NameCensus.

UK surname

Tolson

A surname of English origin, derived from a place name meaning "Toll's town" or "town by a hollow."

In the 1881 census there were 856 people recorded with the Tolson surname, ranking it #4,419 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 995, ranked #5,822, down from #4,419 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Darlington, Chigwell and Kirkheaton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, Kirklees and Allerdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tolson is 1,102 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.2%.

1881 census count

856

Ranked #4,419

Modern count

995

2016, ranked #5,822

Peak year

1911

1,102 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tolson had 856 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,419 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 995 in 2016, ranked #5,822.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,102 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tolson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tolson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tolson 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 597 #4,298
1861 historical 417 #6,163
1881 historical 856 #4,419
1891 historical 867 #4,734
1901 historical 1,091 #4,426
1911 historical 1,102 #4,216
1997 modern 1,072 #5,188
1998 modern 1,086 #5,316
1999 modern 1,089 #5,329
2000 modern 1,085 #5,322
2001 modern 1,040 #5,409
2002 modern 1,038 #5,524
2003 modern 1,019 #5,513
2004 modern 1,022 #5,502
2005 modern 1,007 #5,515
2006 modern 1,002 #5,559
2007 modern 1,007 #5,577
2008 modern 1,013 #5,591
2009 modern 1,049 #5,554
2010 modern 1,059 #5,605
2011 modern 1,037 #5,645
2012 modern 1,008 #5,700
2013 modern 1,005 #5,797
2014 modern 1,003 #5,846
2015 modern 990 #5,857
2016 modern 995 #5,822

Geography

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Where Tolsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Darlington, Chigwell, Kirkheaton, Batley and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, Kirklees and Allerdale. 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 Darlington Durham
2 Chigwell Essex
3 Kirkheaton Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 003 Wakefield
2 Kirklees 010 Kirklees
3 Kirklees 028 Kirklees
4 Kirklees 014 Kirklees
5 Allerdale 002 Allerdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tolson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tolson

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Tolson is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Tolson is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Tolson

The surname Tolson has its roots in the Old English language and is believed to have originated in Yorkshire, England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from a now lost or unidentified place name. Some scholars suggest it may have evolved from a combination of the Old English words "tol," meaning tax or toll, and "tun," meaning enclosure or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Tolson can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 12th century. These rolls were financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, and they mention individuals with the surname Tolson who were likely landowners or taxpayers in the region.

In the 13th century, the Tolson surname appears in various Yorkshire charters and land records, indicating that the family had established itself as a respected lineage in the area. One notable example is a charter from 1240 that mentions a Robert de Tolson, who was likely a landowner or prominent figure in the local community.

The Tolson surname continued to be prevalent in Yorkshire throughout the medieval and early modern periods. Notable individuals bearing this name include William Tolson (1542-1616), a renowned English clergyman and scholar who served as the Bishop of Oxford and the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield.

During the 17th century, the Tolson family expanded its influence beyond Yorkshire. John Tolson (1605-1690) was a prominent English lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas from 1663 to 1675.

In the 18th century, Thomas Tolson (1718-1792) was a respected English architect and surveyor known for his work on several notable buildings in Yorkshire, including the Wakefield Court House and the Wakefield Prison.

Another notable figure was George Tolson (1790-1856), a British naval officer and explorer who is credited with mapping and charting significant portions of the Australian coastline during his voyages in the early 19th century.

As the Tolson surname spread across England and beyond, it became associated with various occupations and professions. While the name's exact origins remain unclear, its longevity and historical significance are rooted in the Yorkshire region, where it first emerged as a locational surname during the Middle Ages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tolson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tolson 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. Yorkshire leads with 619 Tolsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.51x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 619 7.51x
Cumberland 59 8.24x
Durham 52 2.10x
Essex 19 1.16x
Surrey 18 0.44x
Cheshire 14 0.76x
Lancashire 14 0.14x
Middlesex 11 0.13x
Derbyshire 9 0.69x
Dorset 8 1.46x
Lincolnshire 8 0.60x
Staffordshire 7 0.25x
Westmorland 4 2.19x
Wiltshire 3 0.41x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.40x
Hampshire 2 0.12x
Kent 2 0.07x
Hertfordshire 1 0.17x
Sussex 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Soothill in Yorkshire leads with 125 Tolsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 419.74x.

Place Total Index
Soothill 125 419.74x
Dewsbury 119 140.71x
Batley 41 52.32x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 33 112.05x
Mirfield 29 64.06x
Gomersal 26 67.55x
Darlington 24 25.11x
Distington 22 597.83x
Crook Billy Row 20 63.09x
Hunslet 20 15.55x
Leeds 20 4.30x
Chigwell 19 122.58x
Whitwood 18 153.71x
Thornhill 16 66.50x
Kirkheaton 14 104.71x
Upperthong 13 185.45x
Bradford 10 5.01x
Huddersfield 10 8.32x
Holy Trinity 9 4.54x
Stockport 9 9.52x
Warley 9 37.77x
Horton In Bradford 8 6.21x
Litchurch 8 15.26x
Parkstone 8 125.59x
Wakefield 8 12.64x
Weston 8 331.95x
St Marylebone London 7 1.58x
Fazeley 6 117.42x
Lambeth 6 0.83x
Lockwood 6 20.22x
Morley 6 14.00x
Pudsey 6 13.61x
Shipley 6 14.02x
Arlecdon 5 26.25x
Dalton In Huddersfield 5 27.07x
Dewsbury Ossett Cum 5 279.33x
Hartlepool 5 14.21x
Heckmondwike 5 18.85x
Ilkley 5 37.09x
Keswick 5 54.59x
Southwark St Olave 5 78.74x
Wardleworth 5 8.86x
Above Derwent 4 150.38x
Ambleside 4 70.55x
Battersea 4 1.31x
Bramley In Bramley 4 12.67x
Halifax 4 3.30x
Horsforth 4 22.12x
Lepton 4 46.46x
Little Bolton 4 3.15x
Liversedge 4 10.90x
Low Ireby 4 449.44x
Workington 4 9.75x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 3 10.02x
Ardsley 3 31.58x
Broughton In Salford 3 3.32x
Cartworth 3 43.99x
Dearham 3 31.75x
Ferry Fryston 3 93.46x
Harrington 3 34.68x
Islington London 3 0.37x
Monw Wearmouth Shore 3 126.58x
Rastrick 3 13.10x
Baildon 2 12.88x
Birkenhead 2 1.37x
Camberwell 2 0.38x
Great Horwood 2 98.52x
Lamplugh 2 55.71x
Lewisham 2 1.32x
Nantwich 2 9.37x
Papcastle 2 100.00x
Seaton 2 23.92x
Swindon 2 3.50x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 1 3.55x
Portsmouth 1 2.55x
Southcoates 1 2.18x
Subdeanery 1 9.40x
Tettenhall 1 5.82x
Watford 1 2.25x
West Ardsley 1 10.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 66
Sarah 45
Elizabeth 23
Jane 22
Hannah 21
Eliza 18
Ann 17
Annie 17
Martha 17
Emily 11
Emma 11
Ellen 8
Florence 7
Fanny 6
Alice 5
Margaret 5
Susan 5
Ada 4
Charlotte 4
Edith 4
Eleanor 4
Susannah 4
Amelia 3
Esther 3
Ethel 3
Grace 3
Harriet 3
Lilly 3
Lucy 3
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Beatrice 2
Bessie 2
Betsy 2
Christina 2
Clara 2
Dora 2
Elisabeth 2
Elizth. 2
Frances 2
Isabella 2
Jessie 2
Katherine 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Marian 2
Nancy 2
Phoebe 2
Edath 1
Thos. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 50
William 38
Joseph 35
Thomas 24
George 22
James 13
Charles 12
Henry 11
Richard 11
Edward 9
Mark 9
Alfred 8
Fred 8
Arthur 7
Harry 7
Walter 7
Robert 5
Daniel 4
Edwin 4
Robt. 4
Sam 4
Benjamin 3
Brook 3
Ernest 3
Herbert 3
Isaac 3
Joe 3
Norman 3
Thos. 3
Wm. 3
Abraham 2
Abram 2
Albert 2
Dan 2
David 2
Frank 2
Geo. 2
Jesse 2
Luke 2
Marmaduke 2
Matthew 2
Samuel 2
Tom 2
Wilson 2
Christopher 1
Eli 1
Elisha 1
Ellis 1
Emanuel 1
Francis 1

FAQ

Tolson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tolson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 856 people were recorded with the Tolson surname. That placed it at #4,419 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tolson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 995 in 2016. That gives Tolson a modern rank of #5,822.

What does the Tolson surname mean?

A surname of English origin, derived from a place name meaning "Toll's town" or "town by a hollow."

What does the Tolson map show?

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