NameCensus.

UK surname

Tocher

A Scottish surname derived from an occupation related to brewing or baking.

In the 1881 census there were 389 people recorded with the Tocher surname, ranking it #8,122 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 441, ranked #10,971, down from #8,122 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Forgue, Auchterless and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bucksburn North, Harrogate and Peterhead Ugieside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tocher is 502 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.4%.

1881 census count

389

Ranked #8,122

Modern count

441

2016, ranked #10,971

Peak year

1901

502 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tocher had 389 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,122 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 441 in 2016, ranked #10,971.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 502 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Tocher surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tocher surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tocher 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 196 #10,573
1861 historical 285 #8,826
1881 historical 389 #8,122
1891 historical 403 #8,822
1901 historical 502 #8,032
1911 historical 53 #27,508
1997 modern 442 #10,209
1998 modern 454 #10,338
1999 modern 443 #10,577
2000 modern 439 #10,650
2001 modern 427 #10,673
2002 modern 434 #10,751
2003 modern 418 #10,896
2004 modern 414 #11,005
2005 modern 414 #10,899
2006 modern 423 #10,765
2007 modern 417 #11,001
2008 modern 421 #11,010
2009 modern 440 #10,888
2010 modern 439 #11,121
2011 modern 440 #10,977
2012 modern 417 #11,346
2013 modern 440 #11,031
2014 modern 451 #10,882
2015 modern 442 #10,977
2016 modern 441 #10,971

Geography

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Where Tochers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Forgue, Auchterless, Edinburgh, Rayne and Fraserburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bucksburn North, Harrogate, Peterhead Ugieside, Peterhead Bay and Warrington. 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 Forgue Aberdeen
2 Auchterless Aberdeen
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Rayne Aberdeen
5 Fraserburgh Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bucksburn North Aberdeen City
2 Harrogate 004 Harrogate
3 Peterhead Ugieside Aberdeenshire
4 Peterhead Bay Aberdeenshire
5 Warrington 010 Warrington

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tocher

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tocher

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Tocher surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Tocher household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Tocher is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tocher is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tocher falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tocher is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Tocher

The surname TOCHER is of Scottish origin, derived from the Old English word "tohhere," which means "a maker of tow" or "one who prepared fibers for spinning." The name is believed to have emerged in the 12th or 13th century in the regions of Perthshire and Angus, Scotland.

In medieval times, the Tocher family was likely involved in the production of linen or wool textiles, as the preparation of fibers was a crucial step in the weaving process. The name may have initially referred to an occupation or trade before becoming an inherited surname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the "Calendar of Documents Relating to Scotland," dated 1292, which mentions a "Hugo Tocher" from Inverkeithing, Fife. Another early reference is found in the "Exchequer Rolls of Scotland" from 1329, which lists a "John Tocher" from Arbroath, Angus.

The name has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Tocherhall in Banffshire and Tochertree in Perthshire. These place names likely derived from the surname itself, indicating areas where families with the name settled or had significant landholdings.

Notable individuals with the surname TOCHER throughout history include:

1. James Tocher (c. 1760-1838), a Scottish mathematician and astronomer, known for his work on the calculation of planetary orbits. 2. John Tocher (1773-1848), a Scottish minister and author, who wrote extensively on religious and theological topics. 3. William Tocher (1824-1899), a Scottish architect and surveyor, responsible for designing several notable buildings in Aberdeen and the surrounding areas. 4. Margaret Tocher (1865-1956), a Scottish suffragist and activist, who campaigned for women's rights and social reforms. 5. James Tocher (1901-1982), a Scottish journalist and writer, known for his contributions to the Glasgow Evening Times and his novels set in Scotland.

While the surname TOCHER is not among the most common Scottish surnames today, it remains a part of the country's rich heritage, reflecting the historical significance of textile production and the evolution of occupational names into inherited family names.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tocher families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tocher 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 229 Tochers recorded in 1881 and an index of 65.16x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 229 65.16x
Banffshire 31 39.39x
Midlothian 17 3.34x
Angus 12 3.41x
Lanarkshire 12 0.98x
Berwickshire 11 23.94x
Cumberland 9 2.75x
Selkirkshire 9 26.22x
Durham 8 0.71x
Fife 8 3.56x
Surrey 8 0.43x
Dunbartonshire 7 6.86x
Lancashire 7 0.16x
Renfrewshire 5 1.70x
Kincardineshire 4 8.66x
Morayshire 4 6.78x
Ayrshire 1 0.35x
Cheshire 1 0.12x
Essex 1 0.13x
Middlesex 1 0.03x
Nairnshire 1 8.64x
Perthshire 1 0.59x
Roxburghshire 1 1.46x
Yorkshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen Old Machar in Aberdeenshire leads with 37 Tochers recorded in 1881 and an index of 50.43x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen Old Machar 37 50.43x
Forgue 27 854.43x
Fraserburgh 25 252.78x
Peterhead 14 75.35x
Auchterless 11 394.27x
Tyrie 11 249.43x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 10 4.89x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 9 13.69x
Galashiels 9 70.92x
Strathdon 9 526.32x
West Newton Allonby 9 789.47x
Culsalmond 8 740.74x
Eccles 8 398.01x
Gamrie 8 91.01x
Glasgow 8 3.67x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 8 16.36x
Lambeth 8 2.42x
Rathven 8 54.09x
Strichen 8 262.30x
Turriff 8 141.09x
New Deer 7 110.06x
Newhills 7 97.22x
Salford 7 5.29x
Barry 6 142.18x
Inverkeithing 6 177.51x
Abbey 5 11.14x
Boyndie 5 191.57x
Drumoak 5 413.22x
Monifieth 5 40.26x
Row 5 37.91x
Banchory Devenick 4 92.59x
Chapel Of Garioch 4 160.00x
Drumblade 4 322.58x
Kintore 4 131.15x
Meldrum 4 135.14x
Rayne 4 239.52x
South Leith 4 6.99x
Coldstream 3 90.09x
Gorbals 3 41.21x
Grange 3 130.43x
Leslie 3 441.18x
Marnoch 3 70.92x
Udny 3 140.85x
Cluny 2 118.34x
Fordyce 2 35.34x
Gartly 2 172.41x
Inverurie 2 50.38x
New Machar 2 101.52x
North Leith 2 8.50x
Old Kilpatrick 2 16.60x
Skene 2 85.84x
Alvah 1 56.50x
Banff 1 14.62x
Bellie 1 37.59x
Boharm 1 64.52x
Chester Castle 1 227.27x
Dalziel 1 7.58x
Dunfermline 1 2.90x
Echt 1 59.17x
Edinburgh St Andrews 1 23.81x
Elgin 1 8.72x
Ellon 1 20.70x
Fintray 1 74.63x
Kilwinning 1 10.91x
Leeds 1 0.47x
Melrose 1 16.84x
Methlick 1 35.59x
Midmar 1 73.53x
Montrose 1 4.69x
Muthill 1 45.05x
Nairn 1 14.22x
Premnay 1 82.64x
Rhynie 1 68.49x
St Andrews 1 9.78x
St Andrews Lhanbryd 1 54.95x
St Olave Silver Street 1 909.09x
West Ham 1 0.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Alice 1
Augusta 1
Bethia 1
Christina 1
Edith 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizth.Sheriff 1
Georgeena 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Jeannia 1
Maryama 1
Rebecca 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 4
John 4
Alexander 2
Peter 2
William 2
Alexdr. 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
George 1
Samuel 1
Wm. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Tocher households.

FAQ

Tocher surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tocher surname in 1881?

In 1881, 389 people were recorded with the Tocher surname. That placed it at #8,122 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tocher surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 441 in 2016. That gives Tocher a modern rank of #10,971.

What does the Tocher surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from an occupation related to brewing or baking.

What does the Tocher map show?

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