuft of vegetation or a particular landform.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1195, where a person named Radulfus Tuff is mentioned. This suggests that the surname was already in use by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Tufft, Tuffe, and Tuft, indicating slight variations in spelling. For instance, the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273 mentions a certain William Tufft.

The Tuff surname is also linked to several place names in England, including Tuft Farm in Berkshire and Tuft Hill in Somerset. These place names may have influenced the adoption of the surname by families residing in those areas.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Tuff surname. One such figure was Sir John Tuff, a prominent English merchant and politician who lived in the 15th century (c. 1410-1489). He served as the Sheriff of London in 1472 and was a Member of Parliament for the City of London.

Another notable Tuff was Thomas Tuff (c. 1554-1624), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1613 to 1617.

In the 17th century, Edward Tuff (1619-1676) was a renowned English mathematician and astronomer. He contributed significantly to the development of logarithmic tables and published several works on mathematics and astronomy.

The Tuff surname also has connections to the arts. Robert Tuff (1822-1891) was a prominent English painter and illustrator known for his landscape paintings and illustrations of works by authors like Charles Dickens and William Makepeace Thackeray.

Lastly, Sir William Tuff (1859-1942) was a distinguished British engineer and industrialist. He played a crucial role in the development of the automotive industry and was knighted for his contributions in 1918.

While these are just a few examples, the Tuff surname has a rich history spanning centuries and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, academics, artists, and industrialists.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tuff families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tuff 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. Kent leads with 102 Tuffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.28x.

County Total Index
Kent 102 8.28x
Durham 46 4.28x
Essex 36 5.05x
Middlesex 28 0.78x
Northumberland 25 4.66x
Yorkshire 23 0.64x
Gloucestershire 15 2.12x
Staffordshire 12 0.99x
Surrey 12 0.68x
Norfolk 11 1.98x
Sussex 11 1.81x
Lancashire 9 0.21x
Midlothian 9 1.86x
Hampshire 6 0.81x
Lincolnshire 6 1.04x
Lanarkshire 5 0.43x
Cumberland 3 0.97x
Cheshire 2 0.25x
Royal Navy 2 4.65x
Somerset 2 0.34x
Warwickshire 2 0.22x
Dorset 1 0.42x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.40x
Roxburghshire 1 1.53x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Ham in Essex leads with 17 Tuffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.81x.

Place Total Index
West Ham 17 10.81x
Westgate 17 51.13x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 10 15.01x
Chilham 10 571.43x
Gateshead 10 12.44x
Rochester St Margaret 10 76.98x
Barham 9 720.00x
Kensington London 9 4.49x
Monkwearmouth Shore 9 42.94x
South Leith 9 16.54x
Elswick 8 18.67x
Greenwich 8 13.93x
Sittingbourne 8 82.30x
Terling 8 754.72x
Witton In Smallburgh 8 2580.65x
Thurgoland 7 290.46x
West Herrington 7 186.17x
Maidstone 6 16.36x
Newcastle Under Lyme 6 27.83x
Upper Hardres 6 1666.67x
Westoe 6 9.86x
Wye 6 314.14x
East Farleigh 5 241.55x
Lambeth 5 1.59x
Rivenhall 5 588.24x
Witham 5 136.24x
York Holy Trinity 5 161.81x
Ashford 4 33.36x
Bishopwearmouth 4 4.34x
Clifton In York 4 53.48x
Fittleworth 4 465.12x
Folkestone 4 16.74x
Glasgow 4 1.93x
Great Grimsby 4 10.92x
Heworth 4 18.90x
Isleworth 4 24.92x
Middlesbrough 4 8.59x
Openshaw 4 19.94x
St George In East 4 16.29x
Washington 4 88.89x
West Bromwich 4 5.74x
Westwell 4 325.20x
Widnes 4 12.95x
Bethnal Green London 3 1.91x
Brighton 3 2.44x
Bristol St Paul In 3 15.91x
Eastbourne 3 10.71x
Elmsted 3 566.04x
Lower Hardres 3 857.14x
Newington 3 2.25x
Shorne 3 275.23x
St Cuthbert W O 3 19.80x
Altrincham 2 14.37x
Canterbury St Mary N 2 240.96x
Clee With Weelsby 2 15.84x
Enmore 2 571.43x
Great Yarmouth 2 4.35x
Mile End Old Town 2 3.51x
Royal Navy 2 5.44x
Ryde 2 12.59x
Southampton St Mary 2 4.30x
St Martin In Fields 2 9.26x
Woodchurch 2 130.72x
Cheetham 1 3.13x
Cheltenham 1 1.83x
East Peckham 1 39.06x
Elham 1 68.03x
Hawick 1 6.84x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 2.15x
Kinson 1 21.60x
Leeds 1 0.50x
New Monkland 1 2.90x
Rochester St Nicholas 1 26.11x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.38x
St George Hanover 1 2.12x
St Marylebone London 1 0.52x
St Pancras London 1 0.34x
Waltham 1 158.73x
Willesborough 1 30.21x
Woodwalton 1 285.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Elizabeth 19
Sarah 14
Eliza 7
Emily 7
Ellen 6
Jane 6
Ann 5
Hannah 5
Alice 4
Annie 4
Emma 4
Harriet 4
Charlotte 3
Isabella 3
Margaret 3
Martha 3
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Roseannah 2
Susan 2
Caroline 1
E. 1
Edward 1
Eleanor 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Flora 1
Francis 1
Gertrude 1
Henrietta 1
Infant 1
Isabel 1
Laura 1
Lizzie 1
M.A. 1
Maryann 1
Minnie 1
Miranda 1
Mrs 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 17
John 16
Henry 14
Thomas 14
George 13
Edward 11
James 11
Charles 7
Stephen 7
Joseph 6
Robert 5
Alfred 3
Daniel 3
Edwin 3
Frederick 3
Herbert 3
Walter 3
Arthur 2
Jesse 2
Samuel 2
Alexander 1
Allan 1
Arther 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Eli 1
Frances 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.J. 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
J.J. 1
Jas. 1
N.B. 1
Nathan 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Richard 1
T. 1
Tom 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Tuff surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tuff surname in 1881?

In 1881, 368 people were recorded with the Tuff surname. That placed it at #8,454 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tuff surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 520 in 2016. That gives Tuff a modern rank of #9,720.

What does the Tuff surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English word "tuf" meaning a clump or tuft of grass, weeds, or bushes.

What does the Tuff map show?

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