NameCensus.

UK surname

Tye

An English occupational surname referring to someone who manufactured or sold neckwear or belts.

In the 1881 census there were 1,724 people recorded with the Tye surname, ranking it #2,501 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,279, ranked #2,851, down from #2,501 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Ilketshall St Lawrence, Bungay St Mary, Bungay Holy Trinity. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tendring, Mid Suffolk and Norwich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tye is 2,469 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.2%.

1881 census count

1,724

Ranked #2,501

Modern count

2,279

2016, ranked #2,851

Peak year

1998

2,469 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tye had 1,724 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,501 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,279 in 2016, ranked #2,851.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,156 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tye surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tye surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tye 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 1,126 #2,500
1881 historical 1,724 #2,501
1891 historical 10 #33,355
1901 historical 2,156 #2,494
1997 modern 2,392 #2,619
1998 modern 2,469 #2,648
1999 modern 2,463 #2,667
2000 modern 2,428 #2,682
2001 modern 2,349 #2,709
2002 modern 2,413 #2,700
2003 modern 2,343 #2,711
2004 modern 2,339 #2,715
2005 modern 2,297 #2,724
2006 modern 2,308 #2,714
2007 modern 2,322 #2,731
2008 modern 2,347 #2,727
2009 modern 2,400 #2,727
2010 modern 2,418 #2,765
2011 modern 2,354 #2,801
2012 modern 2,296 #2,816
2013 modern 2,340 #2,814
2014 modern 2,334 #2,832
2015 modern 2,293 #2,845
2016 modern 2,279 #2,851

Geography

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Where Tyes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Ilketshall St Lawrence, Bungay St Mary, Bungay Holy Trinity, Bishop Wearmouth and Rendham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tendring, Mid Suffolk and Norwich. 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 3
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Ilketshall St Lawrence, Bungay St Mary, Bungay Holy Trinity Suffolk
4 Bishop Wearmouth Durham
5 Rendham Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tendring 004 Tendring
2 Tendring 002 Tendring
3 Tendring 001 Tendring
4 Mid Suffolk 003 Mid Suffolk
5 Norwich 002 Norwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tye

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tye

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

Tye 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

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

Meaning and origin of Tye

The surname Tye is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "tyge," which means a small enclosure or croft. This name was initially used to denote someone who lived near a small enclosure or within a croft.

The earliest recorded use of the surname Tye can be traced back to the 13th century in various county records across England. It is believed to have originated in the counties of Kent, Essex, and Suffolk, where the name was particularly prevalent.

In the 14th century, the surname Tye appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, where it was spelled as "Atte Tye." This spelling variation suggests that the name was likely derived from a place name or a location where a person resided near a small enclosure or croft.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tye can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1301, which mentioned a person named Walter Tye.

During the 16th century, the surname Tye gained prominence in various parts of England. Notable individuals bearing this name included Sir Robert Tye (1507-1564), a prominent merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London.

In the 17th century, the surname Tye was associated with several notable figures, including John Tye (1609-1672), a prominent Puritan minister and author who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.

Another notable individual with the surname Tye was Christopher Tye (c. 1505-1572), an English Renaissance composer and musician who served as the Master of the Choristers at Ely Cathedral.

During the 18th century, the surname Tye continued to be prominent in various regions of England. One notable bearer of the name was Samuel Tye (1724-1798), a renowned clockmaker from Gloucestershire who was known for his exceptional craftsmanship.

In the 19th century, the surname Tye was associated with several notable figures, including William Tye (1815-1892), a British landscape painter and member of the Royal Academy of Arts.

Throughout its history, the surname Tye has been closely associated with various place names and locations, particularly in the counties of Kent, Essex, and Suffolk, where the name was most prevalent. Despite its English origins, the surname Tye has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tye families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tye 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. Suffolk leads with 214 Tyes recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.45x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 214 10.45x
Kent 208 3.62x
Middlesex 185 1.10x
Yorkshire 181 1.09x
Lincolnshire 122 4.54x
Warwickshire 111 2.62x
Norfolk 77 2.98x
Nottinghamshire 77 3.40x
Surrey 74 0.90x
Lancashire 64 0.32x
Gloucestershire 59 1.79x
Northamptonshire 57 3.60x
Essex 50 1.51x
Staffordshire 46 0.81x
Durham 38 0.76x
Worcestershire 17 0.77x
Hampshire 16 0.46x
Leicestershire 15 0.80x
Derbyshire 14 0.53x
Somerset 13 0.48x
Montgomeryshire 9 2.34x
Berkshire 8 0.63x
Sussex 8 0.28x
Wiltshire 8 0.54x
Bedfordshire 7 0.80x
Oxfordshire 7 0.67x
Berwickshire 6 2.95x
Buckinghamshire 6 0.59x
Herefordshire 5 0.73x
Devon 4 0.11x
Hertfordshire 4 0.35x
Huntingdonshire 4 1.20x
Channel Islands 3 0.60x
Lanarkshire 2 0.04x
Northumberland 2 0.08x
Cardiganshire 1 0.24x
Flintshire 1 0.22x
Monmouthshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 62 Tyes recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.39x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 62 4.39x
Aston 34 2.91x
Rendham 26 1232.23x
Bungay Holy Trinity 24 228.35x
Eltham 23 68.41x
Woolwich 22 10.38x
Newark Upon Trent 21 25.78x
Sheffield 20 3.77x
Ipswich St Margaret 19 27.33x
Rothwell 19 119.57x
Cranbrook 18 74.07x
Denham 18 705.88x
Lewisham 18 5.88x
Bishopwearmouth 17 3.96x
Greenwich 17 6.35x
Mendlesham 17 262.35x
Seal 17 183.59x
Basford 15 14.36x
Clapham 14 6.66x
Great Grimsby 14 8.20x
Hammersmith London 14 3.38x
Maidstone 14 8.19x
Newland 14 50.51x
Burton Upon Trent 13 9.79x
Great Clacton 13 115.04x
Handsworth 13 9.29x
Islington London 13 0.80x
Kimberworth 13 14.06x
Rushden 13 61.44x
Swefling 13 778.44x
Clerkenwell London 12 3.02x
Dunston 12 267.26x
Hackney London 12 1.27x
Hoxne 12 206.54x
Plumstead 12 6.27x
Shoreditch London 12 1.65x
St Pancras London 12 0.89x
Battersea 11 1.78x
Ecclesall Bierlow 11 3.25x
Radford 11 9.55x
Sevenoaks 11 23.65x
Chislehurst 10 32.50x
Elland Cum Greetland 10 13.32x
Gressenhall 10 209.21x
Kings Norton 10 5.08x
Liverpool 10 0.83x
Moulton 10 77.28x
Nocton 10 277.01x
Barlings 9 334.57x
Brightside Bierlow 9 2.75x
Bulwell 9 18.26x
Deptford St Paul 9 2.03x
Great Bowden 9 53.07x
Great Fransham 9 476.19x
Heigham 9 6.48x
Horton In Bradford 9 3.46x
Kensington London 9 0.96x
Manchester 9 1.00x
Metheringham 9 83.80x
Paddington London 9 1.46x
Aldeburgh 8 66.01x
Bromley London 8 2.16x
Coventry Holy Trinity 8 6.32x
Eston 8 22.04x
Great Glemham 8 404.04x
Harton 8 40.47x
Hillingdon 8 14.92x
Holy Trinity 8 2.00x
Kerry 8 69.03x
Leiston 8 56.86x
Oldham 8 1.24x
Poplar London 8 2.52x
Reading St Giles 8 6.46x
Rushton 8 280.70x
Sculcoates 8 3.03x
St Nicholas Lincoln 8 31.13x
Thorpe 8 227.92x
Whitwell 8 76.41x
Burton Extra 7 21.51x
Harwich St Nicholas 7 27.30x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 114
Elizabeth 65
Sarah 58
Emma 35
Eliza 34
Annie 30
Ellen 26
Alice 25
Jane 25
Ann 20
Emily 20
Hannah 18
Charlotte 15
Harriet 15
Ada 12
Margaret 12
Martha 11
Louisa 10
Maria 10
Caroline 9
Florence 9
Frances 9
Anna 8
Anne 8
Edith 8
Sophia 8
Catherine 7
Harriett 7
Helen 7
Lizzie 7
Lucy 7
Agnes 6
Esther 6
Fanny 6
Kate 6
Rose 6
Susannah 6
Betsy 5
Clara 5
Matilda 5
Rebecca 5
Elizth. 4
Ethel 4
Flora 4
Minnie 4
Rosina 4
Susan 4
Katie 3
Phillis 3
Rachel 3

Top male names

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

FAQ

Tye surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tye surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,724 people were recorded with the Tye surname. That placed it at #2,501 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tye surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,279 in 2016. That gives Tye a modern rank of #2,851.

What does the Tye surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to someone who manufactured or sold neckwear or belts.

What does the Tye map show?

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