NameCensus.

UK surname

Twelves

In the 1881 census there were 131 people recorded with the Twelves surname, ranking it #16,824 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 115, ranked #28,348, down from #16,824 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wingfield, North, Chesterfield and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Holland, Barra and South Uist and North East Derbyshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Twelves is 184 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 12.2%.

1881 census count

131

Ranked #16,824

Modern count

115

2016, ranked #28,348

Peak year

1911

184 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Twelves had 131 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,824 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 115 in 2016, ranked #28,348.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 184 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Twelves surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Twelves surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Twelves 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 132 #14,174
1861 historical 119 #18,393
1881 historical 131 #16,824
1891 historical 141 #19,108
1901 historical 180 #16,171
1911 historical 184 #15,742
1997 modern 145 #21,571
1998 modern 154 #21,316
1999 modern 150 #21,826
2000 modern 148 #21,971
2001 modern 144 #22,040
2002 modern 144 #22,501
2003 modern 132 #23,459
2004 modern 130 #23,902
2005 modern 124 #24,529
2006 modern 126 #24,493
2007 modern 122 #25,353
2008 modern 120 #25,922
2009 modern 125 #25,823
2010 modern 123 #26,728
2011 modern 125 #26,220
2012 modern 123 #26,561
2013 modern 122 #27,122
2014 modern 122 #27,358
2015 modern 114 #28,478
2016 modern 115 #28,348

Geography

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Where Twelves' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wingfield, North, Chesterfield, Sheffield, Middleton and Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Holland, Barra and South Uist, North East Derbyshire, Derbyshire Dales and Mendip. 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 Wingfield, North Derbyshire
2 Chesterfield Derbyshire
3 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Middleton Lancashire
5 Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Holland 007 South Holland
2 Barra and South Uist Na h-Eileanan Siar
3 North East Derbyshire 011 North East Derbyshire
4 Derbyshire Dales 002 Derbyshire Dales
5 Mendip 004 Mendip

Forenames

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First names often paired with Twelves

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Twelves

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Twelves surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Twelves household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Twelves is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, 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

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

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

Twelves is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Twelves falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Twelves 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 Twelves, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Twelves families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Twelves 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. Derbyshire leads with 47 Twelves' recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.49x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 47 23.49x
Lancashire 24 1.58x
Yorkshire 21 1.66x
Lincolnshire 15 7.34x
Kent 8 1.83x
Middlesex 4 0.31x
Cheshire 3 1.06x
Leicestershire 3 2.12x
Surrey 3 0.48x
Nottinghamshire 2 1.16x
Essex 1 0.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Heap in Lancashire leads with 14 Twelves' recorded in 1881 and an index of 174.13x.

Place Total Index
Heap 14 174.13x
Chesterfield 10 133.33x
Coal Aston 9 2647.06x
Ecclesall Bierlow 9 34.94x
Gosberton 9 989.01x
Brightside Bierlow 8 32.21x
Dover St Mary Virgin 8 189.57x
Pilsley 8 1212.12x
Hasland 7 343.14x
Hopwood 5 252.53x
Lutton 4 1176.47x
Newbold Dunston 4 210.53x
Beeley 3 1875.00x
Lambeth 3 2.69x
Sheffield 3 7.44x
Tranmere 3 28.93x
Church Gresley 2 62.89x
Ilkeston 2 35.65x
Leicester Newarke 2 270.27x
Oldham 2 4.09x
Southwell 2 160.00x
St Marylebone London 2 2.93x
Chadderton 1 13.50x
Clerkenwell London 1 3.32x
Donington 1 136.99x
Dronfield 1 39.06x
Heighington 1 303.03x
Leeds 1 1.40x
Measham 1 135.14x
Moss Side 1 12.53x
Oakthorpe Donsthorpe 1 263.16x
Poplar London 1 4.15x
Wardleworth 1 11.55x
West Ham 1 1.80x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Elizabeth 8
Ann 6
Jane 4
Harriet 3
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Annie 2
Eliza 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Jemima 2
Rachell 2
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Evelyn 1
Florence 1
Kate 1
Keziah 1
Louisa 1
Maria 1
Marian 1
Marite 1
Marra 1
Martha 1
Marther 1
Monah 1
Rachel 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Twelves surname: questions and answers

How common was the Twelves surname in 1881?

In 1881, 131 people were recorded with the Twelves surname. That placed it at #16,824 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Twelves surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 115 in 2016. That gives Twelves a modern rank of #28,348.

What does the Twelves map show?

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