NameCensus.

UK surname

Twiddy

A location surname derived from a place name in England.

In the 1881 census there were 227 people recorded with the Twiddy surname, ranking it #11,858 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 349, ranked #13,189, down from #11,858 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Binham, Rudham, East and Boston (incl. Boston allotments). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Kesteven, Rossendale and Boston.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Twiddy is 385 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.7%.

1881 census count

227

Ranked #11,858

Modern count

349

2016, ranked #13,189

Peak year

2002

385 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Twiddy had 227 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,858 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 349 in 2016, ranked #13,189.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 316 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Twiddy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Twiddy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Twiddy 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 152 #12,786
1861 historical 165 #14,112
1881 historical 227 #11,858
1891 historical 260 #12,367
1901 historical 305 #11,525
1911 historical 316 #11,031
1997 modern 367 #11,751
1998 modern 371 #12,027
1999 modern 371 #12,101
2000 modern 368 #12,130
2001 modern 362 #12,076
2002 modern 385 #11,771
2003 modern 367 #11,988
2004 modern 372 #11,886
2005 modern 359 #12,143
2006 modern 353 #12,363
2007 modern 347 #12,661
2008 modern 368 #12,238
2009 modern 362 #12,637
2010 modern 356 #13,071
2011 modern 360 #12,832
2012 modern 347 #13,048
2013 modern 353 #13,104
2014 modern 354 #13,153
2015 modern 348 #13,221
2016 modern 349 #13,189

Geography

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Where Twiddys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Binham, Rudham, East, Boston (incl. Boston allotments), London parishes and Walsingham, Little. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Kesteven, Rossendale and Boston. 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 Binham Norfolk
2 Rudham, East Norfolk
3 Boston (incl. Boston allotments) Lincolnshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Walsingham, Little Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Kesteven 015 South Kesteven
2 Rossendale 009 Rossendale
3 South Kesteven 008 South Kesteven
4 Boston 008 Boston
5 Boston 004 Boston

Forenames

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First names often paired with Twiddy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Twiddy

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Twiddy is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Twiddy is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Twiddy falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Twiddy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Twiddy

The surname Twiddy is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from a place name that no longer exists or has undergone significant alteration over time. Twiddy is thought to be a variation of the Old English word "twiccian," meaning "to pluck" or "to twitch," possibly referring to an occupation or a distinctive physical characteristic.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Twiddy surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where a person named Richard Twidie is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in certain regions of England by the 13th century.

In the 14th century, the Twiddy surname appears in various records, including the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which lists a Thomas Twydye. This spelling variation highlights the fluid nature of surnames during that era, as they were often subject to regional dialects and scribal interpretations.

A notable figure bearing the Twiddy name was John Twiddy, a merchant and landowner from Norfolk who lived in the late 15th century. His name is recorded in the Norfolk Musters of 1492, indicating his status as a prosperous individual within the local community.

The Twiddy surname also has connections to various place names, such as Twyford and Twitchen, both of which share linguistic roots with the name. These place names were likely derived from Old English words related to twisting or winding, further supporting the potential occupational or descriptive origins of the surname.

Another prominent individual with the Twiddy surname was William Twiddy, a Puritan clergyman born in 1601 in Lincolnshire. He was known for his strong religious beliefs and his involvement in the English Civil War, serving as a chaplain in the Parliamentary army.

In the 18th century, the Twiddy surname gained recognition through the exploits of Captain Robert Twiddy, a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War. His name is mentioned in numerous historical accounts and records from that period.

Other notable bearers of the Twiddy surname include John Twiddy (1769-1846), a successful businessman and landowner from Suffolk, and Mary Twiddy (1810-1892), a philanthropist and social reformer who worked tirelessly to improve the living conditions of the poor in London.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Twiddy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Twiddy 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. Norfolk leads with 104 Twiddys recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.55x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 104 30.55x
Middlesex 35 1.58x
Surrey 27 2.50x
Lincolnshire 20 5.65x
Durham 14 2.13x
Cambridgeshire 6 4.28x
Yorkshire 6 0.27x
Kent 5 0.66x
Northumberland 4 1.21x
Shropshire 3 1.57x
Bedfordshire 1 0.87x
Berkshire 1 0.60x
Northamptonshire 1 0.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Boston in Lincolnshire leads with 18 Twiddys recorded in 1881 and an index of 167.60x.

Place Total Index
Boston 18 167.60x
Pentney 16 4000.00x
Briston 11 1692.31x
Binham 10 2777.78x
Lambeth 9 4.66x
Little Walsingham 9 1168.83x
St Pancras London 9 5.05x
Cley Next Sea 8 1454.55x
East Rudham 8 1333.33x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 8 28.04x
Shoreditch London 8 8.34x
Bourn 6 967.74x
Rotherhithe 6 21.93x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 13.47x
Swanton Novers 6 2857.14x
Croydon 5 8.35x
Deptford St Paul 5 8.58x
Great Walsingham 5 1470.59x
Heigham 5 27.37x
Langham 5 2083.33x
Melton Constable 5 5555.56x
Kensington London 4 3.25x
Wallsend 4 38.28x
Framwellgate 3 76.92x
Hindringham 3 666.67x
Houghton In Hole 3 2307.69x
Stanton Lacy 3 181.82x
Tottenham 3 8.51x
Westminster St John 3 11.13x
Banham 2 229.89x
Bridlington 2 39.84x
Catwick 2 952.38x
Crook Billy Row 2 23.70x
Hampstead London 2 5.80x
Holt 2 172.41x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 2 19.57x
Rotherham 2 16.17x
St Luke London 2 5.63x
Upwell 2 126.58x
Ardington 1 344.83x
Christ Church Newgate 1 97.09x
Colveston 1 3333.33x
Great Grimsby 1 4.45x
Hackney London 1 0.81x
Islington London 1 0.47x
Luton 1 5.04x
Mile End Old Town 1 2.86x
Peterborough 1 6.63x
Reigate Foreign 1 8.56x
Sculthorpe 1 222.22x
Skirbeck 1 50.51x
St Giles 1 24.33x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 13
William 12
James 9
Robert 8
Thomas 7
Charles 5
George 5
Henry 4
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Ernest 3
Herbert 3
Albert 2
Daniel 2
Joseph 2
Phillip 2
Samuel 2
Wm. 2
Clement 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Emanuel 1
Florence 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Henery 1
Horace 1
Horatio 1
Hy. 1
Isaac 1
Levi 1
Malachi 1
Richard 1
Robet 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Twiddy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Twiddy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 227 people were recorded with the Twiddy surname. That placed it at #11,858 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Twiddy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 349 in 2016. That gives Twiddy a modern rank of #13,189.

What does the Twiddy surname mean?

A location surname derived from a place name in England.

What does the Twiddy map show?

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