NameCensus.

UK surname

Tolman

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a toll house or tollgate.

In the 1881 census there were 390 people recorded with the Tolman surname, ranking it #8,104 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 350, ranked #13,152, down from #8,104 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Seaton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hambleton, Powys and West Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tolman is 457 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 10.3%.

1881 census count

390

Ranked #8,104

Modern count

350

2016, ranked #13,152

Peak year

1911

457 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tolman had 390 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,104 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 350 in 2016, ranked #13,152.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 457 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tolman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tolman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tolman 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 218 #9,754
1861 historical 202 #11,906
1881 historical 390 #8,104
1891 historical 361 #9,589
1901 historical 385 #9,730
1911 historical 457 #8,397
1997 modern 379 #11,447
1998 modern 380 #11,827
1999 modern 368 #12,182
2000 modern 373 #11,996
2001 modern 358 #12,181
2002 modern 366 #12,221
2003 modern 359 #12,189
2004 modern 361 #12,175
2005 modern 345 #12,496
2006 modern 346 #12,539
2007 modern 347 #12,661
2008 modern 331 #13,237
2009 modern 347 #13,044
2010 modern 361 #12,933
2011 modern 362 #12,773
2012 modern 359 #12,698
2013 modern 370 #12,626
2014 modern 364 #12,876
2015 modern 347 #13,252
2016 modern 350 #13,152

Geography

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Where Tolmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Seaton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin, Saham Toney and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hambleton, Powys, West Dorset, Shepway and South Somerset. 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 Seaton Devon
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin Devon
4 Saham Toney Norfolk
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hambleton 011 Hambleton
2 Powys 017 Powys
3 West Dorset 012 West Dorset
4 Shepway 005 Shepway
5 South Somerset 019 South Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tolman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tolman

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tolman, 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 Tolman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Tolman 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Tolman is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tolman is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Tolman

The surname Tolman is of English origin and derived from the Old English word "tol" meaning "tax" or "toll", combined with the word "man", meaning a person employed to collect taxes or tolls. This name likely originated in the Middle Ages, a period when many surnames emerged to identify people by their occupation or trade.

The earliest recorded instances of the Tolman surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various parts of England, including Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk. The name was often spelled as Toleman, Tolleman, or Tolman in historical records.

One of the earliest known references to the Tolman surname is found in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk, a survey of landowners in England conducted in 1273. The roll mentions a Robert Toleman from the village of Wickhampton.

In the 14th century, the Tolman surname appeared in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1332, which recorded a John Toleman as a taxpayer. This provides evidence of the name's association with tax collectors or toll operators during that time.

Thomas Tolman (c. 1490-1545) was a notable figure from the 16th century who served as the Sheriff of Hertfordshire and Essex in 1542. He was also a Member of Parliament for Colchester in 1539.

Another prominent individual was John Tolman (1605-1693), an early settler in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He arrived in New England in 1638 and became one of the founders of the town of Dorchester, Massachusetts.

In the 18th century, Richard Tolman (1734-1813) was a British naval officer who participated in the American Revolutionary War and served as the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island from 1805 to 1813.

The Tolman surname also has connections to several place names in England, such as Tolman's Hill in Kent and Tolman's Farm in Buckinghamshire, likely named after individuals or families who resided in those areas.

Throughout history, the Tolman surname has been associated with various professions, including tax collectors, toll operators, farmers, and military personnel, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and occupations of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tolman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tolman 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. Devon leads with 112 Tolmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.11x.

County Total Index
Devon 112 14.11x
Middlesex 49 1.28x
Norfolk 38 6.48x
Hampshire 27 3.45x
Somerset 23 3.75x
Surrey 21 1.13x
Lancashire 16 0.35x
Kent 15 1.15x
Dorset 12 4.79x
Sussex 10 1.56x
Essex 8 1.06x
Yorkshire 7 0.19x
Northamptonshire 6 1.67x
Warwickshire 6 0.62x
Worcestershire 6 1.20x
Gloucestershire 5 0.67x
Hertfordshire 5 1.90x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.97x
Staffordshire 5 0.39x
Cornwall 3 0.69x
Derbyshire 2 0.33x
Midlothian 2 0.39x
Suffolk 2 0.43x
Berkshire 1 0.35x
Glamorgan 1 0.15x
Inverness-shire 1 0.88x
Leicestershire 1 0.24x
Shropshire 1 0.30x
Wiltshire 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Seaton in Devon leads with 27 Tolmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 882.35x.

Place Total Index
Seaton 27 882.35x
Stokefleming 17 1700.00x
Saham Toney 15 949.37x
Ottery St Mary 12 230.33x
Walcot 11 33.64x
Woodbury 11 468.09x
Hackney London 10 4.68x
Little Cressingham 10 3703.70x
Withycombe Rawleigh 9 217.39x
Beckenham 8 47.03x
Islington London 8 2.16x
Liverpool 8 2.91x
Newhaven 8 153.26x
Lewisham 7 10.09x
North Elmham 7 492.96x
Portsea 7 4.57x
Prittlewell 7 67.11x
Dartmouth St Saviour 6 264.32x
Kensington London 6 2.83x
Lambeth 6 1.80x
Rotherhithe 6 12.73x
Southampton St Mary 6 12.21x
Ventnor 6 80.65x
Wicken 6 1132.08x
Yardley 6 47.10x
Arrow 5 1086.96x
Bromley London 5 5.96x
Curry Rivell 5 243.90x
Havant 5 126.26x
Nottingham St Mary 5 3.76x
St Luke London 5 8.17x
West Derby 5 3.78x
Wolverhampton 5 5.05x
Plympton Maurice 4 266.67x
St George Hanover 4 8.03x
Wynford Eagle 4 2000.00x
Aldenham 3 125.52x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 4.26x
Buckerell 3 909.09x
Layton With Warbreck 3 18.06x
Netherbury 3 144.93x
Reigate Foreign 3 14.91x
Saltash 3 89.55x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 3.91x
Stoke Abbott 3 416.67x
Taunton St Mary 3 26.62x
Axmouth 2 224.72x
Bradford 2 2.19x
Brickendon 2 163.93x
Derby St Werburgh 2 5.80x
Dinnington 2 952.38x
Dunkeswell 2 392.16x
Easton 2 357.14x
Exeter Alphington 2 136.99x
Fulstone 2 72.20x
Gildersome 2 44.05x
Godshill 2 111.11x
Kingston On Thames 2 4.48x
Littleham 2 34.48x
Lympston 2 140.85x
North Leith 2 8.46x
Plympton St Mary 2 43.57x
Rockbeare 2 322.58x
Shoreditch London 2 1.21x
St Pancras London 2 0.65x
Thompson 2 425.53x
Tormoham 2 5.95x
Wyke Regis 2 55.71x
Albrighton 1 62.89x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 4.01x
Edgware 1 93.46x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 5.50x
Hampstead London 1 1.68x
Hastings St Mary In The 1 7.29x
Langham 1 113.64x
Loughborough 1 5.21x
Norwich St Andrew 1 100.00x
Swaffham 1 20.96x
Talaton 1 166.67x
Westfield 1 72.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Emma 13
Emily 12
Elizabeth 11
Sarah 11
Fanny 8
Jane 8
Alice 6
Eliza 6
Ann 5
Charlotte 5
Edith 5
Florence 5
Annie 4
Frances 4
Louisa 4
Maria 4
Susan 4
Amelia 3
Anna 2
Blanch 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Ellen 2
Francis 2
Georgina 2
Hannah 2
Helen 2
Ida 2
Laura 2
Marian 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Maud 2
Nora 2
Susanna 2
Amy 1
Anm 1
Bessie 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Eleanor 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.F. 1
Ester 1
Jessie 1
Josephine 1
Kate 1
Kath. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 25
William 22
James 18
George 17
Thomas 11
Samuel 8
Charles 7
Henry 7
Alfred 5
Frederick 5
Wm. 4
Arthur 3
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Percy 2
Sidney 2
Sydney 2
Abraham 1
Allen 1
Andrew 1
Augustus 1
Chas. 1
Chas.Geo.Wm. 1
Cyril 1
Elizabeth 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Geo.Edwin 1
Godfrey 1
Reginald 1
Robert 1
Simon 1
Spencer 1
W.H.J. 1
Wallace 1

FAQ

Tolman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tolman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 390 people were recorded with the Tolman surname. That placed it at #8,104 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tolman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 350 in 2016. That gives Tolman a modern rank of #13,152.

What does the Tolman surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a toll house or tollgate.

What does the Tolman map show?

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