Show ContentsTitmuss History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Titmuss surname is thought to derive from the name of an English bird called a titmose or tit-mouse; as such, the name was likely originally a nickname for someone thought to resemble this bird.

Early Origins of the Titmuss family

The surname Titmuss was first found in Lancashire where they held a family seat on the English/Scottish border. After the Norman Conquest of England many of Duke William's rebellious Barons moved north. The border became a convenient no-man's land. Notable families such as the Percy, the Umfravilles and the Nevilles gathered many supporting clans around them. In the 16th century they became known as the 'unruly clans'. In that century, many of those clans drove their herds south, and they settled in Yorkshire and Lancashire. The name was first recorded in Kirkham.

Early History of the Titmuss family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Titmuss research. Another 110 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1580, 1651 and 1662 are included under the topic Early Titmuss History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Titmuss Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Titmas, Titmus, Titmuss, Tytemose, Titmouse and many more.

Early Notables of the Titmuss family

More information is included under the topic Early Titmuss Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Australia Titmuss migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Titmuss Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Titmuss, (Titmouse, Titmus), (b. 1784), aged 31, English brick layer who was convicted in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1863 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Titmuss (post 1700) +

  • Abigail Evelyn "Abi" Titmuss (b. 1976), English actress, television personality, poker player, and former glamour model
  • Fred Titmuss (1898-1966), English footballer
  • Abigail Titmuss (b. 1976), English TV presenter and model
  • Richard Titmuss (1907-1973), British academic
  • Christopher Titmuss (b. 1944), former Theravada Buddhist monk and author


  1. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring


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