NameCensus.

UK surname

Tobias

A surname derived from the Hebrew given name Tobiah, meaning "God is good" or "the goodness of God."

In the 1881 census there were 236 people recorded with the Tobias surname, ranking it #11,540 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 591, ranked #8,825, up from #11,540 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stisted, London parishes and St Mary Whitechapel. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Camden, Bury and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tobias is 595 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 150.4%.

1881 census count

236

Ranked #11,540

Modern count

591

2016, ranked #8,825

Peak year

2014

595 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tobias had 236 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,540 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 591 in 2016, ranked #8,825.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 428 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Tobias surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tobias surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tobias 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 125 #14,700
1861 historical 128 #17,375
1881 historical 236 #11,540
1891 historical 268 #12,087
1901 historical 364 #10,128
1911 historical 428 #8,827
1997 modern 527 #8,948
1998 modern 512 #9,414
1999 modern 524 #9,319
2000 modern 523 #9,304
2001 modern 501 #9,448
2002 modern 514 #9,451
2003 modern 518 #9,257
2004 modern 515 #9,312
2005 modern 512 #9,286
2006 modern 515 #9,277
2007 modern 520 #9,284
2008 modern 537 #9,126
2009 modern 549 #9,190
2010 modern 562 #9,200
2011 modern 557 #9,170
2012 modern 571 #8,921
2013 modern 576 #9,006
2014 modern 595 #8,857
2015 modern 593 #8,806
2016 modern 591 #8,825

Geography

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Where Tobias' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stisted, London parishes, St Mary Whitechapel, Llangathen and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Camden, Bury, Leeds, Rochdale and Watford. 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 Stisted Essex
2 London parishes London 1
3 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
4 Llangathen Carmarthenshire
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Camden 011 Camden
2 Bury 019 Bury
3 Leeds 015 Leeds
4 Rochdale 019 Rochdale
5 Watford 012 Watford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tobias

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tobias

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Tobias surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Tobias household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Tobias is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tobias 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

Tobias falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tobias is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Tobias

The surname Tobias is derived from the Hebrew name Tobiah, which means "God is good." It originated in ancient Israel and was initially a personal name before evolving into a hereditary surname.

The name has its roots in the biblical Book of Tobit, where the central character is named Tobiah. This book is part of the Catholic and Orthodox biblical canon but is considered apocryphal by Protestants and Jews.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tobias as a surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Tobia." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides a comprehensive record of landholders across England following the Norman Conquest.

During the Middle Ages, the name Tobias was relatively uncommon in England but was more prevalent in parts of continental Europe, particularly in Germany and the Netherlands. Variations of the spelling included Tobias, Tobiassen, and Tobasson.

In the 16th century, a notable bearer of the name Tobias was the German Protestant reformer and theologian Tobias Cricius (1497-1559). He was a leading figure in the Reformation movement and worked closely with Martin Luther.

Another prominent individual with the surname Tobias was the Dutch painter Tobias Verhaecht (1561-1631), known for his landscapes and genre scenes. His works are featured in various museums across Europe.

In the 17th century, the English philosopher and author Sir Tobias Crisp (1600-1643) was a controversial figure known for his antinomian views, which held that moral law was not binding for believers under the covenant of grace.

The 18th century saw the birth of Tobias Smollett (1721-1771), a Scottish novelist and playwright celebrated for his picaresque novels, such as "The Adventures of Roderick Random" and "The Expedition of Humphry Clinker."

In the 19th century, the German-American astronomer Tobias Mayer (1793-1857) made significant contributions to celestial mechanics and the study of binary star systems. His work on the motion of the moon was particularly influential.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tobias families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tobias 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. Middlesex leads with 59 Tobias' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.54x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 59 2.54x
Carmarthenshire 42 42.92x
Essex 41 8.95x
Glamorgan 23 5.69x
Lancashire 18 0.65x
Northumberland 12 3.47x
Gloucestershire 6 1.32x
Hampshire 6 1.26x
Nottinghamshire 6 1.92x
Derbyshire 4 1.10x
Kent 4 0.51x
Yorkshire 4 0.17x
Dorset 3 1.97x
Surrey 2 0.18x
Channel Islands 1 1.45x
Devon 1 0.21x
Hertfordshire 1 0.62x
Leicestershire 1 0.39x
Northamptonshire 1 0.46x
Royal Navy 1 3.61x
Staffordshire 1 0.13x
Worcestershire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitechapel London in Middlesex leads with 17 Tobias' recorded in 1881 and an index of 74.30x.

Place Total Index
Whitechapel London 17 74.30x
Llanarthney 13 878.38x
Toxteth Park 13 13.94x
Longbenton 12 82.02x
Llanddarog 11 1571.43x
Llangathen 11 1594.20x
Swansea Higher 8 190.02x
Bethnal Green London 7 6.94x
Hackney London 7 5.38x
Langham 7 1320.75x
St Giles In Fields 7 87.39x
Cheltenham 6 17.08x
Great Dunmow 6 251.05x
Nottingham St Nicholas 6 140.85x
Pattiswick 6 2222.22x
Sible Hedingham 6 392.16x
Grays Thurrock 5 117.37x
Llantrisant 5 49.07x
Mile End New Town 5 157.73x
Mile End Old Town 5 13.64x
St George In East 5 31.67x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 9.14x
Cranham 4 1212.12x
Fordingbridge 4 154.44x
Halstead 4 74.77x
Litchurch 4 27.34x
Llanwonno 4 27.55x
Skipton 4 55.25x
Carmarthen St Peter 3 35.89x
Cerne Abbas 3 405.41x
Llanelly 3 13.61x
Llanguick 3 41.44x
Camberwell 2 1.35x
Chatham 2 9.18x
Portsea 2 2.14x
St Pancras London 2 1.07x
Swansea St Thomas 2 49.26x
Bocking 1 36.23x
Braintree 1 24.33x
Cardiff St John 1 7.58x
Chelsea London 1 1.43x
Gosfield 1 204.08x
Leicester St Mary 1 4.81x
Liverpool 1 0.60x
Llanfihangel 1 140.85x
Margate St John Baptist 1 6.90x
Minster In Sheppey 1 7.62x
Northampton All Sts 1 13.50x
Royal Navy 1 4.23x
Rugeley 1 17.79x
Shipston On Stour 1 72.46x
Spitalfields London 1 5.73x
St Luke London 1 2.69x
St Sampson 1 32.26x
Stoke Damerel 1 2.96x
Stoke Newington London 1 5.53x
Watford 1 8.06x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 14
Thomas 10
David 7
Charles 6
William 6
George 5
Henry 5
Joseph 5
Alfred 4
Frederick 4
Marks 3
Robert 3
Samuel 3
Alexander 2
Edward 2
Isaac 2
A. 1
Abraham 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Conrad 1
Davis 1
Ernest 1
Evan 1
Francis 1
Gershon 1
Heinrich 1
Herbert 1
Israel 1
Jacob 1
James 1
Leopold 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Morris 1
Nathan 1
Newman 1
Niles 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Richards 1
Sidore 1
Simon 1
Soloman 1
Theodore 1
W. 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Tobias surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tobias surname in 1881?

In 1881, 236 people were recorded with the Tobias surname. That placed it at #11,540 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tobias surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 591 in 2016. That gives Tobias a modern rank of #8,825.

What does the Tobias surname mean?

A surname derived from the Hebrew given name Tobiah, meaning "God is good" or "the goodness of God."

What does the Tobias map show?

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