NameCensus.

UK surname

Tyson

Derived from a Middle English nickname meaning "fiery-tempered" or "impetuous," from Old French tison, meaning "firebrand."

In the 1881 census there were 3,881 people recorded with the Tyson surname, ranking it #1,176 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,980, ranked #1,359, down from #1,176 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Millom, Muncaster and Dalton-in-Furness. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Barrow-in-Furness and South Lakeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tyson is 5,081 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.3%.

1881 census count

3,881

Ranked #1,176

Modern count

4,980

2016, ranked #1,359

Peak year

2010

5,081 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tyson had 3,881 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,176 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,980 in 2016, ranked #1,359.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,870 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tyson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tyson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tyson 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 2,524 #1,179
1861 historical 2,566 #1,142
1881 historical 3,881 #1,176
1891 historical 3,852 #1,244
1901 historical 4,572 #1,244
1911 historical 4,870 #1,069
1997 modern 4,773 #1,374
1998 modern 4,986 #1,370
1999 modern 5,031 #1,367
2000 modern 5,006 #1,362
2001 modern 4,871 #1,366
2002 modern 5,001 #1,357
2003 modern 4,904 #1,347
2004 modern 4,863 #1,360
2005 modern 4,826 #1,351
2006 modern 4,819 #1,351
2007 modern 4,851 #1,362
2008 modern 4,917 #1,351
2009 modern 4,979 #1,365
2010 modern 5,081 #1,366
2011 modern 5,008 #1,369
2012 modern 4,953 #1,352
2013 modern 5,022 #1,354
2014 modern 5,059 #1,353
2015 modern 5,008 #1,352
2016 modern 4,980 #1,359

Geography

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Where Tysons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Millom, Muncaster, Dalton-in-Furness, Liverpool and Ulverstone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Barrow-in-Furness and South Lakeland. 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 Millom, Muncaster Cumberland
3 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Ulverstone Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 008 Copeland
2 Barrow-in-Furness 001 Barrow-in-Furness
3 South Lakeland 008 South Lakeland
4 Copeland 007 Copeland
5 South Lakeland 012 South Lakeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tyson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tyson

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Tyson is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tyson is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Tyson

The surname Tyson originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English personal name Tydus or Tidus, which itself is thought to have come from the Old English word "tida" meaning "time" or "season". This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who was born at a particular time or season.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Tidus" and "Tidas". Over time, the spelling evolved into various forms such as Tideson, Tydeson, and eventually Tyson.

The Tyson surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire in northern England. Several notable individuals bearing this name can be found throughout history, including:

1. Sir John Tyson (c. 1505-1551), an English politician and Member of Parliament during the reign of King Henry VIII.

2. Thomas Tyson (1647-1718), an English physician and writer who published works on medical and scientific subjects.

3. Michael Tyson (1740-1780), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War.

4. William Tyson (1789-1852), an English geologist and mineralogist known for his contributions to the study of crystallography.

5. Job Tyson (1810-1892), an American farmer and entrepreneur who founded the town of Tyson's Mill, which later became part of Baltimore County, Maryland.

The name Tyson has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Tyson's Croft and Tyson's Green, reflecting the historical presence of families bearing this surname in certain areas.

While the Tyson name can trace its roots back to medieval England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through immigration to countries like the United States and Canada. However, it is important to note that this report focuses solely on the historical origins and significance of the surname Tyson, rather than its modern-day distribution or usage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tyson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tyson 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. Lancashire leads with 1,319 Tysons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.92x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,319 2.92x
Cumberland 665 20.28x
Yorkshire 360 0.95x
Lincolnshire 245 4.02x
Middlesex 227 0.60x
Westmorland 200 23.90x
Durham 170 1.50x
Surrey 114 0.61x
Cheshire 65 0.77x
Nottinghamshire 46 0.90x
Northumberland 41 0.72x
Kent 35 0.27x
Staffordshire 35 0.27x
Flintshire 34 3.32x
Bedfordshire 30 1.52x
Argyllshire 29 2.74x
Derbyshire 25 0.42x
Isle of Man 25 3.54x
Gloucestershire 19 0.25x
Selkirkshire 18 5.22x
Essex 17 0.23x
Lanarkshire 16 0.13x
Norfolk 14 0.24x
Ayrshire 13 0.46x
Sussex 13 0.20x
Hampshire 12 0.15x
Devon 11 0.14x
Kirkcudbrightshire 11 2.00x
Cambridgeshire 10 0.41x
Somerset 8 0.13x
Buckinghamshire 7 0.30x
Oxfordshire 6 0.26x
Warwickshire 6 0.06x
Berwickshire 5 1.08x
Hertfordshire 5 0.19x
Leicestershire 5 0.12x
Stirlingshire 5 0.36x
Northamptonshire 4 0.11x
Renfrewshire 4 0.14x
Suffolk 4 0.09x
Wiltshire 4 0.12x
Midlothian 3 0.06x
Royal Navy 3 0.66x
Worcestershire 3 0.06x
Huntingdonshire 2 0.26x
Shropshire 2 0.06x
Anglesey 1 0.15x
Berkshire 1 0.04x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.06x
Cornwall 1 0.02x
Fife 1 0.04x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.11x
Peeblesshire 1 0.56x
Perthshire 1 0.06x
Wigtownshire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ulverston in Lancashire leads with 129 Tysons recorded in 1881 and an index of 98.01x.

Place Total Index
Ulverston 129 98.01x
Barrow In Furness 121 19.69x
Everton 88 6.11x
Dalton In Furness 74 42.42x
Gosforth 62 387.99x
West Broughton 58 379.83x
West Derby 57 4.31x
Liverpool 48 1.75x
Toxteth Park 48 3.14x
Kirkby Ireleth 47 208.52x
Eskdale Wasdale 42 602.58x
Dunnerdale With 41 1040.61x
Egremont 40 51.16x
Langdale 39 407.95x
Whitehaven 38 21.74x
Keswick 36 85.90x
Ludford Magna 36 697.67x
Upper Holker 36 338.03x
Ambleside 35 134.93x
Millom 34 33.84x
Kendal 32 20.89x
Workington 32 17.05x
Kensington London 31 1.46x
Church Coniston 30 236.78x
Preston Quarter 29 31.56x
Camberwell 28 1.15x
Pennington In Ulverston 28 124.61x
Lambeth 27 0.81x
Egton Cum Newland 26 198.02x
Newington 25 1.78x
Bootle 24 226.42x
Cleator 24 17.59x
Lancaster 24 8.93x
Salford 24 1.81x
Ulpha 24 626.63x
Kirkdale 23 3.03x
Northop 23 63.45x
Shoreditch London 23 1.39x
Islington London 22 0.60x
Nether Wasdale 22 883.53x
Hulme 21 2.23x
Beckermet St Bridget 20 231.75x
Colton 20 84.89x
Hunslet 20 3.40x
Manchester 20 0.98x
Bethnal Green London 19 1.15x
Upton 18 580.65x
Lower Upper Holker 16 259.32x
Onchan 16 7.85x
Preston 16 1.32x
Selkirk 16 16.48x
St Pancras London 16 0.52x
Hackney London 15 0.70x
Skerton 15 40.43x
Southwark St George Martyr 15 1.96x
Blackburn 14 1.16x
Bromley London 14 1.67x
Haile 14 366.49x
Hartlepool 14 8.69x
Meppershall 14 138.07x
Barony 13 0.42x
Bradford 13 1.42x
Great Grimsby 13 3.36x
Haslingden 13 6.95x
Holy Trinity 13 1.43x
Lofthouse 13 23.07x
Louth 13 9.32x
Ashton Under Lyne 12 1.22x
Birker Austhwaite 12 863.31x
Grasby 12 223.88x
Moss Side 12 5.05x
Saddleworth 12 4.12x
Aston Cum Aughton 11 35.63x
Carnforth 11 44.32x
Distington 11 65.24x
Hawarden 11 13.68x
Mile End Old Town 11 1.83x
Stoke Upon Trent 11 0.81x
Westgate 11 3.13x
Whitby 11 8.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 335
Sarah 176
Elizabeth 169
Jane 122
Margaret 112
Ann 84
Hannah 82
Annie 55
Agnes 47
Eliza 40
Ellen 38
Martha 37
Isabella 36
Emma 33
Alice 26
Emily 25
Maria 20
Ada 17
Catherine 16
Florence 16
Charlotte 15
Harriet 15
Eleanor 14
Frances 14
Anne 13
Caroline 13
Fanny 13
Esther 12
Lucy 12
Betsy 10
Dorothy 8
Elizth. 8
Kate 8
Margt. 8
Betty 7
Clara 7
Edith 7
Jessie 7
Louisa 7
Margret 7
Anna 6
Eliz. 6
Harriett 6
Nancy 6
Ruth 6
Dinah 5
Dora 5
Ethel 5
Gertrude 5
Rosa 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 297
William 247
Thomas 152
James 125
George 119
Henry 101
Joseph 99
Robert 71
Isaac 46
Edward 45
Richard 27
Charles 24
Alfred 21
Matthew 15
Wm. 15
Frederick 13
Daniel 12
Moses 12
Peter 12
Arthur 11
Samuel 11
David 10
Benjamin 9
Jonathan 9
Aaron 8
Harry 8
Herbert 8
Thos. 8
Albert 7
Frank 7
Mathew 7
Wilson 7
Edwin 6
Ernest 6
Francis 6
Gilbert 6
Hartley 6
Ralph 6
Walter 6
Abraham 5
Christopher 5
Henery 5
Jno. 5
Stephen 5
Tom 5
Willm. 5
Augustus 4
Joshua 4
Leonard 4
Mark 4

FAQ

Tyson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tyson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,881 people were recorded with the Tyson surname. That placed it at #1,176 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tyson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,980 in 2016. That gives Tyson a modern rank of #1,359.

What does the Tyson surname mean?

Derived from a Middle English nickname meaning "fiery-tempered" or "impetuous," from Old French tison, meaning "firebrand."

What does the Tyson map show?

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