NameCensus.

UK surname

Tolmie

A surname of Scottish origin referring to someone from Tolmieu, a lost location likely in East Lothian.

In the 1881 census there were 489 people recorded with the Tolmie surname, ranking it #6,883 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 555, ranked #9,223, down from #6,883 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tarbat, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Conon, Hilltown and Eden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tolmie is 555 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.5%.

1881 census count

489

Ranked #6,883

Modern count

555

2016, ranked #9,223

Peak year

2016

555 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tolmie had 489 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,883 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 555 in 2016, ranked #9,223.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 520 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Tolmie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tolmie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tolmie 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 426 #5,735
1861 historical 344 #7,422
1881 historical 489 #6,883
1891 historical 509 #7,323
1901 historical 520 #7,818
1911 historical 128 #19,664
1997 modern 495 #9,370
1998 modern 510 #9,448
1999 modern 507 #9,555
2000 modern 503 #9,589
2001 modern 500 #9,464
2002 modern 527 #9,285
2003 modern 504 #9,433
2004 modern 484 #9,729
2005 modern 487 #9,621
2006 modern 490 #9,613
2007 modern 513 #9,393
2008 modern 533 #9,182
2009 modern 534 #9,377
2010 modern 536 #9,559
2011 modern 528 #9,572
2012 modern 539 #9,328
2013 modern 549 #9,352
2014 modern 552 #9,362
2015 modern 549 #9,324
2016 modern 555 #9,223

Geography

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Where Tolmies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tarbat, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Fodderty and Laggan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Conon, Hilltown, Eden, Findhorn, Kinloss and Pluscarden Valley and Coatdyke and Whinhall. 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 Tarbat Ross And Cromarty
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Fodderty Ross And Cromarty
5 Laggan Inverness

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Conon Highland
2 Hilltown Dundee City
3 Eden 004 Eden
4 Findhorn, Kinloss and Pluscarden Valley Moray
5 Coatdyke and Whinhall North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tolmie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tolmie

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Tolmie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Tolmie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Tolmie is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tolmie is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tolmie falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tolmie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Tolmie

The surname Tolmie is of Scottish origin and has its roots in the Gaelic language. It is believed to have originated from the Scottish Highlands, specifically in the areas of Inverness-shire and Ross-shire. The name is derived from the Gaelic word "tolmach," which means "borer" or "perforator," referring to a profession or occupation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tolmie can be found in the Scottish Exchequer Rolls from the late 13th century, where it is spelled as "Tolmache." This suggests that the name was already established in Scotland during that time period.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various historical records, including the Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland, where it is spelled as "Tolmey" and "Tolmy." These variations in spelling were common in earlier times due to the lack of standardized orthography.

The Tolmie surname is also associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One prominent figure is William Fraser Tolmie (1812-1886), a Scottish-born Canadian physician, naturalist, and fur trader who worked for the Hudson's Bay Company in the Pacific Northwest region of North America.

Another notable individual is Sir John Tolmie (1835-1897), a Scottish-born Canadian politician and businessman who served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons and was involved in the development of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

In the 19th century, the name Tolmie can be found in various place names in Scotland, such as Tolmie's Croft in Inverness-shire and Tolmie's Park in Ross-shire, further reinforcing the name's Scottish origins.

Additionally, the Tolmie surname has been associated with several other historical figures, including John Tolmie (1802-1876), a Scottish-born Canadian engineer who worked on various infrastructure projects in British Columbia, and Alexander Tolmie (1742-1827), a Scottish-born Canadian fur trader and explorer who worked for the North West Company.

While the Tolmie surname may have evolved over time and spread to other parts of the world, its roots can be traced back to the Scottish Highlands, where it originated as a descriptive name related to a profession or occupation.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tolmie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tolmie 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. Ross-shire leads with 103 Tolmies recorded in 1881 and an index of 78.79x.

County Total Index
Ross-shire 103 78.79x
Inverness-shire 62 43.61x
Midlothian 58 9.09x
Lanarkshire 46 2.99x
Angus 44 9.98x
Morayshire 26 35.15x
Middlesex 17 0.36x
Banffshire 14 14.18x
Lancashire 14 0.25x
Aberdeenshire 13 2.95x
Nairnshire 13 89.47x
Yorkshire 13 0.28x
Renfrewshire 9 2.44x
Berwickshire 7 12.14x
Fife 7 2.48x
Perthshire 6 2.81x
Cheshire 5 0.48x
Surrey 5 0.22x
Clackmannanshire 4 10.18x
Selkirkshire 4 9.29x
Berkshire 3 0.84x
Carmarthenshire 3 1.50x
Kincardineshire 3 5.18x
Ayrshire 2 0.56x
Dunbartonshire 2 1.56x
Northumberland 2 0.28x
Argyllshire 1 0.75x
Durham 1 0.07x
East Lothian 1 1.59x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 30 Tolmies recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.22x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 30 18.22x
Urray 19 467.98x
Barony 17 4.36x
Lasswade 17 116.60x
Contin 14 590.72x
Duffus 14 214.72x
Inverness 14 39.15x
Rosskeen 14 227.64x
Fodderty 13 392.75x
Nairn 13 147.39x
Tarbat 13 420.71x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 12 4.68x
Penicuik 12 138.41x
Petty 11 441.77x
Laggan 10 666.67x
North Leith 10 33.89x
Dyke 9 443.35x
Urquhart 9 505.62x
Croy Dalcross 8 284.70x
Dingwall 8 217.39x
Kirkdale 8 8.42x
Logie Wester 8 340.43x
Longside 8 152.09x
Urquhart Glenmoriston 8 199.01x
Aberlour 7 223.64x
Earlston 7 242.21x
Glasgow 7 2.56x
Govan 7 1.84x
Liff Benvie 6 8.96x
New Monkland 6 13.18x
Greasbrough 5 80.26x
Maryhill 5 16.59x
Montrose 5 18.71x
West Derby 5 3.03x
West Greenock 5 7.55x
Liscard 4 21.13x
Melrose 4 36.90x
Paddington London 4 2.29x
Perth St Pauls 4 80.81x
Rotherham 4 15.04x
Rutherglen 4 17.71x
St Andrews 4 31.20x
St Marylebone London 4 1.57x
Wortley In Bramley 4 10.71x
Aberdeen Old Machar 3 3.26x
Clerkenwell London 3 2.67x
Clewer 3 20.49x
Dunfermline 3 6.92x
Fordoun 3 92.31x
Fordyce 3 42.25x
Kilmonivaig 3 94.94x
Kingussie Insh 3 92.02x
Lambeth 3 0.72x
Llandefeilog 3 159.57x
Alloa 2 10.49x
Alyth 2 34.78x
Ardersier 2 58.65x
Berwick Upon Tweed 2 13.32x
Dollar 2 49.14x
Edinburgh St Marys 2 16.13x
Edinburgh St Stephens 2 15.94x
Gairloch 2 26.56x
Inveravon 2 47.51x
Kirkhill 2 82.99x
Maybole 2 18.43x
Old Kilpatrick 2 13.23x
Rosemarkie 2 139.86x
Westminster St 2 11.40x
Abbey 1 1.78x
Belhelvie 1 33.22x
Berwick North 1 22.62x
Dunoon Kilmun 1 9.68x
Elgin 1 6.95x
Kensington London 1 0.38x
Kiltarlity 1 28.65x
New Spynie 1 37.59x
Newington 1 0.57x
Paisley High Church 1 3.40x
St George Hanover 1 1.61x
Westminster St James 1 2.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 6
George 4
John 4
Robert 3
Andrew 2
Charles 2
James 2
Thomas 2
Alexandra 1
Alexr. 1
Algernon 1
Arthur 1
Bertram 1
Birch 1
David 1
Frederick 1
Richard 1
Ross 1

Top occupations

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 Tolmie households.

FAQ

Tolmie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tolmie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 489 people were recorded with the Tolmie surname. That placed it at #6,883 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tolmie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 555 in 2016. That gives Tolmie a modern rank of #9,223.

What does the Tolmie surname mean?

A surname of Scottish origin referring to someone from Tolmieu, a lost location likely in East Lothian.

What does the Tolmie map show?

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