NameCensus.

UK surname

Tun

From the Turkish word meaning "tunic" or "undergarment", an occupational surname for a maker or seller of tunics.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Tun surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 126, ranked #26,686, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hillingdon, Derby and South Cambridgeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tun is 126 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12500.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

126

2016, ranked #26,686

Peak year

2016

126 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tun had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 126 in 2016, ranked #26,686.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 10 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Tun surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tun surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tun 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 10 #31,497
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1997 modern 43 #33,361
1998 modern 44 #33,462
1999 modern 49 #33,130
2000 modern 43 #33,709
2001 modern 48 #33,129
2002 modern 54 #32,927
2003 modern 45 #33,803
2004 modern 53 #33,336
2005 modern 60 #32,917
2006 modern 68 #32,441
2007 modern 67 #32,871
2008 modern 72 #32,656
2009 modern 77 #32,553
2010 modern 95 #31,000
2011 modern 103 #29,589
2012 modern 115 #27,717
2013 modern 119 #27,541
2014 modern 119 #27,813
2015 modern 122 #27,245
2016 modern 126 #26,686

Geography

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Where Tuns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hillingdon, Derby, South Cambridgeshire, Kensington and Chelsea and Wigan. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hillingdon 011 Hillingdon
2 Derby 022 Derby
3 South Cambridgeshire 011 South Cambridgeshire
4 Kensington and Chelsea 013 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Wigan 006 Wigan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tun

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tun

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Tun surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Tun 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Tun 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

Tun is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tun 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 Tun is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Tun, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Tun

The surname "TUN" has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "tun," which means an enclosure or a town.

In medieval England, the name "TUN" was often used to refer to people who lived in or were associated with a particular town or village. It was a descriptive surname, indicating the place of residence or origin of the bearer.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "TUN" can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which were records of landholders and tenants in various counties of England. The name appears in these rolls as "de Tun," reflecting the Norman influence on English surnames during that period.

The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, mentions several places with the prefix "Tun," such as Tuncroft and Tunbridge, which may have contributed to the development of the surname.

Notable individuals who bore the surname "TUN" throughout history include: 1. William de Tun (c. 1250 - 1320), a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Gloucestershire, England. 2. John Tun (c. 1400 - 1475), a merchant and alderman of the City of London, known for his involvement in the wool trade. 3. Alice Tun (c. 1470 - 1540), a philanthropist and benefactor who founded a school for underprivileged children in the village of Tunbridge Wells, Kent. 4. Thomas Tun (c. 1560 - 1628), a celebrated playwright and poet during the Elizabethan era, best known for his satirical works. 5. Elizabeth Tun (c. 1630 - 1692), a Puritan writer and diarist who documented her religious experiences in her journal, which provided valuable insights into 17th-century English society.

Over time, variations of the spelling emerged, including "Tunn," "Tunne," and "Tonne," reflecting regional dialects and linguistic changes. Some of these variants may have been influenced by the surnames derived from place names like Tunbridge Wells or Tunstall.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tun families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tun 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. Durham leads with 1 Tuns recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.84x.

County Total Index
Durham 1 34.84x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Monkwearmouth Shore in Durham leads with 1 Tuns recorded in 1881 and an index of 1666.67x.

Place Total Index
Monkwearmouth Shore 1 1666.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Hannah 1

FAQ

Tun surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tun surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Tun surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tun surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 126 in 2016. That gives Tun a modern rank of #26,686.

What does the Tun surname mean?

From the Turkish word meaning "tunic" or "undergarment", an occupational surname for a maker or seller of tunics.

What does the Tun map show?

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