NameCensus.

UK surname

Tunnacliffe

In the 1881 census there were 96 people recorded with the Tunnacliffe surname, ranking it #20,248 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 155, ranked #23,197, down from #20,248 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Mirfield, Kirkheaton and Wakefield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Salford and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tunnacliffe is 165 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 61.5%.

1881 census count

96

Ranked #20,248

Modern count

155

2016, ranked #23,197

Peak year

1891

165 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tunnacliffe had 96 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,248 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 155 in 2016, ranked #23,197.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 165 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Tunnacliffe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tunnacliffe surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tunnacliffe 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 101 #17,036
1861 historical 142 #15,982
1881 historical 96 #20,248
1891 historical 165 #17,143
1901 historical 110 #21,604
1911 historical 153 #17,633
1997 modern 155 #20,684
1998 modern 165 #20,423
1999 modern 157 #21,201
2000 modern 159 #20,975
2001 modern 157 #20,884
2002 modern 155 #21,431
2003 modern 150 #21,669
2004 modern 151 #21,720
2005 modern 150 #21,786
2006 modern 161 #20,972
2007 modern 158 #21,464
2008 modern 154 #22,034
2009 modern 162 #21,791
2010 modern 165 #22,026
2011 modern 162 #22,101
2012 modern 148 #23,457
2013 modern 161 #22,521
2014 modern 162 #22,624
2015 modern 159 #22,796
2016 modern 155 #23,197

Geography

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Where Tunnacliffes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Mirfield, Kirkheaton, Wakefield, Almondbury and Huddersfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Salford and Kirklees. 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 Mirfield Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Kirkheaton Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Almondbury Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Huddersfield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Salford 008 Salford
2 Kirklees 051 Kirklees
3 Kirklees 050 Kirklees
4 Kirklees 059 Kirklees
5 Kirklees 046 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tunnacliffe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tunnacliffe

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Tunnacliffe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Tunnacliffe household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Tunnacliffe is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Tunnacliffe is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tunnacliffe falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tunnacliffe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Tunnacliffe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tunnacliffe 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. Yorkshire leads with 82 Tunnacliffes recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.84x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 82 8.84x
Middlesex 6 0.64x
Cheshire 4 1.94x
Cambridgeshire 3 5.06x
Lancashire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lepton in Yorkshire leads with 17 Tunnacliffes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1752.58x.

Place Total Index
Lepton 17 1752.58x
Kirkburton 16 1467.89x
Huddersfield 15 110.95x
Mirfield 10 196.46x
Almondbury 9 200.45x
Dalton In Huddersfield 6 288.46x
Westminster St John 5 43.86x
Dukinfield 4 41.88x
Shelley 3 555.56x
Wisbech St Peter 3 101.01x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 2 60.42x
Thurstonland 2 625.00x
Lockwood 1 29.94x
Wakefield 1 14.04x
Westminster St 1 28.99x
Widnes 1 12.48x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 7
William 5
Charles 4
John 4
George 3
James 3
Thomas 3
Fred 2
Allen 1
Arthur 1
Ben 1
Ben. 1
Christopher 1
Clarence 1
David 1
Dick. 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Jesse 1
Joe 1
Jonathan 1
Joseph 1
Lewis 1
Mary 1
Preston 1
Rockley 1
Sam 1
Walter 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Tunnacliffe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tunnacliffe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 96 people were recorded with the Tunnacliffe surname. That placed it at #20,248 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tunnacliffe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 155 in 2016. That gives Tunnacliffe a modern rank of #23,197.

What does the Tunnacliffe map show?

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