NameCensus.

UK surname

Tweedy

Derived from a nickname referring to a hardy, muscular person or someone who sold or made a coarse woolen cloth.

In the 1881 census there were 611 people recorded with the Tweedy surname, ranking it #5,748 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 630, ranked #8,380, down from #5,748 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newcastle St Andrew, Horton and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle upon Tyne.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tweedy is 702 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.1%.

1881 census count

611

Ranked #5,748

Modern count

630

2016, ranked #8,380

Peak year

1911

702 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tweedy had 611 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,748 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 630 in 2016, ranked #8,380.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 702 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Tweedy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tweedy surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Tweedy 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 431 #5,681
1861 historical 365 #7,009
1881 historical 611 #5,748
1891 historical 611 #6,291
1901 historical 672 #6,483
1911 historical 702 #6,071
1997 modern 626 #7,904
1998 modern 642 #7,975
1999 modern 649 #7,950
2000 modern 630 #8,134
2001 modern 622 #8,062
2002 modern 621 #8,244
2003 modern 632 #7,994
2004 modern 618 #8,164
2005 modern 652 #7,751
2006 modern 648 #7,819
2007 modern 637 #7,998
2008 modern 636 #8,044
2009 modern 646 #8,121
2010 modern 662 #8,125
2011 modern 645 #8,202
2012 modern 617 #8,413
2013 modern 636 #8,345
2014 modern 635 #8,411
2015 modern 637 #8,326
2016 modern 630 #8,380

Geography

Back to top

Where Tweedys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newcastle St Andrew, Horton, Gateshead, Newcastle All Saints and Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle upon Tyne. 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 Newcastle St Andrew Northumberland
2 Horton Northumberland
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
5 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 032 Northumberland
2 Northumberland 026 Northumberland
3 North Tyneside 006 North Tyneside
4 Newcastle upon Tyne 026 Newcastle upon Tyne
5 North Tyneside 007 North Tyneside

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Tweedy

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Tweedy

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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, Tweedy 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

Tweedy is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tweedy 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 Tweedy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Tweedy

The surname Tweedy is thought to have originated in England, specifically in the northern counties of Northumberland and Durham. It is believed to date back to the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "twede," which referred to a coarse woolen cloth manufactured in the region.

The earliest known record of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland in 1195, where it is spelled "Twede." This suggests that the name was likely associated with someone involved in the production or trade of tweed cloth during that time period.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various records as "Twedi" and "Tuede," further indicating its connection to the textile industry in northern England. The surname may have also been influenced by place names such as Tweed, a river that flows through the Scottish Borders and Northumberland.

One notable historical figure with the surname Tweedy was John Tweedy, a 17th-century English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of York in 1681. Another was William Tweedy, a 19th-century English clergyman and author who wrote extensively on religious topics.

In the United States, the Tweedy family has a long history dating back to the colonial era. Benjamin Tweedy, born in 1714 in Pennsylvania, was a prominent Quaker and landowner. His descendants went on to establish themselves in various fields, including law, medicine, and education.

Another notable American with this surname was Edmund Tweedy, born in 1809 in Ohio. He was a successful businessman and philanthropist who founded the Tweedy Produce Company, which became one of the largest produce distributors in the Midwest.

In the literary world, Christopher Tweedy, born in 1877 in England, was a respected author and journalist who wrote for various publications, including The Times and The Spectator. His works covered a range of topics, from travel to literary criticism.

Overall, the surname Tweedy has a rich history rooted in the textile industry of northern England, with various branches of the family establishing themselves across different professions and locations over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Tweedy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tweedy 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. Northumberland leads with 213 Tweedys recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.90x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 213 23.90x
Yorkshire 108 1.82x
Durham 97 5.44x
Middlesex 44 0.73x
Lancashire 42 0.59x
Norfolk 20 2.17x
Cornwall 16 2.36x
Staffordshire 14 0.69x
Monmouthshire 13 3.00x
Kent 12 0.59x
Cumberland 9 1.75x
Cheshire 5 0.38x
Essex 5 0.42x
Devon 4 0.32x
Hampshire 2 0.16x
Surrey 2 0.07x
Worcestershire 2 0.26x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.28x
Channel Islands 1 0.56x
Dorset 1 0.25x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.84x
Midlothian 1 0.12x
Sussex 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newcastle On Tyne St in Northumberland leads with 20 Tweedys recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.30x.

Place Total Index
Newcastle On Tyne St 20 43.30x
Chatton 19 695.97x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 18 33.82x
Cowpen 15 73.10x
Alnwick 14 91.38x
Benwell 13 133.47x
Bishop Auckland 11 46.01x
Elswick 10 14.06x
Gateshead 10 7.50x
Islington London 10 1.72x
Linthorpe 10 28.23x
South Lynn 10 96.25x
Middleton In Oldham 9 42.23x
Askham Bryan 8 1290.32x
Darlington 8 11.63x
Hartley 8 336.13x
Horton 8 181.82x
Kirby Fleetham 8 701.75x
Ryton 8 127.80x
Christchurch 7 52.28x
Coxlodge 7 103.24x
Hepscott 7 1590.91x
Howgrave 7 8750.00x
North Shields 7 39.37x
Penshaw 7 130.84x
South Blyth Newsham 7 400.00x
Truro St Mary 7 122.81x
Wath In Ripon Norton 7 972.22x
Westminster St James 7 11.37x
Alnmouth 6 545.45x
Bishopwearmouth 6 3.92x
Brandon Byshottles 6 26.88x
Earsdon 6 82.76x
Guisbrough 6 46.26x
Hopwood 6 64.59x
Stranton 6 10.00x
Tanfield 6 28.32x
Tonge 6 40.24x
Whitby 6 30.00x
Wolverhampton 6 3.86x
Bromley 5 16.05x
Chipping 5 247.52x
Chirton 5 24.79x
Hartlepool 5 19.75x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 5 6.48x
Kensington London 5 1.50x
Lower Machen 5 234.74x
Middlesbrough 5 6.47x
Monkwearmouth 5 29.31x
Northallerton 5 65.96x
Old Malton 5 134.05x
Redruth 5 26.07x
Rothbury 5 195.31x
Scarborough 5 9.27x
St Marylebone London 5 1.56x
Thirsk 5 72.99x
Thorneyburn 5 2000.00x
Wakefield 5 10.97x
West Ham 5 1.92x
Brompton In 4 150.94x
Cummersdale 4 227.27x
Headingley Cum Burley 4 10.47x
Lesbury 4 203.05x
Mile End Old Town 4 4.23x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 4.16x
Stockton On Tees 4 4.66x
Stoke Upon Trent 4 1.87x
Ulgham 4 270.27x
Bedlington 3 10.08x
Bromley London 3 2.28x
Castleton 3 4.23x
Chatham 3 5.34x
Chester Le Street 3 21.93x
Halifax 3 3.44x
Hammersmith London 3 2.03x
Heddon On Wall 3 275.23x
Pendleton In Salford 3 3.54x
Preston In Tynemouth 3 85.71x
Ruswarp 3 45.45x
Thornaby 3 13.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 51
Elizabeth 39
Jane 26
Margaret 21
Ann 16
Sarah 16
Ellen 11
Alice 10
Hannah 10
Isabella 9
Charlotte 7
Annie 6
Eleanor 4
Eliza 4
Harriet 4
Ada 3
Dorothy 3
Elisabeth 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Florence 3
Grace 3
Janet 3
Jessie 3
Maria 3
Sophia 3
Violet 3
Anna 2
Anne 2
Barbra 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Dorothea 2
Edith 2
Henrietta 2
Louisa 2
Lydia 2
Margret 2
Martha 2
Rebecca 2
Annabell 1
Betty 1
Blanch 1
Elizth. 1
Elloner 1
Emely 1
Josephine 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 43
John 38
George 29
James 22
Robert 16
Joseph 14
Thomas 12
Jacob 6
Charles 5
Henry 5
Andrew 4
Arthur 4
David 4
Harry 4
Frederick 3
Herbert 3
Samuel 3
Stephen 3
Walter 3
Wm. 3
Albert 2
Alex 2
Alfred 2
Benjamin 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Jas. 2
Matthew 2
Ralph 2
Thos. 2
Arch. 1
Christopher 1
Dyoon 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Harold 1
Harvey 1
Hugh 1
Jas 1
Jesse 1
Michal 1
Nathaniel 1
Nicholas 1
Philip 1
Richaid 1
Richard 1
Robert.H. 1
Robt. 1
Ross 1
Wm.Alfred 1

FAQ

Tweedy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tweedy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 611 people were recorded with the Tweedy surname. That placed it at #5,748 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tweedy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 630 in 2016. That gives Tweedy a modern rank of #8,380.

What does the Tweedy surname mean?

Derived from a nickname referring to a hardy, muscular person or someone who sold or made a coarse woolen cloth.

What does the Tweedy map show?

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