NameCensus.

UK surname

Tolton

An English habitational surname referring to someone from the town of Tolton.

In the 1881 census there were 75 people recorded with the Tolton surname, ranking it #22,893 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 126, ranked #26,686, down from #22,893 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lambeth and Kibworth Beauchamp. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kettering, Leicester and Blaby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tolton is 146 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 68.0%.

1881 census count

75

Ranked #22,893

Modern count

126

2016, ranked #26,686

Peak year

1999

146 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tolton had 75 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,893 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 126 in 2016, ranked #26,686.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 118 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Tolton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tolton surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tolton 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 31 #27,734
1861 historical 48 #27,896
1881 historical 75 #22,893
1891 historical 84 #26,229
1901 historical 115 #21,050
1911 historical 118 #20,649
1997 modern 137 #22,301
1998 modern 141 #22,517
1999 modern 146 #22,202
2000 modern 142 #22,544
2001 modern 142 #22,234
2002 modern 145 #22,392
2003 modern 136 #23,045
2004 modern 140 #22,793
2005 modern 138 #22,999
2006 modern 131 #23,942
2007 modern 138 #23,478
2008 modern 133 #24,350
2009 modern 135 #24,594
2010 modern 131 #25,656
2011 modern 125 #26,220
2012 modern 124 #26,432
2013 modern 126 #26,585
2014 modern 132 #25,971
2015 modern 126 #26,654
2016 modern 126 #26,686

Geography

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Where Toltons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lambeth, Kibworth Beauchamp and Hethe, Mixbury (Brackley, Northamptonshire), Tusmore, Hardwicke. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kettering, Leicester, Blaby and Charnwood. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Kibworth Beauchamp Leicestershire
5 Hethe, Mixbury (Brackley, Northamptonshire), Tusmore, Hardwicke Oxfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kettering 005 Kettering
2 Leicester 003 Leicester
3 Blaby 005 Blaby
4 Charnwood 018 Charnwood
5 Charnwood 013 Charnwood

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tolton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tolton

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Tolton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Tolton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Tolton is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tolton is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tolton 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 Tolton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Tolton

The surname Tolton has its origins in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "tol" and "tun," which together mean "the farm or enclosure where toll was paid." This suggests that the name may have originated from a place where tolls were collected, potentially a toll gate or a toll house.

One of the earliest references to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which recorded the names of landowners and tenants in various counties of England. The name is listed as "William de Toltone" in the county of Worcestershire. Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, such as Tolton, Tolten, and Toltone.

During the 14th century, the Tolton surname appeared in several medieval records, including the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 and the Poll Tax Returns of 1379. These documents provide valuable insights into the distribution of the name across different regions of England.

In the 16th century, the Tolton name gained recognition with the birth of Thomas Tolton (1535-1594), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Worcestershire. He played a role in the religious and political conflicts of the Elizabethan era.

Another notable figure with the Tolton surname was Richard Tolton (1650-1730), an English mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1704.

In the 19th century, the Tolton name gained further prominence with the life of Father Augustus Tolton (1854-1897), the first African American priest ordained in the United States. Born into slavery in Missouri, he overcame numerous obstacles to pursue his vocation and became a pioneering figure in the Catholic Church.

Other historical figures bearing the Tolton surname include John Tolton (1737-1804), an English architect known for his work on churches and country houses in Gloucestershire, and Mary Tolton (1812-1891), a British author and educator who wrote several books on the education of young children.

Throughout its history, the Tolton surname has been associated with various place names in England, such as Tolton Hill in Nottinghamshire and Tolton Lane in Yorkshire. These place names further reinforce the connection between the surname and its potential origins as a location where tolls were collected.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tolton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tolton 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. Leicestershire leads with 53 Toltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 65.34x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 53 65.34x
Middlesex 13 1.78x
Yorkshire 4 0.55x
Lancashire 2 0.23x
Oxfordshire 2 4.43x
Northumberland 1 0.92x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 32 Toltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 161.78x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Margaret 32 161.78x
Kibworth Beauchamp 8 2857.14x
Chiswick 7 175.00x
Hammersmith London 6 33.30x
Leicester St Mary 5 76.34x
Syston 5 657.89x
Southcoates 4 99.50x
Bicester Market End 2 240.96x
Hulme 2 11.04x
Leicester All Sts 1 62.89x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 1 69.93x
Sharnford 1 909.09x
Smeeton 1 1000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 9
John 7
George 4
Charles 3
Henry 3
James 3
Thomas 3
Archibald 1
Arthur 1
Francis 1
Godfrey 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Richard 1
Sampson 1
T.P. 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Tolton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tolton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 75 people were recorded with the Tolton surname. That placed it at #22,893 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tolton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 126 in 2016. That gives Tolton a modern rank of #26,686.

What does the Tolton surname mean?

An English habitational surname referring to someone from the town of Tolton.

What does the Tolton map show?

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