NameCensus.

UK surname

Toller

Of German origin, a nickname for someone overly talkative or impatient.

In the 1881 census there were 226 people recorded with the Toller surname, ranking it #11,889 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 227, ranked #17,992, down from #11,889 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Margaret and Kettering. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Gloucestershire, Thanet and Kettering.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Toller is 253 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.4%.

1881 census count

226

Ranked #11,889

Modern count

227

2016, ranked #17,992

Peak year

1901

253 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Toller had 226 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,889 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 227 in 2016, ranked #17,992.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 253 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Toller surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Toller surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Toller 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 175 #11,542
1861 historical 218 #11,175
1881 historical 226 #11,889
1891 historical 197 #15,101
1901 historical 253 #13,045
1911 historical 223 #13,951
1997 modern 207 #17,267
1998 modern 219 #17,115
1999 modern 225 #16,931
2000 modern 217 #17,296
2001 modern 202 #17,834
2002 modern 200 #18,294
2003 modern 202 #18,032
2004 modern 204 #17,992
2005 modern 198 #18,279
2006 modern 193 #18,675
2007 modern 199 #18,542
2008 modern 199 #18,699
2009 modern 209 #18,493
2010 modern 224 #18,047
2011 modern 221 #18,039
2012 modern 210 #18,604
2013 modern 233 #17,606
2014 modern 231 #17,813
2015 modern 229 #17,846
2016 modern 227 #17,992

Geography

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Where Tollers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Margaret, Kettering and St John Hampstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Gloucestershire, Thanet, Kettering and Taunton Deane. 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 London parishes London 1
2 St Margaret Leicestershire
3 Kettering Northamptonshire
4 St John Hampstead London (North Districts)
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Gloucestershire 018 South Gloucestershire
2 Thanet 001 Thanet
3 Kettering 002 Kettering
4 Taunton Deane 006 Taunton Deane
5 Taunton Deane 009 Taunton Deane

Forenames

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First names often paired with Toller

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Toller

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Toller surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Toller household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Toller is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Toller is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Toller 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 Toller 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 Toller, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Toller

The surname Toller has its origins in the English county of Dorset, England, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "toll," which referred to a toll or tax paid for goods or services, particularly those related to the transportation of goods. The name likely originated as an occupational surname for someone who collected tolls or worked at a tollgate.

In medieval times, many towns and villages in Dorset had tollgates or tolls established along major trade routes to collect fees for the maintenance of roads and bridges. The earliest recorded instance of the name Toller appears in the Dorset Assize Rolls of 1268, where a William le Toller is mentioned.

The name Toller can also be traced to various place names in Dorset, such as the villages of Toller Fratrum and Toller Porcorum, which are believed to have derived their names from the Old English words "toll" and "gehyr," meaning "toll" and "dwelling" or "settlement," respectively.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Toller was John Toller, who was born in Dorset around 1460. He served as a member of the English Parliament during the reign of King Henry VII in the late 15th century.

In the 16th century, a notable figure with the surname Toller was Thomas Toller, born in 1515 in Dorset. He was a prominent merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the local community.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, a man named Richard Toller, born in 1620 in Dorset, fought on the Parliamentarian side and was known for his bravery in battle.

Another significant individual with the surname Toller was Samuel Toller, born in 1722 in Dorset. He was a renowned scholar and educator who served as the headmaster of several prestigious schools in England.

In the 19th century, a notable figure with the surname Toller was William Toller, born in 1812 in Dorset. He was a pioneering engineer and inventor who contributed significantly to the development of early steam engines and agricultural machinery.

Throughout its history, the surname Toller has been associated with various occupations and professions, including merchants, landowners, soldiers, educators, and engineers, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Toller families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Toller 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 49 Tollers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.27x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 49 2.27x
Somerset 38 10.95x
Suffolk 20 7.62x
Cambridgeshire 17 12.45x
Leicestershire 14 5.86x
Devon 13 2.90x
Surrey 12 1.14x
Huntingdonshire 10 23.36x
Aberdeenshire 9 4.51x
Northamptonshire 8 3.95x
Gloucestershire 6 1.42x
Kent 4 0.54x
Staffordshire 4 0.55x
Yorkshire 3 0.14x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.53x
Cardiganshire 2 3.80x
Hertfordshire 2 1.35x
Lancashire 2 0.08x
Flintshire 1 1.73x
Hampshire 1 0.23x
Lincolnshire 1 0.29x
Monmouthshire 1 0.64x
Sussex 1 0.28x
Westmorland 1 2.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wellington in Somerset leads with 28 Tollers recorded in 1881 and an index of 595.74x.

Place Total Index
Wellington 28 595.74x
Waterbeach 12 1081.08x
Blaxhall 9 2368.42x
Hampstead London 9 26.81x
St Pancras London 9 5.19x
Taunton St Mary 9 141.29x
Kettering 7 85.37x
Monquhitter 7 338.16x
Leicester St Margaret 6 10.29x
Leicester St Mary 6 31.07x
Gloucester Barton St 5 201.61x
Islington London 5 2.39x
Aylesbeare 4 615.38x
Barnstaple 4 56.82x
Cheadle 4 114.61x
Chelsea London 4 6.16x
Chiswick 4 33.96x
Croydon 4 6.86x
Folkestone 4 28.03x
Lambeth 4 2.13x
Saxmundham 4 412.37x
Godmanchester 3 185.19x
Hemingford Grey 3 454.55x
Hornsey 3 11.01x
Kelsale 3 410.96x
Letheringham 3 2000.00x
Paddington London 3 3.79x
Akeley 2 689.66x
Battersea 2 2.52x
Cardigan St Mary 2 99.50x
Clerkenwell London 2 3.93x
Hackney London 2 1.65x
Harston 2 344.83x
Houghton 2 526.32x
Knighton 2 148.15x
Rawdon 2 79.37x
Shenley 2 204.08x
St Ives 2 90.09x
Stoke Newington London 2 11.91x
Tormoham 2 10.53x
Withington 2 24.27x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 2.40x
Barholm 1 769.23x
Cheltenham 1 3.07x
Cwmcarvan 1 555.56x
East Lavant 1 333.33x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 1 16.81x
Fareham 1 18.83x
Gamlingay 1 70.42x
Gedgrave 1 2000.00x
Hammersmith London 1 1.88x
Harrow On The Hill 1 23.20x
Hemyock 1 149.25x
Hope 1 34.72x
Kendal 1 11.53x
Kensington London 1 0.83x
King Edward 1 43.48x
Little Bowden 1 140.85x
Newington 1 1.26x
Plymouth Charles The 1 5.06x
St Andrewthe Less 1 6.41x
St George Hanover 1 3.55x
St Luke London 1 2.89x
St Marylebone London 1 0.87x
Stainforth In Thorne 1 185.19x
Tiverton 1 12.94x
Walcot 1 5.41x
Wandsworth 1 4.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 15
James 9
George 8
Charles 6
John 6
Joseph 5
Richard 5
Robert 4
Thomas 4
Arthur 3
Henry 3
Alfred 2
Frederic 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Samuel 2
Tom 2
Bernard 1
Clement 1
Cyril 1
Ebenezer 1
Edward 1
Eli 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Franz 1
Fred 1
Hamlet 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Hill 1
Hubert 1
Mark 1
Montagu 1
Percy 1
Reginald 1
Richd. 1
Saml.Alick 1
Victor 1

FAQ

Toller surname: questions and answers

How common was the Toller surname in 1881?

In 1881, 226 people were recorded with the Toller surname. That placed it at #11,889 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Toller surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 227 in 2016. That gives Toller a modern rank of #17,992.

What does the Toller surname mean?

Of German origin, a nickname for someone overly talkative or impatient.

What does the Toller map show?

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