2000
#149,328
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 101
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Tegg
A topographical surname derived from a Middle English word meaning "small meadow or pasture".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 124 Americans carry the last name Tegg. That puts it at #150,935 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,764,148 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Tegg surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Tegg with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
124
1 in 2,764,148
Census rank
#150,935
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
108
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 108 bearers of the surname Tegg in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 150935th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Tegg, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.7%) and Two or More Races (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Tegg
The surname Tegg is an English name that originated in the county of Cheshire in the early 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "tecg," which means "servant" or "attendant." This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who worked as a servant or attendant in a household or manor.
The earliest recorded instance of the Tegg surname can be found in the Cheshire Pipe Rolls of 1260, where a person named Richard Tecg is mentioned. This historical record provides evidence of the name's existence and usage during that period.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Tek, Teck, and Teyk, reflecting the phonetic variations common in that era. One notable example is the mention of a John Teck in the Cheshire Assize Rolls of 1348.
The Tegg surname was also associated with specific locations in Cheshire. For instance, the village of Tegg's Nose, located near Macclesfield, was named after a prominent family who held land in the area. This connection to place names further reinforces the name's origins and geographical significance.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Tegg surname. One of the earliest recorded examples is Thomas Tegg (1776-1846), an English publisher and bookseller known for his affordable editions of popular works. Another prominent figure was William Tegg (1801-1870), a writer and publisher who authored several books on various subjects.
In the 19th century, John Tegg (1832-1901) gained recognition as a successful businessman and philanthropist in Manchester, England. He founded the Tegg Charity Trust, which provided financial assistance to underprivileged individuals and families.
Another notable bearer of the Tegg name was Edward Tegg (1857-1933), a British architect who designed numerous buildings in London and other parts of England during the late Victorian and Edwardian eras.
Additionally, the Tegg surname has been associated with the textile industry in Lancashire, where several families were involved in the production and trade of cotton and wool fabrics during the Industrial Revolution.
While the Tegg surname may not be as widespread as some other English names, it has a rich history and connection to various regions and occupations throughout the centuries. Its origins as a name denoting service or attendance have evolved over time, reflecting the diverse experiences and contributions of those who have carried this surname.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Tegg
Among Census respondents with the surname Tegg, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.7%) and Two or More Races (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Tegg bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Tegg surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.6% · 100
- Hispanic or Latino3.7% · 4
- Two or more races1.9% · 2
- Black or African American0.9% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Tegg
Tegg appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#150,452
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 109
+8 bearers (+7.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 1,124 places
2020
#150,935
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
-1 bearers (-0.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 483 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #149,328 | 101 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #150,452 | 109 | 0.04 | +8 bearers (+7.9%) | Down 1,124 places |
| 2020 | #150,935 | 108 | 0.04 | -1 bearers (-0.9%) | Down 483 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Tegg surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #150,452 | #150,935 | -0.3% |
| Count | 109 | 108 | -0.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -9.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Tegg bearers went from 109 to 108 (-0.9% change). The surname moved down 483 positions in the national ranking, going from #150,452 to #150,935.
FAQ
Tegg surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Tegg?
Name Census estimates that about 124 living Americans carry the surname Tegg. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,764,148 residents.
How common is Tegg?
Tegg ranks #150,935 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 108 people with the surname Tegg. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (124), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Tegg.
Has Tegg become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Tegg went from 109 recorded bearers to 108. That is a decrease of 1 (-0.9%). In the national ranking it fell from #150,452 to #150,935.
What does the Census say about the background of Tegg?
Among Census respondents with the surname Tegg, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.7%) and Two or More Races (1.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Tegg in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.6% (100 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Tegg appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.6%), Hispanic (3.7%), Two or More Races (1.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Tegg (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Tegg mean?
A topographical surname derived from a Middle English word meaning "small meadow or pasture". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Tegg (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How common is the surname Tegg?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many Americans have the surname Tegg at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.