NameCensus.

UK surname

Todhunter

A surname derived from archaic English referring to someone who hunted foxes.

In the 1881 census there were 429 people recorded with the Todhunter surname, ranking it #7,578 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 719, ranked #7,553, up from #7,578 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Caldbeck, St Bees and Auckland St Andrew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Allerdale and Copeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Todhunter is 735 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 67.6%.

1881 census count

429

Ranked #7,578

Modern count

719

2016, ranked #7,553

Peak year

2014

735 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Todhunter had 429 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,578 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 719 in 2016, ranked #7,553.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 570 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Todhunter surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Todhunter surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Todhunter 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 327 #7,119
1861 historical 283 #8,866
1881 historical 429 #7,578
1891 historical 459 #7,965
1901 historical 533 #7,697
1911 historical 570 #7,107
1997 modern 712 #7,160
1998 modern 722 #7,299
1999 modern 714 #7,408
2000 modern 729 #7,270
2001 modern 701 #7,358
2002 modern 708 #7,444
2003 modern 696 #7,416
2004 modern 682 #7,563
2005 modern 675 #7,556
2006 modern 674 #7,591
2007 modern 673 #7,675
2008 modern 675 #7,687
2009 modern 684 #7,784
2010 modern 690 #7,864
2011 modern 685 #7,819
2012 modern 683 #7,759
2013 modern 713 #7,623
2014 modern 735 #7,504
2015 modern 723 #7,537
2016 modern 719 #7,553

Geography

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Where Todhunters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Caldbeck, St Bees, Auckland St Andrew, Manchester and Crosthwaite. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Allerdale and Copeland. 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 Caldbeck Cumberland
2 St Bees Cumberland
3 Auckland St Andrew Durham
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Crosthwaite Cumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Allerdale 002 Allerdale
2 Copeland 007 Copeland
3 Allerdale 007 Allerdale
4 Allerdale 005 Allerdale
5 Copeland 002 Copeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Todhunter

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Todhunter

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Todhunter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Todhunter household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Todhunter is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Todhunter is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Todhunter falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Todhunter 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 Todhunter, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Todhunter

The surname Todhunter originated in England in the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "tod" meaning a fox and "hunta" meaning a hunter. Thus, Todhunter likely referred to someone who hunted foxes or was a fox hunter by occupation.

The name was particularly common in the northern counties of England, such as Yorkshire and Lancashire, where fox hunting was a popular pastime among the gentry. The earliest recorded instances of the name appear in the 13th century records of these areas.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Todhunter, who was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1284. Another early reference is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire from 1332, which lists a Robert le Todhunter.

The name also appears in some place names in northern England, such as Todhunter Hall in Lancashire, which was likely named after a family bearing the surname. In some cases, the name was also spelled as Todhuntre or Todhuntre in older records.

Notable individuals with the surname Todhunter include Isaac Todhunter (1820-1884), an English mathematician and writer who was a prominent figure in the development of mathematical education in Britain. Another was John Todhunter (1839-1916), an Irish politician and barrister who served as Solicitor-General for Ireland.

Ralph Todhunter (1865-1940) was a British artist and painter known for his landscapes and portraits, while James Todhunter (1884-1957) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from New York.

Additionally, Thomas Todhunter (1788-1869) was an Irish clergyman and writer who served as the Dean of Cashel and was known for his works on Irish history and antiquities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Todhunter families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Todhunter 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. Cumberland leads with 218 Todhunters recorded in 1881 and an index of 59.95x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 218 59.95x
Lancashire 69 1.38x
Surrey 26 1.26x
Middlesex 21 0.50x
Cheshire 17 1.82x
Kent 14 0.97x
Durham 13 1.03x
Hertfordshire 12 4.12x
Essex 10 1.20x
Northumberland 9 1.43x
Cambridgeshire 5 1.87x
Staffordshire 5 0.35x
Yorkshire 5 0.12x
Isle of Man 4 5.10x
Gloucestershire 2 0.24x
Norfolk 2 0.31x
Shropshire 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Everton in Lancashire leads with 27 Todhunters recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.90x.

Place Total Index
Everton 27 16.90x
Keswick 15 322.58x
Papcastle 15 1485.15x
Whitehaven 15 77.40x
Brigham 14 813.95x
Camberwell 12 4.45x
Aikton 9 782.61x
Manchester 9 3.99x
Motherby 9 7500.00x
Penrith 9 67.01x
Thursby 9 1168.83x
Bassenthwaite 8 1081.08x
Birkenhead 7 9.42x
Cockermouth 7 91.38x
Greenwich 7 10.41x
Islington London 7 1.71x
Lymm 7 103.24x
Westward 7 460.53x
Workington 7 33.62x
Accrington 6 13.17x
Berrier Murrah 6 4000.00x
Caldbeck 6 352.94x
Cheshunt 6 58.94x
Ennerdale Kinniside 6 1395.35x
Hornsey 6 11.23x
West Derby 6 4.09x
West Ham 6 3.26x
Battersea 5 3.22x
Burnley 5 11.85x
Burton Upon Trent 5 14.99x
Coundon 5 98.23x
Dacre 5 357.14x
Elswick 5 9.97x
Monkwearmouth Shore 5 20.38x
St Andrewthe Less 5 16.36x
St Cuthbert W O 5 28.20x
Arlecdon 4 41.37x
Burgh By Sands 4 338.98x
Bury 4 6.99x
Cleator 4 26.42x
Dearham 4 83.33x
Hensingham 4 134.68x
Hutton Soil 4 714.29x
Irthington 4 465.12x
Minster In Sheppey 4 16.76x
Onchan 4 17.71x
St Cuthbert W O Upperby 4 400.00x
Sutton 4 26.86x
Toxteth Park 4 2.36x
Chiswick 3 13.00x
Flimby 3 97.72x
Great Neston 3 97.40x
Leyton Low 3 17.70x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 3 7.99x
Plumbland 3 319.15x
Ridge 3 508.47x
Shoreditch London 3 1.64x
Uldale 3 810.81x
Wortley In Bramley 3 9.05x
Aldenham 2 75.47x
Bentham 2 62.70x
Caldewgate 2 10.04x
Crook Billy Row 2 12.43x
Graystoke 2 307.69x
Hesket In Forest 2 70.42x
Hulme 2 1.91x
Hunsonby Winskill 2 487.80x
Lambeth 2 0.54x
Lewisham 2 2.60x
Matterdale 2 400.00x
Newland 2 28.74x
St Cuthbert W O Carleton 2 200.00x
Above Derwent 1 74.07x
Eaton St Andrew 1 55.56x
Great Amwell 1 34.25x
Holme Abbey 1 73.53x
Kensington London 1 0.43x
St Cuthbert Within 1 23.75x
Walton On Hill 1 112.36x
Wavertree 1 6.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 31
William 31
Thomas 26
Joseph 25
George 13
Robert 7
James 6
Benjamin 5
Albert 4
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Isaac 3
Charles 2
Daniel 2
David 2
Frank 2
Henry 2
Herbert 2
Timothy 2
Wm. 2
Abraham 1
Andrew 1
B. 1
Ernest 1
Evans 1
Francis 1
Geo. 1
Hugh 1
Infant 1
Irving 1
Jeremiah 1
Johnathon 1
Jonathon 1
Lawrence 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Ralph 1
Reuben 1
Robinson 1
Robt. 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Wilfred 1
Willm. 1
Wilson 1
Wm.Nise 1

FAQ

Todhunter surname: questions and answers

How common was the Todhunter surname in 1881?

In 1881, 429 people were recorded with the Todhunter surname. That placed it at #7,578 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Todhunter surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 719 in 2016. That gives Todhunter a modern rank of #7,553.

What does the Todhunter surname mean?

A surname derived from archaic English referring to someone who hunted foxes.

What does the Todhunter map show?

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