NameCensus.

UK surname

Tweddell

An English topographic surname derived from a dwelling near a small stream or two streams.

In the 1881 census there were 248 people recorded with the Tweddell surname, ranking it #11,140 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 434, ranked #11,102, up from #11,140 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Newcastle All Saints. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newcastle upon Tyne, Eden and Herefordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tweddell is 443 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 75.0%.

1881 census count

248

Ranked #11,140

Modern count

434

2016, ranked #11,102

Peak year

2014

443 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tweddell had 248 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,140 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 434 in 2016, ranked #11,102.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 379 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tweddell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tweddell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tweddell 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 179 #11,346
1861 historical 197 #12,166
1881 historical 248 #11,140
1891 historical 295 #11,255
1901 historical 379 #9,841
1911 historical 376 #9,736
1997 modern 421 #10,589
1998 modern 419 #10,992
1999 modern 413 #11,180
2000 modern 411 #11,185
2001 modern 418 #10,860
2002 modern 415 #11,133
2003 modern 386 #11,544
2004 modern 397 #11,345
2005 modern 383 #11,565
2006 modern 389 #11,476
2007 modern 400 #11,374
2008 modern 398 #11,525
2009 modern 407 #11,556
2010 modern 422 #11,493
2011 modern 413 #11,560
2012 modern 428 #11,092
2013 modern 428 #11,304
2014 modern 443 #11,038
2015 modern 443 #10,957
2016 modern 434 #11,102

Geography

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Where Tweddells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Newcastle All Saints, North Meols and Long Benton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newcastle upon Tyne, Eden and Herefordshire. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
4 North Meols Lancashire
5 Long Benton Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newcastle upon Tyne 014 Newcastle upon Tyne
2 Newcastle upon Tyne 015 Newcastle upon Tyne
3 Eden 005 Eden
4 Herefordshire 021 Herefordshire, County of
5 Newcastle upon Tyne 031 Newcastle upon Tyne

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tweddell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tweddell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tweddell, 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 Tweddell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Tweddell 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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Tweddell is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tweddell is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tweddell 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 Tweddell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Tweddell

The surname Tweddell originates from the northern English counties of Northumberland and Durham, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "tweo" meaning "two" and "dell" meaning "valley", suggesting that the name initially referred to someone who lived in a place with two valleys or dales.

Tweddell is a locational surname, indicating that the earliest bearers of this name likely hailed from a specific place called Tweeddale or Tweedell. Historical records show variations in spelling such as Tuedell, Tweddell, and Twedell, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal inconsistencies of the time.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland from 1197, where a certain William de Tuedal is mentioned. This suggests that the surname was already established by the late 12th century in that region.

In the 13th century, the Tweddell family held lands and properties in the vicinity of the River Tweed, which flows through the Scottish Borders and Northumberland. This further reinforces the connection between the surname and the geographical features of the area.

Notable individuals with the surname Tweddell include:

1. John Tweddell (1769-1799), an English traveller and antiquarian who explored parts of the Middle East and Greece. His travels were published posthumously as "Remains of John Tweddell."

2. Ralph Hart Tweddell (1843-1925), an English industrialist and member of parliament, who founded the Tweddell's Colliery Company in County Durham.

3. George Tweddell (1809-1881), an English architect and surveyor, known for his work on several churches and public buildings in the north of England.

4. William Tweddell (1635-1696), an English clergyman and author, who served as the vicar of Flixborough in Lincolnshire and wrote religious works.

5. Thomas Tweddell (1823-1875), an English cricketer who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club in the mid-19th century.

Throughout history, variations of the name Tweddell have appeared in various records, such as parish registers, tax rolls, and property deeds, reflecting the presence of families bearing this surname across northern England and the Scottish Borders.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tweddell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tweddell 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. Durham leads with 91 Tweddells recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.75x.

County Total Index
Durham 91 12.75x
Northumberland 91 25.49x
Yorkshire 37 1.56x
Lancashire 13 0.46x
Surrey 6 0.51x
Middlesex 4 0.17x
Kent 3 0.37x
Midlothian 1 0.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gateshead in Durham leads with 32 Tweddells recorded in 1881 and an index of 59.87x.

Place Total Index
Gateshead 32 59.87x
Byker 22 124.65x
Longbenton 14 92.59x
Throckley 13 1326.53x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 12 38.81x
Stokesley 11 743.24x
Wallbottle 10 1315.79x
Edington 9 30000.00x
Haltwhistle 8 462.43x
Newbottle 8 205.13x
Scarisbrick 8 241.69x
Middlesbrough 7 22.60x
Thirsk 7 255.47x
Westgate 7 31.66x
Camberwell 6 3.91x
Hartlepool 6 59.11x
Houghton Le Spring 6 121.70x
Thornaby 6 67.49x
Whickham 5 76.10x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 4 18.76x
Aughton 3 106.38x
Bishopwearmouth 3 4.90x
South Shields 3 47.17x
Stranton 3 12.48x
Sunderland 3 23.79x
Corbridge 2 152.67x
Darlington 2 7.26x
Gillingham 2 11.85x
Great Ayton 2 136.99x
Kensington London 2 1.50x
Lamesley 2 52.08x
Richmond 2 53.76x
St Pancras London 2 1.04x
Westoe 2 4.94x
Winlaton 2 29.20x
Earsdon 1 34.48x
Everton 1 1.10x
Framwellgate 1 23.64x
Inveresk 1 11.49x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 5.40x
North Meols 1 3.59x
Northallerton 1 32.89x
Scarborough 1 4.63x
Stone In Dartford 1 47.62x
Tanfield 1 11.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Elizabeth 17
Margaret 9
Jane 7
Isabella 6
Sarah 5
Ann 4
Barbara 3
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Alice 2
Anne 2
Annie 2
Emily 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Kate 2
Augusta 1
Christiana 1
Dora 1
Eliz. 1
Elizab. 1
Elizbth. 1
Florence 1
Grace 1
Hilda 1
Isabel 1
Jessie 1
Josephine 1
Leah 1
Lilian 1
Louise 1
Lydia 1
M.E. 1
Margery 1
Martha 1
Nellie 1
Nelly 1
Phillis 1
Rachael 1
S.O. 1
Susanna 1
Susannah 1
Thomasina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 22
John 22
William 15
Thomas 13
Robert 8
Edward 6
Henry 4
Isaac 4
Thos. 4
Horatio 3
Andrew 2
Anthony 2
James 2
Marshall 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Edwd. 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Joseph 1
Percy 1
Ralph 1
Richard 1
Robinson 1
Rowland 1
Samuel 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Tweddell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tweddell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 248 people were recorded with the Tweddell surname. That placed it at #11,140 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tweddell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 434 in 2016. That gives Tweddell a modern rank of #11,102.

What does the Tweddell surname mean?

An English topographic surname derived from a dwelling near a small stream or two streams.

What does the Tweddell map show?

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