NameCensus.

UK surname

Twyman

An English occupational surname for a servant or guard of two men, derived from "twy" meaning "two" and "man."

In the 1881 census there were 450 people recorded with the Twyman surname, ranking it #7,321 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 834, ranked #6,681, up from #7,321 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Newchurch and Margate. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Thanet and Canterbury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Twyman is 939 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 85.3%.

1881 census count

450

Ranked #7,321

Modern count

834

2016, ranked #6,681

Peak year

2002

939 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Twyman had 450 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,321 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 834 in 2016, ranked #6,681.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 669 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Twyman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Twyman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Twyman 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 339 #6,922
1861 historical 300 #8,432
1881 historical 450 #7,321
1891 historical 541 #6,976
1901 historical 641 #6,716
1911 historical 669 #6,294
1997 modern 868 #6,137
1998 modern 902 #6,152
1999 modern 927 #6,065
2000 modern 916 #6,097
2001 modern 903 #6,068
2002 modern 939 #5,989
2003 modern 885 #6,164
2004 modern 886 #6,172
2005 modern 854 #6,293
2006 modern 820 #6,486
2007 modern 828 #6,505
2008 modern 819 #6,608
2009 modern 853 #6,550
2010 modern 885 #6,483
2011 modern 871 #6,495
2012 modern 836 #6,613
2013 modern 858 #6,580
2014 modern 855 #6,630
2015 modern 835 #6,696
2016 modern 834 #6,681

Geography

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Where Twymans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Newchurch, Margate and St Mary Northgate, St John's Hospital. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Thanet and Canterbury. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Newchurch Hampshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Margate Kent
5 St Mary Northgate, St John's Hospital Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Thanet 013 Thanet
2 Canterbury 010 Canterbury
3 Thanet 015 Thanet
4 Canterbury 011 Canterbury
5 Thanet 016 Thanet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Twyman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Twyman

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

Twyman is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Twyman falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Twyman

The surname Twyman is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "twi" meaning "two" and "mann" meaning "man". It likely emerged as an occupational surname, referring to a man who worked as a pair with another, possibly in agriculture or a trade.

The earliest recorded instances of the Twyman surname date back to the 13th century in county records from Lincolnshire and Oxfordshire. Variations in spelling included Twiman, Twymann, and Twyeman. Some of the earliest bearers of the name were Roger Twyman, recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, and John Twyman, listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1301.

In the 16th century, the Twyman surname appeared in the parish records of several villages in Gloucestershire, including Tewkesbury and Winchcombe. A notable bearer from this era was William Twyman, born in 1541 in Tewkesbury, who served as a member of the local parish council.

During the 17th century, the Twyman name was found in various parts of England, including London and the counties of Somerset, Warwickshire, and Yorkshire. A prominent figure was Thomas Twyman, born in 1623 in London, who was a merchant and alderman of the City of London.

In the 18th century, the Twyman surname continued to be present across England, with concentrations in the Midlands and the South West. A notable bearer was John Twyman, born in 1712 in Bristol, who was a renowned clockmaker and inventor of an improved escapement mechanism for clocks.

The 19th century saw the Twyman name spread further across the British Isles and into the colonies. One notable figure was Sir Thomas Twyman, born in 1840 in Gloucestershire, who was a successful industrialist and philanthropist, serving as the High Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1888.

Throughout its history, the Twyman surname has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including farmers, tradesmen, merchants, and professionals. While not an extremely common name, it has maintained a presence in England and other parts of the English-speaking world for several centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Twyman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Twyman 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 270 Twymans recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.27x.

County Total Index
Kent 270 18.27x
Middlesex 70 1.62x
Hampshire 36 4.06x
Surrey 29 1.37x
Hertfordshire 17 5.69x
Herefordshire 9 5.07x
Lincolnshire 7 1.01x
Durham 2 0.16x
Essex 2 0.23x
Cheshire 1 0.10x
Yorkshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Margate St John Baptist in Kent leads with 57 Twymans recorded in 1881 and an index of 210.64x.

Place Total Index
Margate St John Baptist 57 210.64x
Ramsgate 29 120.23x
Littlebourne 15 1339.29x
Islington London 14 3.34x
St Pancras London 13 3.73x
Lambeth 12 3.18x
Ventnor 12 142.18x
Cheshunt 11 105.36x
Canterbury St Margaret 10 1250.00x
Mersham 10 934.58x
Stourmouth 10 2083.33x
Birchington 9 434.78x
Leominster Out 9 538.92x
Canterbury St Mary 8 80.65x
Deal 8 63.49x
Worth 8 1194.03x
Battersea 7 4.39x
Bermondsey 7 5.43x
Canterbury St Alphage 7 443.04x
Chelsea London 7 5.36x
Fordwich 7 2058.82x
Great Grimsby 7 15.93x
Lewisham 7 8.88x
Wateringbury 7 362.69x
Ickham Well 6 705.88x
Minster In Thanet 6 194.81x
Shalfleet 6 350.88x
St Peters 6 87.72x
St Thomas Winchester 6 95.69x
Watford 6 25.93x
Westminster St John 6 11.38x
Canterbury St George 5 282.49x
Canterbury St Gregory 5 256.41x
Clerkenwell London 5 4.89x
Kensington London 5 2.08x
Portsea 5 2.87x
St Marylebone London 5 2.16x
Fulham London 4 6.37x
Hackington St Stephen 4 421.05x
Hackney London 4 1.65x
Wickhambreux 4 555.56x
Binsted 3 88.76x
Canterbury St Paul 3 113.21x
Caterham 3 32.15x
Eastry 3 146.34x
Eltham 3 34.64x
Sturry 3 171.43x
Woolwich 3 5.50x
Chislet 2 119.76x
Gillingham 2 6.56x
Maidstone 2 4.54x
Mile End Old Town 2 2.93x
Ryde 2 10.49x
Seasalter 2 106.95x
Shadwell London 2 16.50x
St Lawrence 2 19.69x
Sunderland 2 8.79x
Sutton At Hone 2 65.15x
West Ham 2 1.06x
Wingham 2 116.96x
Blean 1 98.04x
Bridge 1 78.74x
Buckland In Dover 1 20.41x
Canterbury St Andrew 1 161.29x
Canterbury St Peter 1 59.88x
Chatham 1 2.46x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 6.99x
Folkestone 1 3.49x
Harbledown 1 93.46x
Harrow 1 15.11x
Hornsey 1 1.83x
Lee 1 4.66x
Portsmouth 1 4.89x
Rochester St Nicholas 1 21.74x
Sandwich St Mary 1 74.63x
Siddington 1 166.67x
St Bartholomew Hyde 1 47.17x
St George Hanover 1 1.77x
Westbere 1 277.78x
York St Mary 1 5.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 29
Elizabeth 16
Sarah 16
Jane 10
Emma 9
Eliza 8
Annie 7
Harriet 7
Alice 6
Ann 6
Emily 6
Fanny 5
Julia 5
Florence 4
Louisa 4
Maria 4
Charlotte 3
Ellen 3
Hannah 3
Lydia 3
Sophia 3
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Caroline 2
Dinah 2
Edith 2
Gertrude 2
Jessie 2
Mabel 2
Marion 2
Nellie 2
Rebecca 2
Rosa 2
Rose 2
Rosina 2
Susan 2
Bessie 1
Callyme 1
Caroline.E. 1
Caroline.G. 1
Elina 1
Elizabet 1
Elvira 1
Emmeline 1
Ethel 1
Eveline 1
Kate 1
Keziah 1
Lily 1
Lizzie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 32
William 25
Henry 20
George 15
Charles 14
James 12
Thomas 11
Edward 8
Frederick 6
Robert 6
Stephen 6
Walter 6
Albert 5
Alfred 4
Ernest 4
Arthur 3
Algernon 2
Benjamin 2
Bertie 2
Edwin 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Joseph 2
Sydney 2
Aaron 1
Alexander 1
Arther 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
Edward.Geo. 1
Edwd. 1
Emmanuel 1
Ewen 1
Frank 1
Frederick.T. 1
Fredk. 1
Geo.F. 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Nathaniel 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Shadriah 1
Stainer 1
Stanley 1
Thos. 1
Victor 1
Wilfred 1
Will. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Twyman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Twyman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 450 people were recorded with the Twyman surname. That placed it at #7,321 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Twyman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 834 in 2016. That gives Twyman a modern rank of #6,681.

What does the Twyman surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a servant or guard of two men, derived from "twy" meaning "two" and "man."

What does the Twyman map show?

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