NameCensus.

UK surname

Otoole

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Tuathail, meaning "descendant of Tuathal," a personal name meaning "mighty people."

In the 1881 census there were 300 people recorded with the Otoole surname, ranking it #9,724 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,905, ranked #1,734, up from #9,724 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Derby, Liverpool and Wirral.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Otoole is 3,937 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1201.7%.

1881 census count

300

Ranked #9,724

Modern count

3,905

2016, ranked #1,734

Peak year

2014

3,937 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Otoole had 300 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,724 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,905 in 2016, ranked #1,734.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 538 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Otoole surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Otoole surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Otoole 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 46 #24,985
1861 historical 70 #24,911
1881 historical 300 #9,724
1891 historical 271 #11,992
1901 historical 407 #9,374
1911 historical 538 #7,408
1997 modern 3,492 #1,857
1998 modern 3,610 #1,875
1999 modern 3,595 #1,892
2000 modern 3,611 #1,881
2001 modern 3,533 #1,875
2002 modern 3,711 #1,825
2003 modern 3,625 #1,826
2004 modern 3,612 #1,830
2005 modern 3,592 #1,817
2006 modern 3,556 #1,839
2007 modern 3,610 #1,826
2008 modern 3,696 #1,793
2009 modern 3,803 #1,786
2010 modern 3,927 #1,769
2011 modern 3,864 #1,774
2012 modern 3,841 #1,747
2013 modern 3,884 #1,762
2014 modern 3,937 #1,745
2015 modern 3,906 #1,739
2016 modern 3,905 #1,734

Geography

Back to top

Where Otooles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Liverpool and Bidstone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Derby, Liverpool, Wirral, Coventry and Knowsley. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 London parishes London 2
5 Bidstone Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Derby 007 Derby
2 Liverpool 022 Liverpool
3 Wirral 011 Wirral
4 Coventry 017 Coventry
5 Knowsley 006 Knowsley

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Otoole

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Otoole

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Otoole, 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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Otoole surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Otoole household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Otoole is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Otoole is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Otoole falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Otoole is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Otoole, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Otoole

The surname OTOOLE is an anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Tuathail, which means "descendant of Tuathal." The name originates from County Tipperary in Ireland, and it is believed to have been adopted in the 10th or 11th century.

The name Tuathal is derived from the Old Irish word "tuath," meaning "people" or "territory," and the suffix "-al," which denotes a personal name. The prefix "Ó" means "descendant of" or "grandson of," indicating that the OTOOLE surname was originally a patronymic name.

One of the earliest recorded references to the OTOOLE name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The annals mention several members of the OTOOLE family, who were rulers and chieftains in County Tipperary.

In the 14th century, a branch of the OTOOLE family settled in County Wicklow, where they became prominent landowners and leaders. One of the most notable members of this branch was Turlough OTOOLE, who was appointed High Sheriff of County Wicklow in 1398.

Another prominent figure in Irish history with the OTOOLE surname was Sir Barnabas OTOOLE (1588-1628), who was a member of the Irish Parliament and played a significant role in the Plantation of Ulster in the early 17th century.

During the Irish Rebellion of 1641, several members of the OTOOLE family, including Colonel Donough OTOOLE, were prominent leaders in the Confederate Catholic movement against English rule.

In the literary world, the Irish writer and politician Justin OTOOLE (1914-2003) was a notable figure. He served as a member of the Irish Parliament and was also a renowned novelist and short story writer.

Other notable individuals with the OTOOLE surname include the American actor Peter OTOOLE (1932-2013), who won numerous awards for his performances in films such as "Lawrence of Arabia" and "The Lion in Winter," and the Australian rules footballer Dan OTOOLE (born 1990), who plays for the Fremantle Dockers in the Australian Football League.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Otoole families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Otoole 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 72 Otooles recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.47x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 72 3.47x
Yorkshire 16 0.92x
Lanarkshire 14 2.48x
Cheshire 13 3.37x
Warwickshire 10 2.27x
Durham 8 1.54x
Middlesex 7 0.40x
Staffordshire 6 1.02x
Gloucestershire 5 1.46x
Renfrewshire 4 2.96x
Surrey 4 0.47x
Kent 3 0.50x
Royal Navy 3 14.42x
Channel Islands 2 3.87x
Dunbartonshire 2 4.26x
Herefordshire 2 2.79x
Midlothian 2 0.86x
Perthshire 2 2.55x
Shropshire 2 1.33x
Devon 1 0.28x
Dorset 1 0.87x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 23 Otooles recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.28x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 23 18.28x
Birkenhead 9 29.29x
Manchester 8 8.59x
Tudhoe 7 154.19x
West Derby 7 11.55x
Birmingham 6 4.09x
Glasgow 6 5.98x
Govan 6 4.30x
Selby 6 165.75x
Blackburn 5 9.07x
Bristol St James In 5 99.21x
Garston 5 81.70x
Great Bolton 5 18.22x
Kirkdale 5 14.35x
Newcastle Under Lyme 5 47.94x
Aston 4 3.30x
Hipperholme Cum 4 52.63x
Salford 4 6.56x
St Pancras London 4 2.85x
Tranmere 4 28.23x
East Greenock 3 23.47x
Royal Navy 3 16.86x
Bonhill 2 26.56x
Everton 2 3.03x
Horton In Bradford 2 7.40x
Rattray 2 109.89x
Shifnal 2 48.78x
Southwark St John 2 37.45x
St Peter Port 2 20.90x
Toxteth Park 2 2.85x
Tupsley 2 327.87x
Barony 1 0.70x
Birkdale 1 19.08x
Borthwick 1 95.24x
Camberwell 1 0.90x
Canterbury St Mary 1 25.00x
Conside Knitsley 1 24.75x
Cotton 1 256.41x
Edinburgh New North 1 49.02x
Edmonton 1 7.11x
Great Crosby 1 17.70x
Hammersmith London 1 2.33x
Hunslet 1 3.71x
Hythe St Leonard 1 47.39x
Kingstonupon Hull 1 71.94x
Lanark 1 22.03x
Litherland 1 23.09x
Maidstone 1 5.63x
Much Woolton 1 35.59x
Nether Hallam 1 4.27x
North Meols 1 4.93x
Orell Ford 1 263.16x
Paignton 1 36.10x
Portland 1 16.23x
Renfrew 1 22.37x
Ripon 1 24.94x
Southwark Christchurch 1 12.22x
St Marylebone London 1 1.07x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Bridget 5
Catherine 5
Elizabeth 5
Ann 4
Annie 4
Ellen 4
Sarah 4
Agnes 3
Eliza 3
Margt. 3
Julia 2
Margaret 2
Alice 1
Catharine 1
Esther 1
Harriet 1
Hellein 1
Honoria 1
Janet 1
Kate 1
Louisa 1
Maggie 1
Maria 1
Marrian 1
Rosanna 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 13
Patrick 8
James 7
Michael 5
Peter 5
Lawrence 4
William 3
Arthur 2
Bernard 2
Thomas 2
Alexander 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Henry 1
Jereimiah 1
Joseph 1
Luke 1
M. 1
Martin 1
Myles 1
Nicholas 1
Paterick 1
Patick 1
Phillop 1
Thos. 1
Timothy 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Otoole surname: questions and answers

How common was the Otoole surname in 1881?

In 1881, 300 people were recorded with the Otoole surname. That placed it at #9,724 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Otoole surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,905 in 2016. That gives Otoole a modern rank of #1,734.

What does the Otoole surname mean?

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Tuathail, meaning "descendant of Tuathal," a personal name meaning "mighty people."

What does the Otoole map show?

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