NameCensus.

UK surname

Tom

A surname of Aramaic origin meaning "twin," or referring to someone who was a twin.

In the 1881 census there were 133 people recorded with the Tom surname, ranking it #16,676 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 439, ranked #11,007, up from #16,676 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Columb Major, Padstow and Newlyn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Caerphilly and Stockport.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tom is 439 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 230.1%.

1881 census count

133

Ranked #16,676

Modern count

439

2016, ranked #11,007

Peak year

2016

439 bearers

Map years

5

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tom had 133 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,676 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 439 in 2016, ranked #11,007.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 239 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Tom surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tom surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tom 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 239 #9,092
1881 historical 133 #16,676
1891 historical 18 #32,706
1901 historical 142 #18,633
1997 modern 85 #28,988
1998 modern 84 #29,537
1999 modern 86 #29,496
2000 modern 89 #29,173
2001 modern 87 #29,161
2002 modern 98 #28,243
2003 modern 103 #27,234
2004 modern 112 #26,159
2005 modern 125 #24,398
2006 modern 134 #23,590
2007 modern 154 #21,804
2008 modern 162 #21,350
2009 modern 170 #21,095
2010 modern 200 #19,457
2011 modern 209 #18,730
2012 modern 288 #14,934
2013 modern 315 #14,245
2014 modern 352 #13,206
2015 modern 381 #12,345
2016 modern 439 #11,007

Geography

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Where Toms are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Columb Major, Padstow, Newlyn, St Tudy and St Wenn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Caerphilly, Stockport, Brent and Lambeth. 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 St Columb Major Cornwall
2 Padstow Cornwall
3 Newlyn Cornwall
4 St Tudy Cornwall
5 St Wenn Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 007 Cornwall
2 Caerphilly 017 Caerphilly
3 Stockport 033 Stockport
4 Brent 032 Brent
5 Lambeth 020 Lambeth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tom

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tom

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Tom surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Tom 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Tom is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tom is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tom falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tom is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Tom

The surname TOM originated in England and is derived from the Old English word "tun" meaning an enclosure or a village. It is an ancient locational surname indicating someone who lived in or came from a particular town or village.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners in England compiled by order of William the Conqueror, there are numerous entries for places with the name Tun, such as Brightun (Brighton), Eltun (Elton), and Litlintun (Littlington).

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the surname TOM was Reginald de Tun, who is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1195. Other early examples include William de Tun, listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of Warwickshire in 1199, and Adam de Tun, recorded in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1219.

The surname TOM is also associated with various place names like Tunstall, derived from Old English "Tun" and "Stallr" meaning a wooden dwelling, and Tunbridge, from "Tun" and "Brycg" meaning a bridge.

Notable historical figures with the surname TOM include Sir George TOM (1585-1644), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Bury St Edmunds. There was also Sir William TOM (1588-1658), an English courtier and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Ludgershall.

Other notable bearers of the surname TOM are James TOM (1719-1776), a Scottish minister and author known for his work "The Antiquities of St. Andrews," and John TOM (1804-1889), an English businessman and philanthropist who founded the TOM Institute in Westbury, Wiltshire.

Additionally, Robert TOM (1836-1910) was a Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing West Middlesex.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tom families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tom 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. Cornwall leads with 70 Toms recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.87x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 70 39.87x
Devon 16 4.96x
Middlesex 11 0.71x
Banffshire 9 27.98x
Aberdeenshire 7 4.87x
Glamorgan 7 2.59x
Leicestershire 6 3.49x
Hampshire 4 1.26x
Northumberland 4 1.73x
Kent 3 0.57x
Northamptonshire 3 2.06x
Surrey 3 0.40x
Lanarkshire 2 0.40x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.96x
Renfrewshire 2 1.66x
Ross-shire 2 4.70x
Yorkshire 2 0.13x
Angus 1 0.70x
Argyllshire 1 2.32x
Berkshire 1 0.86x
Cambridgeshire 1 1.02x
Perthshire 1 1.44x
Royal Navy 1 5.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Padstow in Cornwall leads with 12 Toms recorded in 1881 and an index of 1025.64x.

Place Total Index
Padstow 12 1025.64x
St Wenn 8 2758.62x
Clerkenwell London 7 19.12x
Ordiquhill 7 1842.11x
Illogan 6 129.03x
Leicester St Margaret 6 14.31x
St Clement 6 327.87x
Blisland 5 1666.67x
Northlew 5 1250.00x
St Minver 5 925.93x
Ashwater 4 869.57x
Cardiff St John 4 45.35x
Farnborough 4 119.76x
Kenwyn 4 87.15x
Tyrie 4 222.22x
Dover St Mary Virgin 3 58.59x
Newlyn 3 400.00x
Northampton St Peter 3 337.08x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 12.06x
Roath 3 24.45x
St Breward 3 769.23x
St Columb Major 3 205.48x
St Tudy 3 1071.43x
Whittonstall 3 3750.00x
East Stonehouse 2 31.45x
Gamrie 2 55.71x
Inverkip 2 70.67x
Mawgan In Pyder 2 526.32x
Ordsall 2 125.00x
Plymouth Charles The 2 14.06x
Putney 2 28.29x
St George Bloomsbury 2 22.47x
St Kew 2 338.98x
St Mabyn 2 740.74x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 3.33x
Alford 1 128.21x
Alyth 1 53.48x
Auchterless 1 87.72x
Bermondsey 1 2.17x
Bodmin 1 34.36x
Campbeltown 1 19.19x
Carluke 1 21.98x
Egloshayle 1 121.95x
Elswick 1 5.43x
Flockton 1 158.73x
Fulham London 1 4.45x
Govan 1 0.81x
Hackney London 1 1.15x
Lanteglos By Fowey 1 140.85x
Liff Benvie 1 4.59x
Logie Wester 1 129.87x
Michaelstow 1 833.33x
Middlesbrough 1 5.00x
Nigg 1 188.68x
Rame 1 222.22x
Royal Navy 1 6.33x
St Andrewthe Less 1 8.91x
St Ervan 1 476.19x
Warfield 1 94.34x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 9
Mary 9
Jane 5
Annie 4
Ann 3
Charlotte 3
Eliza 2
Fanny 2
Grace 2
Sarah 2
Susan 2
Agnes 1
Agness 1
Anne 1
B. 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Betty 1
Caroline 1
Dorothy 1
F. 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Ida 1
Katey 1
Lilian 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
May 1
Mgt.Elizth. 1
Nora 1
Rebeca 1
Rebecca 1
Wesley 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
John 8
Henry 7
James 6
Gregory 3
Philip 3
Thomas 3
Adam 2
E. 2
George 2
Samuel 2
("Gentleman") 1
A.W. 1
Alexander 1
Arthur 1
Cornelius 1
Edward 1
Elliot 1
Frederick 1
Harat 1
Harry 1
Johnson 1
Long 1
Lord 1
Nicholas 1
Percy 1
Wesley 1
Wild 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Tom surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tom surname in 1881?

In 1881, 133 people were recorded with the Tom surname. That placed it at #16,676 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tom surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 439 in 2016. That gives Tom a modern rank of #11,007.

What does the Tom surname mean?

A surname of Aramaic origin meaning "twin," or referring to someone who was a twin.

What does the Tom map show?

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