NameCensus.

UK surname

Tollett

A variant of the surname Tollit, derived from a Norman nickname for someone portly or stout.

In the 1881 census there were 134 people recorded with the Tollett surname, ranking it #16,602 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 153, ranked #23,408, down from #16,602 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes and Bladon. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Tyneside, Rother and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tollett is 222 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.2%.

1881 census count

134

Ranked #16,602

Modern count

153

2016, ranked #23,408

Peak year

1911

222 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tollett had 134 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,602 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 153 in 2016, ranked #23,408.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 222 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Tollett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tollett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tollett 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 79 #19,712
1861 historical 158 #14,644
1881 historical 134 #16,602
1891 historical 197 #15,101
1901 historical 196 #15,329
1911 historical 222 #13,992
1997 modern 159 #20,339
1998 modern 176 #19,584
1999 modern 185 #19,127
2000 modern 179 #19,494
2001 modern 176 #19,415
2002 modern 172 #20,108
2003 modern 168 #20,171
2004 modern 166 #20,441
2005 modern 160 #20,899
2006 modern 165 #20,634
2007 modern 165 #20,893
2008 modern 163 #21,238
2009 modern 166 #21,469
2010 modern 169 #21,652
2011 modern 163 #21,983
2012 modern 165 #21,782
2013 modern 159 #22,706
2014 modern 155 #23,333
2015 modern 156 #23,106
2016 modern 153 #23,408

Geography

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Where Tolletts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes, Bladon and St James Clerkenwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Tyneside, Rother, Cornwall and Riddrie and Hogganfield. 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 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
2 London parishes London 1
3 Bladon Oxfordshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 St James Clerkenwell London (Central Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Tyneside 014 South Tyneside
2 Rother 004 Rother
3 Cornwall 022 Cornwall
4 Rother 007 Rother
5 Riddrie and Hogganfield Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tollett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tollett

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Tollett 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

Tollett 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

Tollett falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tollett 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Tollett

The surname Tollett is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the early medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "toll," meaning "tax" or "toll," combined with the diminutive suffix "-et." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a person responsible for collecting tolls or taxes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Tolet." This important survey, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable information about landowners and tenants in England after the Norman Conquest.

During the 13th century, the name evolved into various spellings, such as "Tollet" and "Tollette," reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time. Some records from this period indicate that the name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset in the southwest of England.

Notable individuals bearing the Tollett surname include John Tollett (c. 1500-1566), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury during the reign of Queen Mary I. Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas Tollett (1608-1672), a wealthy merchant and landowner who served as the Sheriff of London in 1661.

In the 18th century, the name gained recognition with the birth of George Tollett (1725-1779), a renowned English writer and satirist. He is best known for his works "The Life of the Rev. George Whitefield" and "A View of the Renaissance in Italy."

Moving into the 19th century, we find Elizabeth Tollet (1804-1890), an English novelist and playwright. Her most famous work, "The Gordian Knot," was published in 1866 and received critical acclaim.

Another noteworthy individual was Sir Benjamin Tollett (1818-1902), a British naval officer who played a significant role in the Crimean War. He rose to the rank of Vice Admiral and was knighted for his distinguished service.

Throughout its history, the Tollett surname has maintained a strong presence in various regions of England, with some branches eventually spreading to other parts of the British Isles and beyond. While the name's origins may have been rooted in occupational or locational meanings, it has evolved to become a distinct and recognizable part of English surname heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tollett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tollett 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 42 Tolletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.21x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 42 3.21x
Oxfordshire 26 32.21x
Lancashire 17 1.10x
Cheshire 7 2.43x
Kent 7 1.57x
Durham 6 1.54x
Essex 6 2.33x
Bedfordshire 5 7.39x
Worcestershire 4 2.34x
Berkshire 3 3.06x
Somerset 3 1.43x
Warwickshire 3 0.91x
Wiltshire 2 1.73x
Northamptonshire 1 0.81x
Northumberland 1 0.51x
Staffordshire 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clerkenwell London in Middlesex leads with 17 Tolletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 55.11x.

Place Total Index
Clerkenwell London 17 55.11x
St Marylebone London 12 17.20x
Bladon 9 3333.33x
Islington London 8 6.32x
Frodsham 6 535.71x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 35.63x
West Ham 6 10.53x
Bedford St Paul 5 107.76x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 20.29x
Handborough 5 1162.79x
Hindley 5 75.64x
Cowley 4 158.73x
Oldham 4 7.99x
Aspull 3 82.19x
Birchington 3 483.87x
Eynsham 3 588.24x
Kings Norton 3 19.60x
Walcot 3 26.76x
Aston 2 2.20x
Boxley 2 294.12x
Britford 2 263.16x
Canterbury Holy Cross 2 465.12x
Chelsea London 2 5.08x
Wantage 2 128.21x
Woodstock 2 392.16x
Birkenhead 1 4.35x
Birmingham 1 0.91x
Braybrooke 1 625.00x
Combe 1 416.67x
Cumnor 1 222.22x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 1 8.61x
Oxford St Michael 1 303.03x
St Clement Danes 1 47.17x
St Gilesin Fields 1 131.58x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 2.14x
Uxbridge 1 67.11x
Watlington 1 120.48x
Yardley 1 22.88x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Elizabeth 6
Alice 4
Louisa 4
Agnes 3
Ann 3
Emma 3
Jane 3
Maria 3
Annie 2
Ellen 2
Esther 2
Frances 2
Kate 2
Ada 1
Amie 1
Amy 1
Augusta 1
Bathsheda 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Hetty 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Lillian 1
Lucy 1
Sarah 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 7
Thomas 6
John 5
George 4
Henry 4
James 4
Joseph 4
Albert 3
Charles 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Alfd. 1
Chas. 1
Ernest 1
Harold 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
J. 1
Rich. 1

FAQ

Tollett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tollett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 134 people were recorded with the Tollett surname. That placed it at #16,602 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tollett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 153 in 2016. That gives Tollett a modern rank of #23,408.

What does the Tollett surname mean?

A variant of the surname Tollit, derived from a Norman nickname for someone portly or stout.

What does the Tollett map show?

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