NameCensus.

UK surname

Tweddle

A locational surname derived from a place name in England, possibly referring to a valley near water.

In the 1881 census there were 1,034 people recorded with the Tweddle surname, ranking it #3,801 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,505, ranked #4,110, down from #3,801 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Brampton (including Midgeholme) and Lanercost and Carlisle St Cuthbert. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Allerdale and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tweddle is 1,602 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 45.6%.

1881 census count

1,034

Ranked #3,801

Modern count

1,505

2016, ranked #4,110

Peak year

2002

1,602 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tweddle had 1,034 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,801 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,505 in 2016, ranked #4,110.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,396 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Tweddle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tweddle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tweddle 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 591 #4,326
1861 historical 536 #4,904
1881 historical 1,034 #3,801
1891 historical 1,105 #3,834
1901 historical 1,396 #3,602
1911 historical 1,370 #3,510
1997 modern 1,478 #3,957
1998 modern 1,572 #3,889
1999 modern 1,587 #3,899
2000 modern 1,593 #3,874
2001 modern 1,577 #3,826
2002 modern 1,602 #3,845
2003 modern 1,526 #3,941
2004 modern 1,520 #3,949
2005 modern 1,486 #3,996
2006 modern 1,503 #3,957
2007 modern 1,494 #4,014
2008 modern 1,482 #4,075
2009 modern 1,522 #4,064
2010 modern 1,575 #4,013
2011 modern 1,524 #4,099
2012 modern 1,492 #4,114
2013 modern 1,537 #4,062
2014 modern 1,541 #4,082
2015 modern 1,501 #4,137
2016 modern 1,505 #4,110

Geography

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Where Tweddles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Brampton (including Midgeholme) and Lanercost, Carlisle St Cuthbert, Carlisle St Mary, Eaglesfield Abbey and Gateshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Allerdale and County Durham. 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 Brampton (including Midgeholme) and Lanercost Cumberland
3 Carlisle St Cuthbert Cumberland
4 Carlisle St Mary, Eaglesfield Abbey Cumberland
5 Gateshead Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 008 Northumberland
2 Allerdale 001 Allerdale
3 Northumberland 037 Northumberland
4 Northumberland 040 Northumberland
5 County Durham 059 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tweddle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tweddle

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Tweddle is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tweddle is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tweddle falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tweddle is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Tweddle

The surname Tweddle is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in Northumberland, a county in the north of England bordering Scotland. The name is likely derived from the Old English words "twedde," meaning "second," and "dell," referring to a valley or deep hollow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Tweddle surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland from the 13th century, where it appears as "Tweddell." This suggests that the name was initially associated with a location, possibly referring to a second or secondary valley in the region.

The Tweddle name is also mentioned in the Feet of Fines records for Northumberland in 1428, which document legal transactions involving land ownership. These records provide valuable insights into the distribution and prominence of the surname during that time period.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the Tweddle surname was John Tweddle, who was born in 1520 in Northumberland. He was a prominent landowner and played a significant role in local affairs.

During the 17th century, the Tweddle family expanded their presence beyond Northumberland. William Tweddle, born in 1635 in Yorkshire, was a respected merchant and trader who contributed to the economic growth of the region.

In the 18th century, the Tweddle name gained further recognition with Thomas Tweddle, born in 1712 in Durham. He was a renowned scholar and author, known for his works on philosophy and theology.

Another notable figure was Robert Tweddle, born in 1780 in Northumberland. He was a celebrated engineer and inventor, responsible for several pioneering designs and innovations in the field of machinery.

As the centuries progressed, the Tweddle surname spread across England and beyond, with individuals making significant contributions in various fields, including politics, arts, and sciences.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tweddle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tweddle 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 332 Tweddles recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.10x.

County Total Index
Durham 332 11.10x
Cumberland 280 32.34x
Northumberland 202 13.50x
Yorkshire 83 0.83x
Lancashire 39 0.33x
Dumfriesshire 25 11.25x
Middlesex 17 0.17x
Lanarkshire 14 0.43x
Midlothian 6 0.45x
Berwickshire 5 4.11x
Buckinghamshire 5 0.82x
Surrey 5 0.10x
Westmorland 5 2.26x
Sussex 4 0.24x
Derbyshire 3 0.19x
Cheshire 2 0.09x
Ayrshire 1 0.13x
Essex 1 0.05x
Renfrewshire 1 0.13x
Warwickshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Arthuret in Cumberland leads with 47 Tweddles recorded in 1881 and an index of 520.49x.

Place Total Index
Arthuret 47 520.49x
Stanhope 36 116.54x
Askerton 34 3063.06x
Hexham 29 125.22x
Darlington 23 19.91x
Gateshead 22 9.82x
Winlaton 19 66.20x
Aspatria 17 204.33x
Bishopwearmouth 16 6.23x
Caldewgate 16 33.73x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 16 17.90x
Stockton On Tees 15 10.40x
Cowpen 14 40.63x
Monkwearmouth Shore 14 23.97x
Sanquhar 14 179.26x
Whitehaven 14 30.34x
Workington 14 28.24x
Bishop Auckland 13 32.39x
Graystoke 13 844.16x
Toxteth Park 13 3.22x
Wolsingham 13 47.67x
Kingwater 12 1052.63x
Belbank 11 3437.50x
Canonbie 11 116.53x
Scaleby 11 683.23x
Westoe 11 6.49x
Broomhaugh 10 1315.79x
East Thickley 10 164.74x
St Cuthbert W O 10 23.69x
Thirlwall 10 492.61x
Whickham 10 36.32x
Yafforth 10 1538.46x
Bedlington 9 18.01x
Crook Billy Row 9 23.49x
Escomb 9 65.45x
Linthorpe 9 15.13x
Newbiggin In Hexham 9 3333.33x
Salford 9 2.56x
Stapleton 9 703.13x
Tynemouth 9 11.23x
Waterhead 9 841.12x
Gainford 8 258.90x
Hartley 8 200.50x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 8 6.17x
Holywell 8 103.90x
Longbenton 8 12.62x
Newcastle On Tyne St 8 10.31x
Auckland St Andrew 7 88.61x
Middlesbrough 7 5.39x
North Cowton 7 721.65x
North Seaton 7 111.47x
Old Park 7 221.52x
Redworth 7 366.49x
Scorton 7 500.00x
Westgate 7 7.55x
Witton Le Wear 7 82.45x
York St Maurice 7 37.29x
Byker 6 8.11x
Stockley 6 158.31x
Stranton 6 5.96x
Trimdon 6 56.71x
West Auckland 6 54.84x
Westerton 6 377.36x
Aylesbury 5 18.56x
Benwell 5 30.56x
Blenkinsopp 5 199.20x
Chirton 5 14.77x
Coldingham 5 45.66x
Crosscanonby 5 17.46x
Featherstone 5 420.17x
Govan 5 0.62x
Lambeth 5 0.57x
Rickergate 5 27.29x
Ryhope 5 24.07x
Thornaby 5 13.43x
Willington 5 28.92x
Lamplugh 4 92.17x
Middleton Upon Leven 4 1333.33x
Ormesby 4 14.94x
Prudhoe Castle 4 137.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 97
Elizabeth 60
Jane 52
Margaret 49
Sarah 26
Hannah 22
Ann 21
Isabella 21
Annie 14
Ellen 8
Anne 6
Catherine 6
Eliza 4
Edith 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Frances 3
Harriet 3
Martha 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Augusta 2
Barbara 2
Bell 2
Bessie 2
Eliz. 2
Eva 2
Florence 2
Jemima 2
Jessie 2
Lilian 2
Maggie 2
Margt. 2
May 2
Minnie 2
Phoebe 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Sybilla 2
Agnes 1
Bridget 1
Cecilia 1
Dorothy 1
E. 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz.A. 1
Emely 1
Henrietta 1
Isabel 1
Judith 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 108
William 67
Thomas 47
Joseph 35
George 33
Robert 28
Richard 20
James 19
David 13
Charles 9
Edward 7
Henry 6
Matthew 5
Andrew 4
Isaac 4
Stephen 4
Alexander 3
Alfred 3
Luke 3
Ralph 3
Samuel 3
Tom 3
Walter 3
Wm. 3
Arthur 2
Christopher 2
Daniel 2
Ernest 2
Martin 2
Newton 2
Philip 2
Robinson 2
Archibald 1
Arnold 1
Douglas 1
E. 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Halleyburton 1
Herbert 1
Infant 1
Jno. 1
Michael 1
Myton 1
Nicholas 1
Oswald 1
Peter 1
Phillip 1
Wm.Jos. 1

FAQ

Tweddle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tweddle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,034 people were recorded with the Tweddle surname. That placed it at #3,801 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tweddle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,505 in 2016. That gives Tweddle a modern rank of #4,110.

What does the Tweddle surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in England, possibly referring to a valley near water.

What does the Tweddle map show?

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