NameCensus.

UK surname

Toma

A Romanian surname derived from the word "toma," meaning "twin" or referring to the Biblical apostle Thomas.

In the 1881 census there were 4 people recorded with the Toma surname, ranking it #33,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 625, ranked #8,440, up from #33,288 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ealing, Gourock East, Greenock West and Lyle Road and Alloa South and East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Toma is 625 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15525.0%.

1881 census count

4

Ranked #33,288

Modern count

625

2016, ranked #8,440

Peak year

2016

625 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Toma had 4 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,288 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 625 in 2016, ranked #8,440.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Toma surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Toma surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Toma 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
1861 historical 4 #33,628
1881 historical 4 #33,288
1891 historical 7 #33,665
1997 modern 104 #26,351
1998 modern 106 #26,689
1999 modern 108 #26,602
2000 modern 104 #27,150
2001 modern 107 #26,328
2002 modern 128 #24,150
2003 modern 127 #24,019
2004 modern 136 #23,207
2005 modern 144 #22,367
2006 modern 148 #22,111
2007 modern 185 #19,402
2008 modern 207 #18,243
2009 modern 259 #16,013
2010 modern 326 #13,918
2011 modern 316 #14,092
2012 modern 417 #11,346
2013 modern 464 #10,589
2014 modern 529 #9,683
2015 modern 561 #9,153
2016 modern 625 #8,440

Geography

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Where Tomas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ealing, Gourock East, Greenock West and Lyle Road and Alloa South and East. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ealing 011 Ealing
2 Gourock East, Greenock West and Lyle Road Inverclyde
3 Alloa South and East Clackmannanshire
4 Ealing 014 Ealing
5 Ealing 016 Ealing

Forenames

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First names often paired with Toma

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Toma

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Toma surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Toma household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Toma 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

Toma 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

Toma 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 Toma 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
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Toma

The surname TOMA has its origins in Italy, with records dating back to the 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the Italian word "toma," which refers to a type of cheese, suggesting that the name may have been given to someone involved in the production or trade of this particular cheese.

In the late 14th century, the name TOMA appeared in various Italian records, including the census records of the town of Montalcino in Tuscany. One of the earliest recorded bearers of this name was Domenico Toma, a cheesemaker from the village of Pienza, whose birth year is estimated to be around 1370.

The TOMA surname can also be traced back to the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy, where it is thought to have originated from the place name "Toma," a small village located near the city of Cuneo. This connection to a specific location further strengthens the theory that the name was initially associated with a particular geographic area.

Throughout the centuries, the TOMA surname has been documented in various historical records and manuscripts. One notable example is the inclusion of the name in the "Codice Diplomatico Longobardo," a collection of documents from the Lombard period in Italy, dating back to the 8th and 9th centuries.

Among the notable individuals who bore the TOMA surname throughout history are:

1. Matteo Toma (1502-1572), an Italian mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of cartography. 2. Giovanni Battista Toma (1670-1737), an Italian painter and architect known for his work in the Baroque style. 3. Francesco Toma (1802-1876), an Italian politician and lawyer who served as the Minister of Justice in the Kingdom of Sardinia. 4. Vincenzo Toma (1870-1945), an Italian composer and conductor who composed several operas and orchestral works. 5. Elisa Toma (1910-1993), an Italian writer and poet whose works explored themes of love, loss, and the human condition.

While the TOMA surname may have evolved and spread to other parts of the world over time, its roots can be traced back to the Italian peninsula, where it has a rich history spanning centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Toma families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Toma 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. Middlesex leads with 4 Tomas recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.29x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 4 10.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 4 Tomas recorded in 1881 and an index of 127.80x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 4 127.80x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 1
Nellie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 2

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 Toma households.

Occupation Count
Scholar 2
Printer Reader 1

FAQ

Toma surname: questions and answers

How common was the Toma surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4 people were recorded with the Toma surname. That placed it at #33,288 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Toma surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 625 in 2016. That gives Toma a modern rank of #8,440.

What does the Toma surname mean?

A Romanian surname derived from the word "toma," meaning "twin" or referring to the Biblical apostle Thomas.

What does the Toma map show?

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