NameCensus.

UK surname

Turvey

A locational surname derived from the village of Turvey in Bedfordshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,405 people recorded with the Turvey surname, ranking it #2,955 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,854, ranked #3,423, down from #2,955 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Pershore Holy Cross, Pershore St Andrew, London parishes and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Northamptonshire, Wychavon and Aylesbury Vale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Turvey is 2,106 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.0%.

1881 census count

1,405

Ranked #2,955

Modern count

1,854

2016, ranked #3,423

Peak year

1999

2,106 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Turvey had 1,405 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,955 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,854 in 2016, ranked #3,423.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,087 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Turvey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Turvey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Turvey 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 810 #3,313
1861 historical 710 #3,820
1881 historical 1,405 #2,955
1891 historical 1,359 #3,196
1901 historical 1,889 #2,795
1911 historical 2,087 #2,397
1997 modern 1,965 #3,099
1998 modern 2,090 #3,050
1999 modern 2,106 #3,053
2000 modern 2,093 #3,056
2001 modern 2,039 #3,067
2002 modern 2,063 #3,092
2003 modern 1,998 #3,116
2004 modern 1,991 #3,129
2005 modern 1,954 #3,155
2006 modern 1,930 #3,191
2007 modern 1,917 #3,228
2008 modern 1,891 #3,291
2009 modern 1,934 #3,304
2010 modern 1,989 #3,295
2011 modern 1,950 #3,307
2012 modern 1,865 #3,384
2013 modern 1,897 #3,386
2014 modern 1,901 #3,391
2015 modern 1,862 #3,427
2016 modern 1,854 #3,423

Geography

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Where Turveys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Pershore Holy Cross, Pershore St Andrew, London parishes, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory and Houghton Regis. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Northamptonshire, Wychavon, Aylesbury Vale and Stratford-on-Avon. 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 Pershore Holy Cross, Pershore St Andrew Worcestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
5 Houghton Regis Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Northamptonshire 010 South Northamptonshire
2 South Northamptonshire 009 South Northamptonshire
3 Wychavon 012 Wychavon
4 Aylesbury Vale 018 Aylesbury Vale
5 Stratford-on-Avon 008 Stratford-on-Avon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Turvey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Turvey

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Turvey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Turvey 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Turvey 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

Turvey 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

Turvey falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Turvey 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 Turvey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Turvey

The surname Turvey originates from England and dates back to the late 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the place name Turvey, a village located in the county of Bedfordshire. The name itself is thought to come from the Old English words "tor" meaning a tower or rocky hill, and "wig" meaning a village or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Turvey can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Torrhoni." This entry suggests that the name was already established in the region around that time.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various historical records with spellings such as "Turuey" and "Turueye." It is likely that these variations were influenced by the local dialects and the scribes who transcribed the names.

In the 14th century, a notable figure with this surname was John Turvey, who was born in Turvey, Bedfordshire, around 1320. He served as a member of the English Parliament and was involved in local politics.

Another prominent individual was Sir William Turvey, who lived in the 15th century. He was a knight and landowner in Buckinghamshire, and his family had connections to the nearby village of Turvey.

During the 16th century, the surname appeared in various parish records, particularly in the counties of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Northamptonshire. One notable figure from this time was Robert Turvey, who was born in Turvey, Bedfordshire, in 1542. He was a scholar and author who wrote several works on theology and philosophy.

In the 17th century, the name Turvey was associated with the English Civil War. Captain Thomas Turvey, born in 1610, fought for the Parliamentarian forces and was involved in several battles.

Towards the end of the 18th century, a significant figure with this surname was Sir John Turvey, who was born in 1760 in Buckinghamshire. He was a successful merchant and philanthropist, known for his contributions to education and social causes in his local community.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Turvey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Turvey 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. Middlesex leads with 162 Turveys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.18x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 162 1.18x
Northamptonshire 148 11.46x
Bedfordshire 142 19.98x
Worcestershire 135 7.53x
Buckinghamshire 132 15.91x
Staffordshire 84 1.81x
Warwickshire 82 2.37x
Norfolk 63 2.99x
Lancashire 52 0.32x
Essex 48 1.77x
Surrey 46 0.69x
Kent 38 0.81x
Gloucestershire 33 1.23x
Yorkshire 33 0.24x
Berkshire 29 2.81x
Nottinghamshire 23 1.24x
Hampshire 18 0.64x
Somerset 15 0.68x
Oxfordshire 13 1.53x
Sussex 12 0.52x
Suffolk 11 0.66x
Durham 9 0.22x
Dorset 8 0.89x
Lanarkshire 8 0.18x
Wiltshire 8 0.66x
Cheshire 7 0.23x
Derbyshire 7 0.33x
Lincolnshire 7 0.32x
Cambridgeshire 6 0.69x
Hertfordshire 6 0.63x
Monmouthshire 6 0.60x
Herefordshire 5 0.89x
Leicestershire 4 0.26x
Argyllshire 2 0.52x
Glamorgan 2 0.08x
Denbighshire 1 0.19x
Devon 1 0.04x
Royal Navy 1 0.61x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Houghton Regis in Bedfordshire leads with 45 Turveys recorded in 1881 and an index of 397.18x.

Place Total Index
Houghton Regis 45 397.18x
Birmingham 39 3.38x
Brackley St Peter 36 406.32x
Mursley 32 1198.50x
Aston 26 2.73x
Pershore Holy Cross 23 200.17x
Foulden 22 1013.82x
Banham 21 390.33x
Northampton St Sepulchre 19 28.93x
Swanbourne 19 840.71x
Islington London 18 1.35x
Kidderminster Borough 18 17.16x
Northampton All Sts 18 41.09x
Buckingham 17 100.71x
Totternhoe 17 512.05x
Willesden 17 13.14x
Dunstable 16 73.26x
Barrow In Furness 15 6.77x
Blockley 15 148.08x
Helmdon 15 602.41x
Wellingborough 15 23.11x
Houghton Conquest 14 479.45x
Manchester 14 1.91x
Mangotsfield 14 52.18x
West Ham 14 2.34x
St Pancras London 13 1.18x
Tipton 13 9.16x
Cheddington 12 342.86x
Kings Sutton 12 209.06x
Worcester St Peter 12 35.38x
Evenley 11 466.10x
Fulham London 11 5.53x
Romford 11 25.68x
Stourbridge 11 23.85x
Woolwich 11 6.36x
Chiswick 10 13.33x
Hammersmith London 10 2.96x
Lambeth 10 0.84x
Nottingham St Mary 10 2.09x
Princes Risborough 10 89.93x
Brighton 9 1.93x
Chalgrave 9 218.98x
Ebrington 9 352.94x
Handsworth 9 7.88x
Pershore St Andrew 9 91.00x
Tooting Graveney 9 48.36x
Walsall Foreign 9 3.76x
Whittington 9 514.29x
Brentwood 8 48.43x
Chorlton On Medlock 8 3.09x
Govan 8 0.73x
Great Warley 8 130.29x
Grimston 8 150.09x
Luton 8 6.50x
Minster In Sheppey 8 10.31x
Paddington London 8 1.59x
Southwark St Saviour 8 11.34x
Stalbridge 8 93.46x
Strood 8 29.95x
Toddington 8 78.51x
Uttoxeter 8 33.73x
Wolverhampton 8 2.25x
Duston 7 59.73x
Kingswinford 7 4.16x
Mile End Old Town 7 3.23x
Oddington 7 972.22x
Portsea 7 1.27x
Ratcliffe London 7 9.24x
Shinfield 7 115.51x
St George In East 7 7.50x
St Marylebone London 7 0.96x
St Peter Colebrook 7 176.77x
Stockton On Tees 7 3.56x
Swinfen Packington 7 368.42x
Westbury 7 357.14x
Woburn 7 113.45x
Worcester St Martin 7 28.95x
York St Maurice 7 27.33x
Aylesford 6 46.23x
Liverpool 6 0.61x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 102
John 69
George 68
James 46
Henry 42
Thomas 40
Charles 30
Joseph 30
Alfred 17
Frederick 17
Samuel 16
Albert 15
Arthur 15
Harry 14
Robert 13
Edward 9
Francis 6
Walter 6
Wm. 6
Benjamin 5
Edwin 5
Ernest 5
Frank 5
Richard 5
Herbert 4
Jacob 4
Thos. 4
Abraham 3
David 3
Fred 3
Fredk. 3
Isaac 3
Joshua 3
Leonard 3
Chas. 2
Geo. 2
Jonas 2
Patrick 2
Reuben 2
Richd. 2
Robt. 2
Stephen 2
Asceline 1
Austin 1
Bejamin 1
Edmund 1
F. 1
Isaiah 1
Jabez 1
Wm.T. 1

FAQ

Turvey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Turvey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,405 people were recorded with the Turvey surname. That placed it at #2,955 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Turvey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,854 in 2016. That gives Turvey a modern rank of #3,423.

What does the Turvey surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the village of Turvey in Bedfordshire, England.

What does the Turvey map show?

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