NameCensus.

UK surname

Tomkins

A patronymic surname derived from the medieval diminutive of Thomas, ultimately meaning "son of Thomas."

In the 1881 census there were 3,106 people recorded with the Tomkins surname, ranking it #1,448 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,977, ranked #1,703, down from #1,448 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lambeth and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochdale, Herefordshire and Wychavon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tomkins is 4,325 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.0%.

1881 census count

3,106

Ranked #1,448

Modern count

3,977

2016, ranked #1,703

Peak year

1998

4,325 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tomkins had 3,106 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,448 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,977 in 2016, ranked #1,703.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,296 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tomkins surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tomkins surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tomkins 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 2,191 #1,335
1861 historical 2,126 #1,368
1881 historical 3,106 #1,448
1891 historical 3,170 #1,492
1901 historical 3,669 #1,532
1911 historical 4,296 #1,203
1997 modern 4,158 #1,556
1998 modern 4,325 #1,555
1999 modern 4,256 #1,591
2000 modern 4,197 #1,606
2001 modern 4,098 #1,606
2002 modern 4,170 #1,615
2003 modern 4,071 #1,618
2004 modern 4,022 #1,640
2005 modern 3,896 #1,670
2006 modern 3,884 #1,676
2007 modern 3,906 #1,687
2008 modern 3,913 #1,698
2009 modern 4,010 #1,695
2010 modern 4,139 #1,680
2011 modern 4,066 #1,684
2012 modern 3,965 #1,699
2013 modern 4,092 #1,676
2014 modern 4,115 #1,669
2015 modern 4,061 #1,681
2016 modern 3,977 #1,703

Geography

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Where Tomkins' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lambeth, St Marylebone and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rochdale, Herefordshire, Wychavon and Hounslow. 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 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rochdale 022 Rochdale
2 Herefordshire 005 Herefordshire, County of
3 Wychavon 012 Wychavon
4 Hounslow 026 Hounslow
5 Herefordshire 004 Herefordshire, County of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tomkins

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tomkins

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Tomkins surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Tomkins 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Tomkins is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Tomkins 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

Tomkins falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tomkins is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Tomkins

The surname Tomkins has its origins in England, tracing back to the late 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English personal name "Toma" or "Thoma," which was a diminutive form of Thomas. The suffix "-kin" was added to denote familiarity or endearment, creating the name Toma-kin or Thoma-kin.

The earliest known written record of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1198, where it is listed as "Tomekin." Over time, the spelling evolved to Tomkins, with variations such as Tomkin, Tomkyn, and Tompkins appearing in various historical documents.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, several individuals bearing the name Tomkins are mentioned, including William Tomkyn of Oxfordshire and John Tomkyn of Berkshire. These records provide evidence of the name's widespread use across different regions of England during the medieval period.

One notable early bearer of the name was Sir Roger Tomkins (c. 1330-1391), a prominent Welsh landowner and soldier who served under Edward, the Black Prince. He was appointed as the Steward of the Lordship of Denbigh and played a significant role in the Wars of the Roses.

Another historical figure was Nathaniel Tomkins (1584-1681), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1626 to 1630. He was also the author of several theological works.

In the 17th century, Thomas Tomkins (1572-1656) was a renowned English composer and organist, known for his contributions to the English madrigal tradition and his sacred music compositions.

Giles Tomkins (c. 1667-1718) was a British naval captain who served in the Royal Navy during the early 18th century and played a role in several notable battles, including the Battle of Vigo Bay in 1702.

William Tomkins (1730-1792) was a prominent English architect and surveyor, responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Old Bethlem Royal Hospital and the West India Docks.

These examples illustrate the long-standing presence of the Tomkins surname in various fields, ranging from military service and academia to music and architecture, throughout the centuries in England and the broader British Isles.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tomkins families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tomkins 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 594 Tomkins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.96x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 594 1.96x
Surrey 281 1.90x
Worcestershire 218 5.51x
Warwickshire 206 2.70x
Herefordshire 176 14.18x
Kent 163 1.58x
Lancashire 155 0.43x
Northamptonshire 119 4.18x
Staffordshire 118 1.15x
Gloucestershire 93 1.57x
Shropshire 92 3.52x
Hampshire 81 1.31x
Somerset 77 1.58x
Dorset 59 2.97x
Leicestershire 56 1.67x
Buckinghamshire 46 2.51x
Hertfordshire 44 2.11x
Denbighshire 42 3.67x
Bedfordshire 40 2.55x
Suffolk 39 1.06x
Yorkshire 39 0.13x
Cheshire 33 0.49x
Durham 32 0.36x
Berkshire 30 1.32x
Essex 26 0.44x
Oxfordshire 25 1.34x
Monmouthshire 24 1.10x
Sussex 23 0.45x
Devon 22 0.35x
Glamorgan 19 0.36x
Derbyshire 16 0.34x
Nottinghamshire 15 0.37x
Norfolk 13 0.28x
Carmarthenshire 11 0.86x
Huntingdonshire 11 1.83x
Midlothian 8 0.20x
Wiltshire 8 0.30x
Northumberland 6 0.13x
Aberdeenshire 5 0.18x
Ayrshire 5 0.22x
Lanarkshire 5 0.05x
Anglesey 4 0.75x
Angus 4 0.14x
Merionethshire 3 0.54x
Royal Navy 3 0.83x
Flintshire 2 0.25x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.21x
Radnorshire 2 0.82x
Rutland 2 0.90x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.05x
Cornwall 1 0.03x
Cumberland 1 0.04x
Lincolnshire 1 0.02x
Perthshire 1 0.07x
Roxburghshire 1 0.18x
West Lothian 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 113 Tomkins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.44x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 113 4.44x
Islington London 62 2.11x
Hackney London 51 3.00x
Lambeth 50 1.89x
Camberwell 44 2.27x
Leicester St Margaret 39 4.76x
Wellingborough 38 26.54x
Kensington London 36 2.14x
Aston 35 1.66x
Plumstead 32 9.29x
St Marylebone London 32 1.98x
Newington 31 2.77x
Southwark St George Martyr 31 5.09x
Bedminster 27 5.90x
St Luke London 27 5.56x
St Pancras London 27 1.11x
Hampstead London 25 5.30x
Paddington London 24 2.16x
Ruabon 24 15.26x
Shoreditch London 24 1.83x
Great Malvern 23 27.88x
Kings Norton 23 6.49x
Wolverhampton 23 2.93x
Deptford St Paul 22 2.76x
Croydon 21 2.56x
Battersea 18 1.62x
Bretforton 18 307.17x
Symondsbury 18 142.18x
Brighton 17 1.65x
Harrow On The Hill 17 28.10x
St George Hanover 17 4.30x
Tonbridge 17 4.56x
Tring 17 30.51x
Bethnal Green London 16 1.22x
Hulme 16 2.13x
Old Cleeve 16 91.95x
Worcester St Peter 16 21.38x
Bristol St James St Paul 15 7.58x
Bromley London 15 2.25x
Cheltenham 15 3.27x
Clapham 15 3.96x
Melcombe Regis 15 18.21x
Mile End Old Town 15 3.14x
Stockton On Tees 15 3.45x
Walsall Foreign 15 2.84x
Assington 14 181.58x
Kington 14 45.54x
Lindridge 14 140.00x
Nottingham St Mary 14 1.33x
Broughton In Salford 13 3.96x
Great Yarmouth 13 3.37x
Limehouse London 13 3.91x
Monks Coppenhall 13 5.15x
Northampton Priory St 13 7.61x
Northfleet 13 14.28x
Leamington Priors 12 6.39x
Westminster St John 12 3.25x
Brading 11 13.34x
Dunstable 11 22.83x
Edwardstone 11 242.29x
Keynsham 11 31.43x
Liverpool 11 0.50x
Newton 11 3.97x
Warrington 11 2.58x
Desborough 10 46.75x
Hanwell 10 18.63x
Stoke Newington London 10 4.24x
Stratford On Avon 10 23.61x
Streatham 10 4.45x
West Wycombe 10 40.27x
Wilbarston In Market 10 189.39x
Clifton 9 3.00x
Hampton London 9 18.08x
Harborne 9 2.75x
Harmondsworth 9 47.87x
Linton In Bromyard 9 166.05x
North Meols 9 2.56x
Stoke Upon Trent 9 0.83x
Tipton 9 2.88x
Wotton Ville 9 159.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 153
Elizabeth 124
Sarah 112
Ann 67
Eliza 54
Jane 53
Alice 48
Annie 48
Emma 44
Ellen 39
Emily 38
Louisa 33
Caroline 30
Harriet 29
Florence 26
Fanny 25
Martha 23
Hannah 22
Maria 22
Charlotte 20
Edith 20
Kate 20
Catherine 18
Ada 17
Margaret 17
Frances 16
Harriett 16
Anne 15
Lucy 13
Amelia 12
Clara 12
Lydia 11
Matilda 11
Sophia 10
Esther 9
Agnes 8
Susannah 8
Minnie 7
Eleanor 6
Isabella 6
Julia 6
Laura 6
Lizzie 6
Rose 6
Ruth 6
Susan 6
Flora 5
Helen 5
Jessie 5
Mabel 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 183
John 174
George 130
James 100
Charles 92
Henry 87
Thomas 87
Alfred 59
Edward 46
Frederick 39
Samuel 39
Joseph 33
Harry 30
Arthur 29
Richard 29
Albert 20
Robert 20
Walter 18
Francis 13
Edwin 11
Frank 11
Herbert 11
Daniel 9
Ernest 9
Benjamin 8
Wm. 7
David 6
Geo. 6
Edmund 5
Fred 5
Fredk. 5
Fredrick 4
Horace 4
Saml. 4
Sidney 4
Thos. 4
Alexander 3
Frances 3
Frederic 3
Stephen 3
Chas. 2
Jno. 2
Josiah 2
Leopold 2
Levi 2
Oliver 2
Patrick 2
Percy 2
Phillip 2
Ralph 2

FAQ

Tomkins surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tomkins surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,106 people were recorded with the Tomkins surname. That placed it at #1,448 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tomkins surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,977 in 2016. That gives Tomkins a modern rank of #1,703.

What does the Tomkins surname mean?

A patronymic surname derived from the medieval diminutive of Thomas, ultimately meaning "son of Thomas."

What does the Tomkins map show?

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