Guild of One-Name Studies
One-name studies, Genealogy
Study: Tabb   
Category: 1 - A study where research using core genealogical datasets and transcriptions is in its early stages.
Contact: Mr John Hoar
Between 1837 & 2002, there are about 3,762 TABBs recorded in England and Wales by the General Record Office (GRO): 1,488 births, 1,163 marriages and 1,111 deaths.
The British 19th Century Surname Atlas (Archer Software, 2003) identifies 394 TABBs from the 1881 Census. The 1901 Census of England & Wales (www.1901census.nationalarchives.gov.uk) records 465 TABBs in 169 households. The 2001 electoral register has 413 TABBs in 266 households (n.b. voting age only). The 2002 ONS database counts 476 TABBs. The frequency of the TABB surname appears to be relatively steady.
Cornwall (198) and Devon (60) are the most frequented counties in the 1881 Census, representing 65% of the total. GRO Births between 1837 & 2002 show the most frequent registration district is St. Austell, Cornwall (164 births) and Plymouth, Devon (103).
According to 2001 Electoral Register, there are also TABBs in Scotland (9), N. Ireland (25) and the Channel Islands (3). 94 were resident in Cornwall (23%) and 54 (13%) resident in Devon, which indicates a gradual dispersion from the West Country to the rest of the United Kingdom.