NameCensus.

UK surname

Tutu

A nickname or surname derived from the word for a ballet skirt.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Coventry, Hounslow and Barking and Dagenham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tutu is 115 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

114

2016, ranked #28,515

Peak year

2013

115 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016, ranked #28,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Tutu surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tutu surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tutu 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
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1997 modern 18 #36,053
1998 modern 21 #35,788
1999 modern 19 #36,041
2000 modern 20 #35,915
2001 modern 20 #35,754
2002 modern 28 #35,139
2003 modern 35 #34,609
2004 modern 53 #33,336
2005 modern 63 #32,602
2006 modern 64 #32,839
2007 modern 73 #32,287
2008 modern 76 #32,279
2009 modern 79 #32,372
2010 modern 88 #31,875
2011 modern 87 #31,905
2012 modern 96 #30,949
2013 modern 115 #28,176
2014 modern 113 #28,779
2015 modern 112 #28,809
2016 modern 114 #28,515

Geography

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Where Tutus 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 Coventry, Hounslow, Barking and Dagenham, Barnet and Waltham Forest. 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 Coventry 028 Coventry
2 Hounslow 004 Hounslow
3 Barking and Dagenham 008 Barking and Dagenham
4 Barnet 036 Barnet
5 Waltham Forest 015 Waltham Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tutu

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tutu

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Tutu surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Tutu 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Tutu is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tutu 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

Tutu falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tutu 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
Black - African

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

Meaning and origin of Tutu

The surname TUTU has its origins in the French language, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the French word "tuteur," which means "tutor" or "guardian." This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational name given to those who worked as tutors or guardians.

In the early 1600s, the name TUTU appeared in various records across France, particularly in the regions of Normandy and Brittany. One notable reference can be found in the records of the city of Rouen, where a family by the name of TUTU resided in the late 16th century.

The earliest known individual with the surname TUTU was Jean TUTU, a French poet and playwright born in 1545 in the town of Caen, Normandy. His works, which included satirical plays and poetry, were widely acclaimed during his lifetime.

Another prominent figure with the surname TUTU was François TUTU, a French soldier who fought in the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). He gained recognition for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield, ultimately rising to the rank of colonel in the French army.

In the 18th century, the TUTU name gained some prominence in the field of education. Marie-Jeanne TUTU, born in 1720 in Paris, was a renowned teacher and author of several textbooks on language and literature. Her works were widely used in schools across France during that era.

The TUTU name also made its way to other parts of Europe, with records showing families bearing the surname in countries like Belgium and Switzerland. One notable individual was Henri TUTU, a Swiss banker and philanthropist born in Geneva in 1812. He was known for his philanthropic efforts and support of various charitable organizations.

In the 19th century, a family by the name of TUTU settled in the United Kingdom, where they established themselves as successful merchants. William TUTU (1838-1912), a prominent member of this family, was a successful businessman and philanthropist in London.

While the TUTU surname is not among the most common in the world, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and various regions, with notable individuals who have left their mark in fields such as literature, education, military, and business.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Tutu surname: questions and answers

How common is the Tutu surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016. That gives Tutu a modern rank of #28,515.

What does the Tutu surname mean?

A nickname or surname derived from the word for a ballet skirt.

What does the Tutu map show?

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