UK surname
A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a tunnel.
In the 1881 census there were 15 people recorded with the Tunner surname, ranking it #31,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 19, ranked #36,760, down from #31,451 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Glossop, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tunner is 341 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.7%.
1881 census count
15
Ranked #31,451
Modern count
19
2016, ranked #36,760
Peak year
1861
341 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Tunner surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Tunner surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 166 | #11,986 |
| 1861 | historical | 341 | #7,479 |
| 1881 | historical | 15 | #31,451 |
| 1891 | historical | 217 | #14,062 |
| 1901 | historical | 90 | #24,021 |
| 1911 | historical | 229 | #13,712 |
| 1997 | modern | 13 | #36,672 |
| 1998 | modern | 20 | #35,885 |
| 1999 | modern | 21 | #35,810 |
| 2000 | modern | 19 | #36,007 |
| 2001 | modern | 13 | #36,483 |
| 2002 | modern | 12 | #36,679 |
| 2003 | modern | 10 | #36,964 |
| 2004 | modern | 10 | #37,096 |
| 2005 | modern | 10 | #37,180 |
| 2006 | modern | 11 | #37,118 |
| 2007 | modern | 11 | #37,217 |
| 2008 | modern | 15 | #36,843 |
| 2009 | modern | 16 | #36,850 |
| 2010 | modern | 15 | #37,038 |
| 2011 | modern | 12 | #37,287 |
| 2012 | modern | 12 | #37,292 |
| 2013 | modern | 14 | #37,127 |
| 2014 | modern | 15 | #37,070 |
| 2015 | modern | 17 | #36,887 |
| 2016 | modern | 19 | #36,760 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Glossop, London parishes, St Pancras, Eccles and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glossop | Derbyshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Eccles | Lancashire |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Tunner surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tunner, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Tunner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Tunner household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Tunner is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tunner is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Tunner, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Tunner originated in England during the medieval period, likely derived from the Old English word "tun," meaning a farm or an enclosed village. It was a common occupational surname given to those who worked as farmers or lived in such settlements.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Tunur." This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century in various parts of England.
During the 13th century, the name was often spelled as "Tunner" or "Tunnur" in various historical records and documents. It is believed that the surname may have been influenced by the Old Norse word "tun," which also meant a farm or an enclosed area.
In the 14th century, the name was sometimes associated with place names, such as Tunner's Hill or Tunner's Field, indicating that some individuals with this surname may have owned or lived in these locations.
One notable bearer of the Tunner surname was John Tunner, a wealthy merchant who lived in London during the 15th century. Records show that he was involved in the wool trade and owned several properties in the city.
Another individual of note was William Tunner, a scholar and theologian who lived in the 16th century. He was born in Lincolnshire in 1520 and studied at Oxford University, where he later became a fellow and taught for many years.
In the 17th century, the Tunner family had a presence in various parts of England, including Yorkshire and Gloucestershire. One member of the family, Thomas Tunner, was a respected landowner and magistrate in Gloucestershire, born in 1635.
During the 18th century, the surname spread to other parts of the British Isles, including Scotland and Ireland. One notable Scottish bearer of the name was Robert Tunner, born in 1745, who was a successful merchant and shipowner based in Glasgow.
In the 19th century, the Tunner surname continued to be found across England, Scotland, and Ireland. One notable individual was Elizabeth Tunner, born in 1812 in Yorkshire, who was a prominent advocate for women's rights and education during the Victorian era.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tunner surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 9 Tunners recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.19x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 9 | 5.19x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 3.10x |
| Devon | 1 | 3.29x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 3.34x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 9.47x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 8.83x |
| Surrey | 1 | 1.41x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Worsley in Lancashire leads with 5 Tunners recorded in 1881 and an index of 467.29x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Worsley | 5 | 467.29x |
| Little Lever | 4 | 1818.18x |
| Bedwellty | 1 | 53.76x |
| Greenock Oldor West | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 1 | 34.01x |
| Stoke Damerel | 1 | 46.95x |
| Warblington | 1 | 833.33x |
| Whitby | 1 | 1428.57x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Tunner surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Tunner surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Tunner households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Brickmaker | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| General Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Moulder Iron | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Shipkeeper | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 15 people were recorded with the Tunner surname. That placed it at #31,451 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 19 in 2016. That gives Tunner a modern rank of #36,760.
A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a tunnel.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Tunner bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.