UK surname
A patronymic surname derived from the given name Thomas.
In the 1881 census there were 275 people recorded with the Tomkin surname, ranking it #10,330 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 65, ranked #34,017, down from #10,330 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Halling, Malpas and Tunbridge, Bidborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tomkin is 326 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 76.4%.
1881 census count
275
Ranked #10,330
Modern count
65
2016, ranked #34,017
Peak year
1861
326 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Tomkin surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Tomkin surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 235 | #9,206 |
| 1861 | historical | 326 | #7,814 |
| 1881 | historical | 275 | #10,330 |
| 1891 | historical | 307 | #10,914 |
| 1901 | historical | 265 | #12,652 |
| 1911 | historical | 313 | #11,108 |
| 1997 | modern | 63 | #31,335 |
| 1998 | modern | 67 | #31,282 |
| 1999 | modern | 75 | #30,661 |
| 2000 | modern | 72 | #30,977 |
| 2001 | modern | 74 | #30,600 |
| 2002 | modern | 76 | #30,830 |
| 2003 | modern | 78 | #30,654 |
| 2004 | modern | 71 | #31,578 |
| 2005 | modern | 64 | #32,482 |
| 2006 | modern | 69 | #32,343 |
| 2007 | modern | 71 | #32,484 |
| 2008 | modern | 70 | #32,856 |
| 2009 | modern | 70 | #33,182 |
| 2010 | modern | 69 | #33,560 |
| 2011 | modern | 68 | #33,613 |
| 2012 | modern | 67 | #33,840 |
| 2013 | modern | 74 | #33,483 |
| 2014 | modern | 69 | #33,833 |
| 2015 | modern | 66 | #33,976 |
| 2016 | modern | 65 | #34,017 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Halling, Malpas, Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes and Yalding, Aylesford, Burham, Mereworth, Wateringbury, Nettlestead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Halling | Kent |
| 2 | Malpas | Denbighshire |
| 3 | Tunbridge, Bidborough | Kent |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Yalding, Aylesford, Burham, Mereworth, Wateringbury, Nettlestead | Kent |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Tomkin surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tomkin, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Tomkin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Tomkin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Tomkin is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tomkin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Tomkin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Tomkin finds its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a diminutive form deriving from the personal name 'Thomas', which itself has Hebrew origins, meaning 'twin'. The suffix 'kin', added to 'Tom', is of diminutive nature, suggesting 'little Tom' or 'son of Tom'. This patronymic formation was common during the Middle Ages.
Records indicate that the name was predominant in areas like Yorkshire and Lancashire. The earliest known references to Tomkin appear in medieval tax records and parish registers. For instance, a Geoffrey Tomkin is mentioned in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, one of the earliest examples of the surname in documented history.
In the 16th century, Tomkin appears in various records such as wills and court documents. Edward Tomkin, born in 1542, is noted in a 1584 will from Norfolk, preserving the family's legacy through documented inheritance. Similarly, William Tomkin, who lived around 1600, is noted in parish records for the baptism of his children in London, showcasing the spread of the name within urban centers.
The name further evolved into variant forms, including Tomkins and Tompkins, due to regional pronunciations and the transcription practices of the time. These variations contributed to the surname's persistence and distribution. Sir John Tomkins, born in 1676, is another notable figure; his involvement in the naval policies of the early 18th century is documented in the archives of maritime records.
From the 18th to the 19th century, the Tomkin name was borne by several notable individuals. Robert Tomkin, a noted landowner born in 1710, played a significant role in his community in Worcestershire and his name appears in numerous property deeds. By the late 19th century, Joseph Tomkin, born in 1825 and a prominent industrialist, contributed significantly to the development of railroad infrastructure in the Midlands, documenting the family's adaptation to the Industrial Revolution.
Thus, the surname Tomkin has a storied history rooted in medieval England, with documented appearances spanning centuries, reflecting the evolution of English surnames and the social dynamics of various historical periods. The name encapsulates both a familial and cultural heritage that is rich and diverse.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tomkin surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Kent leads with 77 Tomkins recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.41x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 77 | 8.41x |
| Lancashire | 27 | 0.85x |
| Middlesex | 26 | 0.97x |
| Sussex | 21 | 4.64x |
| Surrey | 14 | 1.07x |
| Derbyshire | 13 | 3.10x |
| Cheshire | 11 | 1.86x |
| Yorkshire | 10 | 0.38x |
| Somerset | 9 | 2.08x |
| Buckinghamshire | 8 | 4.93x |
| Devon | 8 | 1.43x |
| Hertfordshire | 8 | 4.33x |
| Warwickshire | 7 | 1.03x |
| Northamptonshire | 6 | 2.38x |
| Gloucestershire | 5 | 0.95x |
| Staffordshire | 5 | 0.55x |
| Midlothian | 4 | 1.11x |
| Shropshire | 3 | 1.29x |
| Essex | 2 | 0.38x |
| Leicestershire | 2 | 0.67x |
| Pembrokeshire | 2 | 2.35x |
| Worcestershire | 2 | 0.57x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 0.43x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.12x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.23x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.24x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.28x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 13 Tomkins recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.25x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Tomkin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth | 18 |
| Mary | 11 |
| Sarah | 11 |
| Ellen | 8 |
| Eliza | 6 |
| Jane | 6 |
| Annie | 5 |
| Margaret | 5 |
| Louisa | 4 |
| Ann | 3 |
| Caroline | 3 |
| Emma | 3 |
| Frances | 3 |
| Hannah | 3 |
| Matilda | 3 |
| Rebecca | 3 |
| Ada | 2 |
| Audsley | 2 |
| Esther | 2 |
| Martha | 2 |
| Minnie | 2 |
| Susanna | 2 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Almer | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Beatrice | 1 |
| Bertha | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Eleanor | 1 |
| Elinor | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Fanney | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Gertrude | 1 |
| Isabel | 1 |
| Jannet | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Kitty | 1 |
| Libby | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Margeret | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Marian | 1 |
| Marianne | 1 |
| Therza | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Tomkin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| William | 21 |
| George | 11 |
| John | 11 |
| Thomas | 9 |
| Henry | 7 |
| Alfred | 5 |
| Frederick | 5 |
| James | 5 |
| Arthur | 4 |
| Charles | 3 |
| Herbert | 3 |
| Joseph | 3 |
| Richd. | 3 |
| Frank | 2 |
| Jesse | 2 |
| Mugrove | 2 |
| Robert | 2 |
| Wm. | 2 |
| Aaron | 1 |
| Alfd. | 1 |
| B. | 1 |
| Benjamin | 1 |
| C.H.Z. | 1 |
| Ernest | 1 |
| Frederic | 1 |
| Fredr. | 1 |
| Harry | 1 |
| Henery | 1 |
| Jas. | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Musgrove | 1 |
| Philip | 1 |
| Phillip | 1 |
| Richard | 1 |
| Samuel | 1 |
| Samul | 1 |
| Thos. | 1 |
| Urim | 1 |
| Walter | 1 |
| Wm.Jas. | 1 |
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 Tomkin households.
FAQ
In 1881, 275 people were recorded with the Tomkin surname. That placed it at #10,330 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 65 in 2016. That gives Tomkin a modern rank of #34,017.
A patronymic surname derived from the given name Thomas.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Tomkin bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.