UK surname
A topographic surname denoting someone who lived near a hillock or small rise.
In the 1881 census there were 257 people recorded with the Tolly surname, ranking it #10,861 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 47, ranked #35,069, down from #10,861 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Paignton and Wolverley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tolly is 442 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 81.7%.
1881 census count
257
Ranked #10,861
Modern count
47
2016, ranked #35,069
Peak year
1891
442 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Tolly surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Tolly surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 321 | #7,237 |
| 1861 | historical | 380 | #6,726 |
| 1881 | historical | 257 | #10,861 |
| 1891 | historical | 442 | #8,179 |
| 1901 | historical | 291 | #11,893 |
| 1911 | historical | 128 | #19,664 |
| 1997 | modern | 36 | #34,071 |
| 1998 | modern | 35 | #34,344 |
| 1999 | modern | 39 | #34,058 |
| 2000 | modern | 42 | #33,791 |
| 2001 | modern | 45 | #33,401 |
| 2002 | modern | 49 | #33,377 |
| 2003 | modern | 41 | #34,113 |
| 2004 | modern | 40 | #34,387 |
| 2005 | modern | 43 | #34,328 |
| 2006 | modern | 43 | #34,647 |
| 2007 | modern | 43 | #34,845 |
| 2008 | modern | 41 | #35,067 |
| 2009 | modern | 45 | #34,972 |
| 2010 | modern | 47 | #35,009 |
| 2011 | modern | 40 | #35,395 |
| 2012 | modern | 37 | #35,531 |
| 2013 | modern | 42 | #35,325 |
| 2014 | modern | 48 | #35,041 |
| 2015 | modern | 46 | #35,109 |
| 2016 | modern | 47 | #35,069 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Paignton, Wolverley, St Mary Islington and Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Paignton | Devon |
| 3 | Wolverley | Worcestershire |
| 4 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) | Staffordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Tolly surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tolly, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Tolly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Tolly household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Tolly is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tolly is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Tolly, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "TOLLY" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational surname, derived from the Old English words "tol" meaning a tax or toll, and "ey" meaning an island or dry place. This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived near a place where tolls were collected, perhaps an island or raised area along a river or road.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1191, which mention a person named Richard de Tolley. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also contain an entry for a William de Tolly in Oxfordshire. These early spellings, such as "Tolley" and "Tolly," indicate the name's evolution from its Old English roots.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name is found in various records across England, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which list a John Tolly. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1334 also mention a Thomas Tolly in Oxfordshire. These references suggest that the name was well-established in parts of central and southern England by this time.
In the 16th century, the name Tolly appears in the parish records of several counties, including Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Worcestershire. One notable individual from this period was William Tolly, a prebendary of Gloucester Cathedral who lived in the late 16th century.
The 17th century saw the name continue to spread across England, with records showing Tollys in counties such as Somerset, Devon, and Berkshire. One prominent figure was John Tolly, a merchant and alderman of Bristol who was born in 1628.
In the 18th century, the Tolly surname was found in various parts of Britain, including Scotland and Wales. One notable individual was John Tolly, a Scottish mathematician and astronomer born in 1711, who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.
Throughout the 19th century, the Tolly name continued to be represented across the British Isles. One notable figure was William Tolly, a British architect born in 1817, who designed several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tolly surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Staffordshire leads with 58 Tollys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.93x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 58 | 6.93x |
| Devon | 41 | 7.95x |
| Worcestershire | 35 | 10.82x |
| Shropshire | 19 | 8.88x |
| Warwickshire | 16 | 2.56x |
| Kent | 12 | 1.42x |
| Somerset | 12 | 3.01x |
| Oxfordshire | 11 | 7.19x |
| Middlesex | 8 | 0.32x |
| Dorset | 7 | 4.30x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 0.29x |
| Herefordshire | 6 | 5.91x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 0.20x |
| Surrey | 5 | 0.41x |
| Cheshire | 3 | 0.55x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 0.59x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 0.67x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.20x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.21x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.25x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.30x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kingswinford in Staffordshire leads with 24 Tollys recorded in 1881 and an index of 79.03x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Tolly surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 17 |
| Sarah | 12 |
| Ann | 8 |
| Elizabeth | 6 |
| Emily | 6 |
| Emma | 6 |
| Ellen | 5 |
| Jane | 5 |
| Maria | 5 |
| Annie | 4 |
| Alice | 3 |
| Child | 3 |
| Eliza | 3 |
| Elizth. | 3 |
| Hannah | 3 |
| Harriet | 3 |
| Anne | 2 |
| Caroline | 2 |
| Clara | 2 |
| Fanny | 2 |
| Julia | 2 |
| Kate | 2 |
| Lucy | 2 |
| Martha | 2 |
| Rebecca | 2 |
| Beatrice | 1 |
| Bertha | 1 |
| Betsy | 1 |
| Betty | 1 |
| Blanche | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Christina | 1 |
| Cornelia | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Elizt. | 1 |
| Emmeline | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Gert.Julia | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Louise | 1 |
| Lydia | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Mercy | 1 |
| Mildred | 1 |
| Minnie | 1 |
| Miriam | 1 |
| Phebe | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Tolly surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| John | 17 |
| George | 13 |
| William | 11 |
| James | 7 |
| Henry | 6 |
| Charles | 5 |
| Edward | 5 |
| Alfred | 4 |
| Walter | 4 |
| Frederick | 3 |
| Albert | 2 |
| Arthur | 2 |
| David | 2 |
| Harry | 2 |
| Joseph | 2 |
| Reginald | 2 |
| Richard | 2 |
| Thomas | 2 |
| Wm. | 2 |
| Allen | 1 |
| Ambrose | 1 |
| Andrew | 1 |
| Ernest | 1 |
| Frank | 1 |
| Frederic | 1 |
| Fredk. | 1 |
| Geoege | 1 |
| Lewis | 1 |
| Major | 1 |
| Michael | 1 |
| Newey | 1 |
| Percy | 1 |
| Rd. | 1 |
| Richd.(Jnr.) | 1 |
| Robert | 1 |
| Sammuel | 1 |
| Samuel | 1 |
| Stephen | 1 |
| Wiliam | 1 |
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 Tolly households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 52 |
| Coal Miner | 4 |
| Boatmans Child | 3 |
| Holloware Moulder (Iron) | 3 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Boatman (Boat Dr) | 2 |
| Bricklayer | 2 |
| Fund Holder | 2 |
| Fustian Cutter | 2 |
| General Labourer | 2 |
| Housekeeper | 2 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| Nail Maker | 2 |
| Tin Miner | 2 |
| Agri Labr | 1 |
| Agrl Labor | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Brick Moulder | 1 |
| C Tapestry Scraper | 1 |
| C Wool Color Sorter | 1 |
| Cartman (Mn Lab) | 1 |
| Cartman (Mn Lab) Wife | 1 |
| Coachman (Dom Serv) | 1 |
| Coachman Domestic | 1 |
| Coal Miner Unemployed | 1 |
| Colliery Banksmen | 1 |
| Color Sergeant | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Cook (D S) | 1 |
| Cook (Domestic) | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Dock Porter | 1 |
| Dom Serv | 1 |
| Dom Servt | 1 |
| Draper (Linen) | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Employed In Tin Plate Works | 1 |
| Factory Half Time (Lab) | 1 |
| Farmer | 1 |
| Farmer Emp 2 Men | 1 |
| Farmer Of 14 Acres | 1 |
| Farmer Wife | 1 |
| Fisherman | 1 |
| Formerly A Nurse | 1 |
| Gardeners Wife | 1 |
| Gas Stoker | 1 |
| Gen Labr | 1 |
| General Domestic Servt | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 257 people were recorded with the Tolly surname. That placed it at #10,861 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 47 in 2016. That gives Tolly a modern rank of #35,069.
A topographic surname denoting someone who lived near a hillock or small rise.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Tolly bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.