The Turnbull surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 8,320 people carried this name — #4,267 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 35,500 people counted. That is up 3% from 8,067 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Turnbull surname

An English surname transferred from the nickname.

From turn + bull, originally a nickname for someone who was strong enough to turn a bull.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Turnbull» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 5 births for the Turnbull name in 1890.

Most were registered in Leinster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 200 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born, 1890

Leinster 3
Ulster 2

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 29 people named Turnbull.

Most of them — 17 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 6 départements, most often Nord.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 17
Nord 5
Allier 3
Loire 1
Pas-de-Calais 1
Yvelines 1
Essonne 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Turnbull was found among the farmers of 2 counties.

It was most frequent in Northumberland: 96 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 104. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Northumberland 96
Durham 60

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In Scotland, 1880s

Turnbull was 25 in every 10,000 names in Scotland.

That is about 1 in 400. Its home there, in Guppy’s words: “Roxburghshire.” He counted the more than 20,000 names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, taking Scotland as a whole, and listed only the names that reached 10 in every 10,000.

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), appendix: alphabetical list of the most frequent Scottish names, p. 595 — public domain · names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, per 10,000 for the whole country.

In Scotland’s registers today

Turnbull was recorded 116 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 211th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 181. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In print

Turnbull in American newspapers,
1874–1914.

Newspaper page from The Semi-weekly Miner carrying the name Turnbull
The Semi-weekly Miner 1882-06-07
Newspaper page from The Birmingham Age-herald carrying the name Turnbull
The Birmingham Age-herald 1914-01-23
Newspaper page from The New Orleans Bulletin carrying the name Turnbull
The New Orleans Bulletin 1874-08-21

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 1,747 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Turnbull in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2010s.

114,484 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Turnbull. The most, 20,004, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Victoria, at 1.4 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 41,474
Victoria 33,599
Queensland 13,070
South Australia 11,027
Tasmania 7,446
Western Australia 6,382
ACT (Canberra) 1,129
Northern Territory 125

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Turnbull.

Who carried it

People named Turnbull,
with a public archive behind them.

  • James Turnbull d. 1846 · politician
  • Robert Turnbull d. 1891 · botanist
  • John Turnbull d. 1895
  • Katherine Scott Turnbull d. 1948
  • Frederick T. Turnbull d. 1951
  • Beatrice Turnbull d. 1953

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Turnbull,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,688 records

1,688 records of the Turnbull name in the United States
  • U.S. alien registration index, 1940–1955 395
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 384
  • Other U.S. records 909
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Lewis C. Turnbull

    Born 1913 in Missouri. Enlisted 1943 at New York City; cook from Kings County, New York. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1969, buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Harold L. Turnbull

    Born 1904 in Pennsylvania. Enlisted 1942 at New York City; policeman. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1965, buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Justin Glaston Turnbull

    Born 1944; from New York, New York. U.S. Army, infantryman; killed in action 1968 in Thua Thien, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 1,688 records for Turnbull in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia3,738 records

3,738 records of the Turnbull name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 1,996
  • Tasmanian Names Index 703
  • Other Australian records 1,039
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record John Turnbull

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Duchess of Northumberland, sailing from Sheerness in 1842. Native of Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1850. Married 1850 in Hobart, Tasmania.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John Ward Mercia Turnbull

    Arrived in Tasmania in 1857 aboard the Mercia from London. Married 1881 in Campbell Town, Tasmania, aged 24.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Ann Turnbull

    Died 1873 in New Norfolk, Tasmania, aged 72. Will registered in Tasmania in 1873.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 3,738 records for Turnbull in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Canada600 records

600 records of the Turnbull name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 448
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 43
  • Other Canadian records 109
  1. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Suzanah Turnbull

    Left New York in 1783 aboard the Diannah, bound for Port Mattoon, aged 23.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Wm Turnbull

    Came to Ontario in 1871 aboard the Moravian, landing at Portland, bound for Barrie, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Thomas Henry Turnbull

    Buried in 1979 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 74.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 3 of 600 records for Turnbull in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom188 records

188 records of the Turnbull name in the United Kingdom
  • Stirling Council burial records 75
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 74
  • Other British records 39
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record James Turnbull

    Born 1897 at Dundee; shoemaker. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary S. Turnbull

    Died 1914, aged 43; buried at Bannockburn Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Sara Turnbull

    Will proved in 1939; of Blk, Blk.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 188 records for Turnbull in the United Kingdom.

Counts: Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

New Zealand90 records

90 records of the Turnbull name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 74
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 8
  • Other New Zealand records 8
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Stanley Victor Turnbull

    Died 1956, aged 65; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Raymond Thomson Turnbull

    Died 1999, aged 86; buried at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record James John Turnbull

    Died 1887, aged 46; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 90 records for Turnbull in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands23 records

23 records of the Turnbull name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 9
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 8
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 6
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record William Turnbull

    Died 1968 in Zevenaar, aged 58; "belastingambtenaar".

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Thomas Turnbull

    In the population register of Manchester (Gb); student, born 1890 in Manchester (Gb).

    Open Archives, West Brabants Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Thomas Turnbull

    Died 1833 in Rotterdam, aged 29.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 23 records for Turnbull in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

France11 records

11 records of the Turnbull name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Benjamin Watkins Turnbull

    Born 1900 in Territoires britanniques dans les Antilles et Bermudes; died 1990 in Saint-Martin (Guadeloupe).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Marguerite Henriette Turnbull

    Born 1899 in Vichy (Allier); died 1991 in Quimper (Finistère).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 11 records for Turnbull in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Germany1 record

1 record of the Turnbull name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Fritz Turnbull

    From Berlin. Reported wounded in the Saxon casualty list of 14 November 1914 (Infantry Regiment No. 139).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Turnbull.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Turnbull is.
A volume says what happened to it.

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