NameCensus.

UK surname

Tuffley

An English habitational surname denoting someone from the village of Tuffley in Gloucestershire.

In the 1881 census there were 202 people recorded with the Tuffley surname, ranking it #12,753 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 175, ranked #21,383, down from #12,753 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Leek and Minchinhampton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest of Dean, Rotherham and Aylesbury Vale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tuffley is 241 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 13.4%.

1881 census count

202

Ranked #12,753

Modern count

175

2016, ranked #21,383

Peak year

1901

241 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tuffley had 202 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,753 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 175 in 2016, ranked #21,383.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 241 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Tuffley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tuffley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tuffley 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 105 #16,618
1861 historical 142 #15,982
1881 historical 202 #12,753
1891 historical 213 #14,269
1901 historical 241 #13,417
1911 historical 230 #13,686
1997 modern 201 #17,564
1998 modern 195 #18,397
1999 modern 198 #18,343
2000 modern 195 #18,494
2001 modern 181 #19,106
2002 modern 191 #18,817
2003 modern 194 #18,463
2004 modern 195 #18,500
2005 modern 187 #18,924
2006 modern 183 #19,326
2007 modern 178 #19,887
2008 modern 173 #20,465
2009 modern 178 #20,486
2010 modern 177 #21,034
2011 modern 183 #20,425
2012 modern 178 #20,758
2013 modern 179 #21,028
2014 modern 178 #21,259
2015 modern 179 #21,069
2016 modern 175 #21,383

Geography

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Where Tuffleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Leek, Minchinhampton, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest of Dean, Rotherham, Aylesbury Vale, Shropshire and Stroud. 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 Leek Staffordshire
3 Minchinhampton Gloucestershire
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest of Dean 004 Forest of Dean
2 Rotherham 029 Rotherham
3 Aylesbury Vale 010 Aylesbury Vale
4 Shropshire 038 Shropshire
5 Stroud 015 Stroud

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tuffley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tuffley

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Tuffley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Tuffley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Tuffley 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

Tuffley is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Tuffley

The surname Tuffley is of English origin, originating from the village of Tuffley, located in Gloucestershire, England. The name is derived from the Old English words "tufu" meaning "hillock" or "small hill," and "leah," meaning "a clearing in a forest."

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Tuffley dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Tuffelege." This ancient record provides evidence of the name's existence in the region during the Norman conquest of England.

In the 13th century, records show the name spelled as "Tuffelay" and "Tuffelee," indicating variations in spelling over time. The earliest known bearer of the surname was William de Tuffeley, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1230.

One notable historical figure with the surname Tuffley was Sir John Tuffley (1520-1589), a prominent landowner and member of the English gentry. He served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another individual of importance was Richard Tuffley (1615-1677), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious texts, including "The Doctrine of the Holy Trinity Explained and Defended" (1670).

In the 18th century, Thomas Tuffley (1735-1809) was a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including St. Paul's Church in Covent Garden.

During the Victorian era, Emily Tuffley (1830-1912) gained recognition as a renowned poet and writer, publishing several volumes of poetry and contributing to various literary magazines of the time.

Lastly, in the 20th century, Sir William Tuffley (1910-1988) was a prominent British businessman and philanthropist, known for his significant contributions to various charitable organizations and his support for educational initiatives.

Throughout history, the surname Tuffley has maintained its connection to the village of Tuffley in Gloucestershire, reflecting the name's geographic origins and the enduring legacy of those who have borne this distinctive surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tuffley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tuffley 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. Gloucestershire leads with 67 Tuffleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.25x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 67 17.25x
Warwickshire 36 7.21x
Staffordshire 20 2.99x
Leicestershire 16 7.29x
Lancashire 12 0.51x
Worcestershire 12 4.64x
Middlesex 10 0.51x
Hampshire 7 1.72x
Nottinghamshire 4 1.50x
Kent 3 0.44x
Lincolnshire 3 0.95x
Oxfordshire 3 2.45x
Sussex 2 0.60x
Berkshire 1 0.67x
Cheshire 1 0.23x
Devon 1 0.24x
Hertfordshire 1 0.73x
Northamptonshire 1 0.54x
Royal Navy 1 4.24x
Surrey 1 0.10x
Wiltshire 1 0.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 18 Tuffleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.82x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 18 10.82x
Leicester St Margaret 11 20.55x
Longborough 11 2558.14x
Ashleworth 10 2941.18x
Minchinhampton 9 291.26x
Bootle Cum Linacre 8 42.87x
Charlton Kings 8 297.40x
Gloucester Kingsholm St 7 482.76x
Curborough Elmhurst 6 4285.71x
Long Compton 6 1276.60x
Aston 5 3.64x
Brading 5 92.76x
Cowley 5 2500.00x
Dodderhill 5 454.55x
Harborne 5 23.34x
Gloucester St Michael 4 449.44x
Great Malvern 4 74.07x
Nottingham St Mary 4 5.79x
Temple Grafton 4 1428.57x
Titteworth 4 388.35x
Toxteth Park 4 5.03x
Broadway 3 270.27x
Bromley 3 29.13x
Cassington 3 1304.35x
Goxhill 3 384.62x
Prestwold Cotes 3 7500.00x
Shoreditch London 3 3.49x
St Marylebone London 3 2.84x
Avening 2 145.99x
Brighton 2 2.97x
Chedworth 2 357.14x
Cheltenham 2 6.68x
Coln St Dennis 2 1538.46x
Great Washbourne 2 3333.33x
Hoby 2 952.38x
Kings Bromley 2 526.32x
Leek Lowe 2 22.50x
Newport 2 90.91x
Old Stratford 2 70.67x
Baunton 1 1111.11x
Childer Thornton 1 238.10x
Devonport 1 21.10x
East Barnet 1 36.90x
Fulham London 1 3.48x
Hackney London 1 0.90x
Hammersmith London 1 2.05x
Harrington 1 714.29x
Horsley 1 58.14x
Newcastle Under Lyme 1 8.45x
Royal Navy 1 4.96x
Sedghill 1 769.23x
St Giles In Fields 1 14.64x
Stow On The Wold 1 116.28x
Streatham 1 6.81x
Sutton Coldfield 1 19.05x
Wootton 1 400.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Elizabeth 7
Emma 6
Sarah 6
Eliza 4
Fanny 4
Kate 4
Martha 4
Ann 3
Ellen 3
Jane 3
Sophia 3
Agnes 2
Charlotte 2
Emily 2
Faith 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Sally 2
Adelaide 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Clara 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Hanneh 1
Helen 1
Hellen 1
Julia 1
Letitia 1
Lily 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Matilda 1
Minnie 1
Rebecca 1
Rhoda 1
Rosanna 1
Selina 1
Threasa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 17
Thomas 12
John 11
Joseph 6
Robert 6
George 5
Henry 5
Edward 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
David 3
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Ernest 2
Harry 2
Paul 2
Daniel 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Geo.F. 1
Giles 1
James 1
Owen 1
Richard 1
Sebastian 1
Valentine 1
Wallace 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Tuffley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tuffley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 202 people were recorded with the Tuffley surname. That placed it at #12,753 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tuffley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 175 in 2016. That gives Tuffley a modern rank of #21,383.

What does the Tuffley surname mean?

An English habitational surname denoting someone from the village of Tuffley in Gloucestershire.

What does the Tuffley map show?

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