NameCensus.

UK surname

Tunstill

From a dwelling or farm near a ridge or tor.

In the 1881 census there were 123 people recorded with the Tunstill surname, ranking it #17,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 246, ranked #16,993, up from #17,506 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham, Burnley and Richmondshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tunstill is 246 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 100.0%.

1881 census count

123

Ranked #17,506

Modern count

246

2016, ranked #16,993

Peak year

2016

246 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tunstill had 123 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,506 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 246 in 2016, ranked #16,993.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 179 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Tunstill surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tunstill surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tunstill 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 86 #18,820
1861 historical 89 #22,419
1881 historical 123 #17,506
1891 historical 128 #20,393
1901 historical 179 #16,227
1911 historical 148 #18,023
1997 modern 186 #18,448
1998 modern 200 #18,114
1999 modern 204 #18,021
2000 modern 220 #17,138
2001 modern 220 #16,914
2002 modern 227 #16,877
2003 modern 217 #17,176
2004 modern 223 #16,965
2005 modern 209 #17,629
2006 modern 209 #17,784
2007 modern 214 #17,688
2008 modern 212 #17,950
2009 modern 222 #17,797
2010 modern 226 #17,942
2011 modern 215 #18,379
2012 modern 235 #17,242
2013 modern 234 #17,556
2014 modern 239 #17,429
2015 modern 239 #17,322
2016 modern 246 #16,993

Geography

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Where Tunstills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy, Bradford, Fylingdales and Rotherham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rotherham, Burnley and Richmondshire. 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 3
2 Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy Essex
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Fylingdales Yorkshire, North Riding
5 Rotherham Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rotherham 013 Rotherham
2 Rotherham 001 Rotherham
3 Burnley 004 Burnley
4 Richmondshire 006 Richmondshire
5 Rotherham 010 Rotherham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tunstill

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tunstill

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Tunstill is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tunstill 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

Tunstill 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 Tunstill 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
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Tunstill

The surname Tunstill has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the Old English words "tun," meaning an enclosure or homestead, and "stil," referring to a small stream or brook. This suggests that the name originated from a place named Tunstill, likely a settlement situated near a small stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tunstill can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it appears as "Tunstill." This document was a census-like record compiled during the reign of King Edward I, providing valuable insight into the names and locations of individuals at that time.

In the 14th century, the name Tunstill was also documented in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379, where it was spelled "Tunstill." These rolls were financial records maintained by the Exchequer, offering a glimpse into the names and locations of taxpayers during that period.

The Tunstill surname has also been associated with various place names throughout England. For instance, there is a village called Tunstall in Staffordshire, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the name in that region.

Among the notable individuals bearing the surname Tunstill throughout history, one can mention:

1. John Tunstill (c. 1470-1546), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Chancellor of the Diocese of Norwich.

2. William Tunstill (c. 1520-1580), a prominent merchant and landowner from Yorkshire, known for his involvement in trade and business ventures.

3. Elizabeth Tunstill (c. 1600-1670), a celebrated herbalist and apothecary from Derbyshire, renowned for her knowledge of medicinal plants and natural remedies.

4. Robert Tunstill (c. 1650-1720), an English architect and builder who contributed to the construction of several notable buildings in London during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

5. Mary Tunstill (c. 1725-1795), a well-known poet and writer from Warwickshire, whose works often explored themes of nature and rural life.

While the Tunstill surname may have evolved and adapted over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the Old English language and the early settlements of medieval England, reflecting the rich tapestry of history woven into this distinctive name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tunstill families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tunstill 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. Lancashire leads with 64 Tunstills recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.46x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 64 4.46x
Yorkshire 28 2.34x
Middlesex 13 1.07x
Essex 6 2.51x
Durham 5 1.39x
Surrey 4 0.68x
Hampshire 2 0.81x
Royal Navy 1 6.94x
Warwickshire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kimberworth in Yorkshire leads with 9 Tunstills recorded in 1881 and an index of 135.34x.

Place Total Index
Kimberworth 9 135.34x
Whalley 9 430.62x
Great Little Marsden 8 121.77x
Accrington 7 53.64x
Habergham Eaves 7 53.35x
Horton In Bradford 7 37.39x
Burnley 6 49.63x
Clerkenwell London 6 21.02x
Guiseley 6 392.16x
Hornsey 6 39.24x
Little Bolton 6 32.52x
Cheetham 5 46.73x
Sedgefield 5 390.63x
Fylingdales 4 666.67x
Guildford Holy Trinity 4 357.14x
Radcliffe 4 57.80x
Barrowford Booth 3 188.68x
Boreham 3 731.71x
Chelmsford 2 48.78x
Rumworth 2 97.56x
St Mary Extra 2 100.00x
Brentwood 1 68.49x
Broughton In Salford 1 7.62x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 4.39x
Farnworth 1 11.63x
Great Bolton 1 5.26x
Hipswell 1 909.09x
Lower Booths 1 38.91x
Royal Navy 1 8.12x
Skipton 1 26.53x
St Pancras London 1 1.03x
Warwick St Nicholas 1 44.64x
West Derby 1 2.38x
Wheatley Carr Booth 1 5000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Eliza 5
Elizabeth 5
Sarah 5
Emma 4
Margaret 4
Alice 3
Hannah 3
Ada 2
Ann 2
Emily 2
Jane 2
A. 1
Anna 1
Catherine 1
Eleanor 1
Elinor 1
Ellen 1
Fanny 1
H. 1
Helen 1
Kate 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Maria 1
Rose 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
Robert 7
Thomas 4
William 4
Henry 3
James 3
Harry 2
Joseph 2
Wm. 2
Alfred 1
Charles 1
Chr. 1
Geo. 1
George 1
Halstead 1
Henery 1
Isaac 1
Israel 1
J.Thomas 1
Jno. 1
Nicholas 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Robinson 1
Robt.Wm. 1
Sam. 1
Samuel 1
Thos 1
Tom. 1
W. 1
Walter 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Tunstill surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tunstill surname in 1881?

In 1881, 123 people were recorded with the Tunstill surname. That placed it at #17,506 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tunstill surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 246 in 2016. That gives Tunstill a modern rank of #16,993.

What does the Tunstill surname mean?

From a dwelling or farm near a ridge or tor.

What does the Tunstill map show?

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