NameCensus.

UK surname

Tomey

A variant of the surname Thomas or an English locational surname.

In the 1881 census there were 89 people recorded with the Tomey surname, ranking it #21,091 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 115, ranked #28,348, down from #21,091 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George Bloomsbury, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Lindsey, Ashford and Hounslow.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tomey is 145 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.2%.

1881 census count

89

Ranked #21,091

Modern count

115

2016, ranked #28,348

Peak year

1901

145 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tomey had 89 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,091 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 115 in 2016, ranked #28,348.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 145 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Tomey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tomey surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tomey 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 73 #20,581
1861 historical 56 #26,864
1881 historical 89 #21,091
1891 historical 133 #19,870
1901 historical 145 #18,426
1911 historical 133 #19,214
1997 modern 133 #22,705
1998 modern 133 #23,308
1999 modern 126 #24,239
2000 modern 128 #24,015
2001 modern 122 #24,366
2002 modern 122 #24,874
2003 modern 115 #25,538
2004 modern 121 #24,939
2005 modern 118 #25,301
2006 modern 120 #25,269
2007 modern 119 #25,747
2008 modern 116 #26,510
2009 modern 120 #26,496
2010 modern 130 #25,775
2011 modern 130 #25,547
2012 modern 129 #25,705
2013 modern 128 #26,336
2014 modern 122 #27,358
2015 modern 118 #27,833
2016 modern 115 #28,348

Geography

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Where Tomeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George Bloomsbury, London parishes, St Pancras and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Lindsey, Ashford, Hounslow, Redbridge and Welwyn Hatfield. 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 George Bloomsbury London (Central Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Lindsey 018 East Lindsey
2 Ashford 006 Ashford
3 Hounslow 008 Hounslow
4 Redbridge 019 Redbridge
5 Welwyn Hatfield 006 Welwyn Hatfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tomey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tomey

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Tomey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Tomey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Tomey 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

Tomey is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tomey 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 Tomey 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Tomey

The surname Tomey is of English origin and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "tun," which referred to an enclosed piece of land or a farm. The name likely evolved from someone who lived in or near a town or village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Buckinghamshire in 1197, where a certain William de Tomy is mentioned. This suggests that the surname was already established in England by the late 12th century.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there is a reference to a John Tomy, who was a resident of Oxfordshire. This record provides further evidence of the name's existence in medieval England.

During the 14th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as Tomy, Tomey, and Tomye. This variation in spelling was common in those times due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

One notable individual with the surname Tomey was Sir Robert Tomey, a knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War during the 14th century. He was known for his bravery and military prowess in battles against the French.

In the 16th century, the name Tomey was found in the parish records of several English counties, including Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. This suggests that the surname had spread across various regions of England by that time.

Another prominent figure was Richard Tomey, a wealthy merchant who lived in London during the late 16th century. He was involved in the lucrative wool trade and became a prominent member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers.

In the 17th century, the Tomey family had established roots in the county of Devon. John Tomey, born in 1621, was a respected landowner and local magistrate in the town of Tiverton.

During the 18th century, the Tomey surname appeared in various records across different parts of England, indicating its widespread distribution. One notable individual was Thomas Tomey, a renowned clockmaker from Worcestershire, who was born in 1745 and gained recognition for his intricate and innovative timepieces.

Throughout history, the Tomey surname has been associated with various professions, including agriculture, military service, trade, and craftsmanship. Its evolution and variations in spelling reflect the rich tapestry of English history and the diverse backgrounds of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tomey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tomey 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 45 Tomeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.24x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 45 5.24x
Warwickshire 24 11.09x
Kent 5 1.71x
Perthshire 4 10.38x
Staffordshire 3 1.04x
Worcestershire 2 1.78x
Yorkshire 2 0.24x
Cumberland 1 1.35x
Glamorgan 1 0.67x
Lancashire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 21 Tomeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.23x.

Place Total Index
Aston 21 35.23x
St Pancras London 11 15.92x
Islington London 7 8.41x
Paddington London 6 19.01x
Tottenham 6 43.89x
Greenwich 5 36.60x
St Gilesin Fields 5 1000.00x
Perth East Church 4 110.19x
Birmingham 3 4.16x
Westminster St John 3 28.71x
Alvechurch 2 416.67x
St George Bloomsbury 2 40.65x
Wolverhampton 2 8.98x
Chelsea London 1 3.87x
Crosscanonby 1 40.98x
Gelligaer 1 29.33x
Halifax 1 8.01x
Hornsey 1 9.22x
Isleworth 1 26.18x
Kensington London 1 2.10x
Leeds 1 2.08x
Spitalfields London 1 15.48x
West Bromwich 1 6.03x
West Derby 1 3.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Elizabeth 4
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Fanny 2
Maggie 2
Maria 2
Melrell 2
Sarah 2
Adriana 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Carrie 1
Catherine 1
Cathne. 1
Edith 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
G. 1
Gerty 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Madeline 1
Maud 1
Minnie 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 5
John 4
Henry 3
Thomas 3
Harry 2
Herbert 2
James 2
Michael 2
Walter 2
William 2
Arthur 1
Edmond 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Ernie 1
Federick 1
Frank 1
Horace 1
Joseph 1
Perry 1
Samuel 1

FAQ

Tomey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tomey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 89 people were recorded with the Tomey surname. That placed it at #21,091 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tomey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 115 in 2016. That gives Tomey a modern rank of #28,348.

What does the Tomey surname mean?

A variant of the surname Thomas or an English locational surname.

What does the Tomey map show?

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