NameCensus.

UK surname

Twiner

A surname derived from the occupation of a rope-maker or twiner of yarn.

In the 1881 census there were 155 people recorded with the Twiner surname, ranking it #15,174 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 121, ranked #27,399, down from #15,174 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, London parishes and Tunbridge, Bidborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wychavon, Bexley and Harlow.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Twiner is 1,112 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 21.9%.

1881 census count

155

Ranked #15,174

Modern count

121

2016, ranked #27,399

Peak year

1891

1,112 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Twiner had 155 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,174 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 121 in 2016, ranked #27,399.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,112 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Twiner surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Twiner surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Twiner 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 335 #6,984
1861 historical 656 #4,086
1881 historical 155 #15,174
1891 historical 1,112 #3,814
1901 historical 229 #13,894
1911 historical 252 #12,834
1997 modern 116 #24,688
1998 modern 131 #23,495
1999 modern 128 #24,017
2000 modern 135 #23,250
2001 modern 134 #23,037
2002 modern 127 #24,267
2003 modern 124 #24,378
2004 modern 121 #24,939
2005 modern 123 #24,663
2006 modern 126 #24,493
2007 modern 125 #24,987
2008 modern 120 #25,922
2009 modern 130 #25,176
2010 modern 128 #26,036
2011 modern 124 #26,367
2012 modern 115 #27,717
2013 modern 120 #27,406
2014 modern 125 #26,896
2015 modern 124 #26,944
2016 modern 121 #27,399

Geography

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Where Twiners are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wychavon, Bexley, Harlow and Medway. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wychavon 002 Wychavon
2 Bexley 022 Bexley
3 Harlow 002 Harlow
4 Medway 007 Medway
5 Harlow 003 Harlow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Twiner

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Twiner

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Twiner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Twiner household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Twiner 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

Twiner 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

Twiner 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 Twiner 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 Twiner, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Twiner

The surname TWINER has its origins in England, emerging in the 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "twinere," which referred to a person who twisted or spun thread, yarn, or other fibers. This occupation-based surname was likely given to individuals involved in the textile industry, which was a significant economic sector in medieval England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname TWINER can be found in the Assize Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1292, where a person named William le Twyner is mentioned. The use of the prefix "le" before the surname indicates that it was a descriptive term at the time, referring to William's occupation as a spinner or twiner of thread.

In the 14th century, the surname TWINER appeared in various forms, such as "Twyner," "Twynour," and "Twinor," reflecting the varied spellings and pronunciations of the time. One notable individual from this period was John Twyner, a landowner in Gloucestershire, who was mentioned in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1334.

During the 16th century, the surname TWINER gained further prominence. In 1568, a man named Robert Twiner was recorded as a resident of the parish of St. Botolph without Bishopsgate in London. This parish has a long history and was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, suggesting that the TWINER surname may have been present in the area for several centuries.

In the 17th century, the surname TWINER was associated with notable figures such as William Twiner (1633-1718), a celebrated Church of England clergyman and author who served as the Rector of White Waltham in Berkshire. Another prominent individual was Thomas Twiner (1638-1697), a English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Colchester in 1685.

The 18th century saw the birth of John Twiner (1718-1788), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. Mary Aldermary and the Sessions House in Clerkenwell. His work contributed to the architectural landscape of the city during this period.

In the 19th century, the TWINER surname was carried by individuals like James Twiner (1823-1899), a British entrepreneur who founded the successful Twiner's Tea Company in London. His business became a well-known supplier of tea to households across the United Kingdom.

Throughout its history, the surname TWINER has been associated with various occupations, from textile workers and clergy to architects and entrepreneurs. Its origins can be traced back to the textile industry in medieval England, where individuals involved in spinning and twisting fibers were given this descriptive surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Twiner families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Twiner 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. Kent leads with 37 Twiners recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.17x.

County Total Index
Kent 37 7.17x
Middlesex 22 1.46x
Sussex 17 6.67x
Lancashire 12 0.67x
Northamptonshire 11 7.74x
Norfolk 7 3.01x
Yorkshire 7 0.47x
Gloucestershire 6 2.02x
Berkshire 4 3.52x
Essex 4 1.34x
Surrey 4 0.54x
Durham 3 0.67x
Wiltshire 3 2.24x
Cambridgeshire 2 2.09x
Fife 2 2.23x
Lincolnshire 2 0.83x
Warwickshire 2 0.52x
Cheshire 1 0.30x
Cumberland 1 0.77x
Hertfordshire 1 0.96x
Lanarkshire 1 0.20x
Monmouthshire 1 0.92x
Shropshire 1 0.77x
Somerset 1 0.41x
Staffordshire 1 0.20x
Suffolk 1 0.54x
Worcestershire 1 0.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Withyam in Sussex leads with 15 Twiners recorded in 1881 and an index of 1376.15x.

Place Total Index
Withyam 15 1376.15x
Leigh 9 1343.28x
Tonbridge 9 48.39x
Standground 8 1176.47x
Sevenoaks 7 167.46x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 21.49x
Mile End Old Town 6 25.15x
Minster In Sheppey 6 70.18x
Oldham 6 10.36x
Speldhurst 6 228.14x
Westminster St John 5 27.16x
Aspull 4 94.79x
Dagenham 4 224.72x
Hackney London 4 4.72x
Norwich St Martin At 4 1025.64x
Bishopwearmouth 3 7.77x
Leeds 3 3.55x
Peterborough 3 29.13x
Reading St Mary 3 33.00x
Shoreditch London 3 4.58x
Great Yarmouth 2 10.38x
Hanwell 2 74.63x
Kensington London 2 2.38x
Kirkcaldy 2 45.05x
Leamington Priors 2 21.32x
St Giles Cambridge 2 161.29x
Wootton Bassett 2 172.41x
Accrington 1 6.13x
Boston 1 13.64x
Bradford 1 2.76x
Bridgewater 1 15.13x
Caerleon 1 175.44x
Caldewgate 1 14.03x
Caterham 1 30.67x
Conisbrough 1 70.92x
Dukinfield 1 6.49x
East Chiltington 1 476.19x
Frampton 1 217.39x
Leatherhead 1 54.35x
Lesmahagow 1 19.34x
Middlesbrough 1 5.13x
Nether Hallam 1 4.93x
Norton By Kempsey 1 232.56x
Norwich St Giles 1 135.14x
Penge 1 10.35x
Quatt 1 555.56x
Rattlesden 1 185.19x
Richmond 1 9.69x
Shaw Cum Donnington 1 277.78x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 1.85x
Trowbridge 1 16.92x
Watford 1 12.38x
West Lavington 1 1250.00x
Winwick With Hulme 1 400.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Sarah 8
Elizabeth 4
Emma 4
Harriet 4
Ann 3
Annie 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Mercy 2
Rose 2
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Bridget 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Delilah 1
Elana 1
Eleanor 1
Elizzie 1
Ellan 1
Ellen 1
Elliner 1
Ema 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
James 1
Jemima 1
Margt. 1
Martha 1
Maryann 1
Rebecca 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 10
William 10
James 9
Thomas 6
Edward 3
George 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Ernest 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Amos 1
August 1
Benjamin 1
Bluediel 1
Caleb 1
Charles 1
Charley 1
Chivings 1
Cornelius 1
Daniel 1
Elliss 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredk.J. 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Hugh 1
Infant 1
Jacob 1
Owen 1
Richd.F. 1
Robert 1

FAQ

Twiner surname: questions and answers

How common was the Twiner surname in 1881?

In 1881, 155 people were recorded with the Twiner surname. That placed it at #15,174 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Twiner surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 121 in 2016. That gives Twiner a modern rank of #27,399.

What does the Twiner surname mean?

A surname derived from the occupation of a rope-maker or twiner of yarn.

What does the Twiner map show?

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