NameCensus.

UK surname

Twine

A surname derived from the Middle English word for twisted strands of fiber or thread.

In the 1881 census there were 379 people recorded with the Twine surname, ranking it #8,268 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 687, ranked #7,817, up from #8,268 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Somerset, Rother and Havant.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Twine is 778 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 81.3%.

1881 census count

379

Ranked #8,268

Modern count

687

2016, ranked #7,817

Peak year

1999

778 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Twine had 379 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,268 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 687 in 2016, ranked #7,817.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 590 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Twine surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Twine surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Twine 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 245 #8,920
1861 historical 237 #10,359
1881 historical 379 #8,268
1891 historical 491 #7,536
1901 historical 514 #7,888
1911 historical 590 #6,929
1997 modern 761 #6,805
1998 modern 771 #6,960
1999 modern 778 #6,942
2000 modern 750 #7,101
2001 modern 732 #7,102
2002 modern 757 #7,062
2003 modern 716 #7,246
2004 modern 715 #7,263
2005 modern 706 #7,283
2006 modern 695 #7,396
2007 modern 697 #7,441
2008 modern 684 #7,615
2009 modern 698 #7,654
2010 modern 712 #7,679
2011 modern 712 #7,595
2012 modern 711 #7,517
2013 modern 729 #7,497
2014 modern 723 #7,585
2015 modern 701 #7,703
2016 modern 687 #7,817

Geography

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Where Twines are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and Harting. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Somerset, Rother, Havant, Chichester and Gannochy and Walnut Grove. 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 Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst Sussex
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Harting Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Somerset 004 West Somerset
2 Rother 004 Rother
3 Havant 013 Havant
4 Chichester 009 Chichester
5 Gannochy and Walnut Grove Perth and Kinross

Forenames

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First names often paired with Twine

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Twine

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Twine is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Twine 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

Twine falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Twine is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Twine

The surname "Twine" is believed to have originated in England, possibly during the 12th or 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "twin," which means "to twist" or "to spin," referring to the occupation of a rope or twine maker.

The earliest known record of the surname Twine dates back to the 13th century, when a person named William Twine was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire in 1273. This suggests that the name was already established in certain parts of England by that time.

In the 14th century, the surname Twine appeared in various records, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279, where a person named John Twyne was mentioned, and the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, which listed a William Twyne.

One of the earliest known instances of the surname Twine can be found in the Domesday Book, a medieval manuscript compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The book recorded landholdings across England, and it mentioned a place called "Twineham" in Hampshire, which could be connected to the surname's origin.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Twine was associated with several notable individuals, such as Brian Twyne (1543-1644), an English antiquary and author; Thomas Twyne (1543-1613), an English translator and schoolmaster; and Lawrence Twine (fl. 1576-1619), an English poet and writer.

In the 18th century, John Twine (1712-1767) was a notable English architect who designed several churches and buildings in Somerset. Another individual, Thomas Twine (1735-1804), was a British sculptor and wood carver known for his works in churches and cathedrals.

In the 19th century, Charles Twine (1814-1888) was a British architect and civil engineer who designed several notable buildings, including the Royal School of Art in London. Additionally, John Twine (1820-1897) was a British artist and painter known for his landscapes and portraits.

As the surname Twine spread across England and beyond, it likely underwent various spelling variations, such as Twyn, Twynn, and Twyn. Some of these variations may have been influenced by local dialects or scribal errors in record-keeping.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Twine families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Twine 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. Sussex leads with 104 Twines recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.64x.

County Total Index
Sussex 104 16.64x
Middlesex 69 1.86x
Wiltshire 59 18.00x
Hampshire 52 6.84x
Nottinghamshire 21 4.20x
Surrey 20 1.11x
Hertfordshire 15 5.87x
Essex 7 0.96x
Kent 6 0.47x
Yorkshire 6 0.16x
Berkshire 5 1.80x
Gloucestershire 4 0.55x
Oxfordshire 4 1.75x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.89x
Devon 1 0.13x
Midlothian 1 0.20x
Royal Navy 1 2.26x
Somerset 1 0.17x
Staffordshire 1 0.08x
Warwickshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 36 Twines recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.18x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 36 24.18x
Wootton Bassett 29 1017.54x
Broadwater 25 174.46x
Hornsey 17 36.27x
Hucknall Torkard 16 126.28x
Westbourne 14 450.16x
Compton 13 3513.51x
Broxbourne 9 177.87x
Harting 9 555.56x
Battersea 8 5.87x
Dauntsey 8 1311.48x
Kensington London 8 3.88x
St Marylebone London 8 4.04x
St George Hanover 7 14.47x
Aldingbourn 6 638.30x
Baldock 6 250.00x
Boxgrove 6 659.34x
Mile End Old Town 6 10.25x
Paddington London 6 4.40x
Bremhill 5 337.84x
Brinkworth 5 340.14x
Bulwell 5 46.04x
Elsted 5 1923.08x
Islington London 5 1.39x
Keighley 5 12.77x
Lambeth 5 1.55x
St Anne Soho London 5 23.62x
Brighton 4 3.17x
Chelsea London 4 3.58x
Cheltenham 4 7.13x
Little Hinton 4 1290.32x
Oxford St Thomas 4 37.45x
South Hayling 4 296.30x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 5.36x
Whiteparish 4 285.71x
Calne 3 44.44x
Chichester St Peter 3 600.00x
Dunton 3 1666.67x
Old Alresford 3 476.19x
Portslade 3 78.53x
Thaxted 3 123.46x
Tonbridge 3 6.58x
West Thorney 3 1764.71x
Chichester All Sts 2 476.19x
Heston 2 16.25x
Hove 2 7.29x
Millbrook 2 10.45x
Milton In Gravesend 2 10.55x
Newington 2 1.46x
Portsmouth 2 11.44x
Ryde 2 12.25x
Upton Cum Chalvey 2 22.40x
West Woodhay 2 1333.33x
Aldbourn 1 52.36x
Arundel 1 28.57x
Banstead 1 20.45x
Binfield 1 46.73x
Birmingham 1 0.32x
Bromley London 1 1.23x
Clewer 1 8.77x
Colyton 1 33.78x
Dalkeith 1 10.20x
East Grinstead 1 11.30x
Funtington 1 70.92x
Hound 1 19.38x
Lee 1 5.45x
Leominster 1 49.75x
Little Bardfield 1 227.27x
Manningham 1 2.21x
Misterton 1 117.65x
Old Shoreham 1 322.58x
Oving 1 47.39x
Poling 1 434.78x
Preston Candover 1 188.68x
Reading St Mary 1 4.49x
Rottingdean 1 46.73x
Royal Navy 1 2.65x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 0.75x
Subdeanery 1 21.10x
Widley 1 73.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Elizabeth 14
Emma 12
Ann 11
Eliza 11
Sarah 11
Emily 6
Alice 5
Annie 5
Ellen 5
Florence 5
Kate 5
Charlotte 4
Edith 4
Jane 4
Ada 3
Agnes 3
Anne 3
Bertha 3
Louisa 3
Maria 3
Rose 3
Susannah 3
Cecelia 2
Harriet 2
Jemima 2
Lydia 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Sophia 2
Anna 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Elizth. 1
Ellin 1
Emblyn 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Jessie 1
Lilly 1
Lily 1
Louise 1
Lousia 1
Lucy 1
Luisa 1
Mabel 1
Mahala 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 28
Thomas 21
William 20
Henry 14
John 14
Charles 7
Joseph 7
Alfred 6
Frederick 6
James 5
Richard 5
Harry 4
Robert 4
Frank 3
Adam 2
Albert 2
Arthur 2
David 2
Earnest 2
Ernest 2
Herbert 2
Horace 2
Benjamin 1
Brazillion 1
Chas. 1
Claude 1
Edward 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.J. 1
Fredrick 1
Grittand 1
Harris 1
Hubert 1
Jacob 1
Jason 1
Jesse 1
Job 1
Lawrence 1
Montague 1
Moses 1
Oliver 1
Percival 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
W. 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Twine surname: questions and answers

How common was the Twine surname in 1881?

In 1881, 379 people were recorded with the Twine surname. That placed it at #8,268 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Twine surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 687 in 2016. That gives Twine a modern rank of #7,817.

What does the Twine surname mean?

A surname derived from the Middle English word for twisted strands of fiber or thread.

What does the Twine map show?

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