UK surname
A Scottish locational surname referring to the valley of the River Tweed.
In the 1881 census there were 117 people recorded with the Tweeddale surname, ranking it #18,026 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 71, ranked #33,633, down from #18,026 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and West Linton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tweeddale is 161 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 39.3%.
1881 census count
117
Ranked #18,026
Modern count
71
2016, ranked #33,633
Peak year
1901
161 bearers
Map years
3
1881 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Tweeddale surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Tweeddale surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 71 | #20,875 |
| 1861 | historical | 80 | #23,566 |
| 1881 | historical | 117 | #18,026 |
| 1891 | historical | 104 | #23,388 |
| 1901 | historical | 161 | #17,324 |
| 1911 | historical | 44 | #28,454 |
| 1997 | modern | 82 | #29,325 |
| 1998 | modern | 89 | #29,026 |
| 1999 | modern | 84 | #29,700 |
| 2000 | modern | 97 | #28,142 |
| 2001 | modern | 93 | #28,382 |
| 2002 | modern | 84 | #29,982 |
| 2003 | modern | 76 | #30,883 |
| 2004 | modern | 84 | #30,244 |
| 2005 | modern | 77 | #31,156 |
| 2006 | modern | 79 | #31,263 |
| 2007 | modern | 76 | #31,966 |
| 2008 | modern | 75 | #32,373 |
| 2009 | modern | 75 | #32,733 |
| 2010 | modern | 69 | #33,560 |
| 2011 | modern | 76 | #32,989 |
| 2012 | modern | 79 | #32,966 |
| 2013 | modern | 73 | #33,557 |
| 2014 | modern | 72 | #33,647 |
| 2015 | modern | 73 | #33,541 |
| 2016 | modern | 71 | #33,633 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, West Linton, Glasgow and Paisley Abbey. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 2 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 3 | West Linton | Peebles |
| 4 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| 5 | Paisley Abbey | Renfrew |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Tweeddale surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tweeddale, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Tweeddale surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Tweeddale household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Tweeddale is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tweeddale is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Tweeddale, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Tweeddale originated in the Scottish Borders region, taking its name from the River Tweed and the valley it flows through, known as Tweeddale. The name is thought to have derived from the Brittonic word "Tuedion", meaning a border region or frontier.
The earliest recorded mention of the name Tweeddale dates back to the 12th century, with records of a land grant to Walter de Tweeddale in 1165. This suggests the name was well-established as a territorial designation by the medieval period.
In the 13th century, the Tweeddale family held significant lands and influence in the Scottish Borders region. Notable members include Roger de Tweeddale, who was awarded a charter by King Alexander II in 1235, granting him lands in Peeblesshire.
The Tweeddale name appears in various historical documents, including the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded Scottish nobles swearing fealty to King Edward I of England. John de Tweeddale is listed among those who gave their allegiance.
Over the centuries, spelling variations emerged, such as Tweedale, Tweddale, and Tweedell. These variations reflect the regional dialects and pronunciation differences across Scotland.
Prominent individuals with the Tweeddale surname include:
1. John Hay, 8th Marquess of Tweeddale (1695-1762), a Scottish nobleman and politician. 2. George Hay, 7th Marquess of Tweeddale (1686-1770), a Scottish representative peer in the House of Lords. 3. William Hay, 18th Earl of Erroll and 3rd Earl of Tweeddale (c. 1537-1585), a Scottish nobleman and Lord High Constable of Scotland. 4. John Hay, 1st Marquess of Tweeddale (1626-1697), a Scottish nobleman and statesman who served as Lord High Chancellor of Scotland. 5. Robert Hay, 8th Lord Yester and 2nd Earl of Tweeddale (c. 1599-1663), a Scottish nobleman and Covenanter.
The name Tweeddale has endured as a prominent Scottish surname, closely tied to the historical region from which it originated, and has been carried by notable figures throughout Scotland's history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tweeddale surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 42 Tweeddales recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.10x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lanarkshire | 42 | 12.10x |
| Midlothian | 20 | 13.91x |
| Northumberland | 10 | 6.26x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 0.65x |
| Peeblesshire | 7 | 138.61x |
| Norfolk | 6 | 3.64x |
| Renfrewshire | 5 | 6.01x |
| Stirlingshire | 5 | 12.63x |
| Gloucestershire | 4 | 1.90x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.31x |
| Fife | 1 | 1.57x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.08x |
| West Lothian | 1 | 6.19x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 14 Tweeddales recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.94x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Barony | 14 | 15.94x |
| Glasgow | 13 | 21.10x |
| Govan | 10 | 11.65x |
| Newcastle On Tyne All Sts | 9 | 94.34x |
| Edinburgh St Marys | 7 | 250.90x |
| West Linton | 7 | 1707.32x |
| Fring | 6 | 10000.00x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 5 | 8.65x |
| Lesmahagow | 5 | 136.24x |
| Stirling | 5 | 100.20x |
| Bethnal Green London | 4 | 8.58x |
| Boddington | 4 | 2666.67x |
| South Leith | 4 | 24.72x |
| Paisley Middle Church | 3 | 61.98x |
| St Marylebone London | 3 | 5.24x |
| Cramond | 2 | 183.49x |
| Paisley High Church | 2 | 30.21x |
| Abbotshall | 1 | 42.19x |
| Bathgate | 1 | 28.49x |
| Edinburgh St Stephens | 1 | 35.34x |
| Hurworth | 1 | 178.57x |
| Lasswade | 1 | 30.40x |
| North Shields | 1 | 31.35x |
| Withington | 1 | 24.39x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Tweeddale surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Tweeddale surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Tweeddale households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| Commission Agent | 1 |
| Cost Clerk | 1 |
| Cotton Waste Dealer | 1 |
| Drapers Shopman | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Engine Fitter | 1 |
| Farmer 53 Acres Emp 1 Boy | 1 |
| Farmer Wife | 1 |
| Farmers Daur | 1 |
| Farmers Son | 1 |
| Grocers Assistant | 1 |
| Grocers Shopman | 1 |
| Letter Press Printer | 1 |
| Pattern Maker (Artz) | 1 |
| Shop Keeper | 1 |
| Shop Keeper Gen | 1 |
| Vicar Of Fring & Shernbourne | 1 |
| Warehouseman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 117 people were recorded with the Tweeddale surname. That placed it at #18,026 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 71 in 2016. That gives Tweeddale a modern rank of #33,633.
A Scottish locational surname referring to the valley of the River Tweed.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Tweeddale bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.