UK surname
A derivative of the given name Thomas, originally denoting a son or descendant of someone named Thomas.
In the 1881 census there were 58 people recorded with the Tomlison surname, ranking it #25,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 13, ranked #37,278, down from #25,428 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Workington (Workington), Clossocks, St Marylebone and Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tomlison is 170 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 77.6%.
1881 census count
58
Ranked #25,428
Modern count
13
2016, ranked #37,278
Peak year
1851
170 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Tomlison surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Tomlison surname density by area, 1891 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 | 170 | #11,780 |
| 1861 | historical | 169 | #13,823 |
| 1881 | historical | 58 | #25,428 |
| 1891 | historical | 133 | #19,870 |
| 1901 | historical | 56 | #27,952 |
| 1911 | historical | 81 | #24,719 |
| 1997 | modern | 93 | #27,932 |
| 1998 | modern | 63 | #31,639 |
| 1999 | modern | 44 | #33,601 |
| 2000 | modern | 31 | #34,798 |
| 2001 | modern | 9 | #36,980 |
| 2002 | modern | 10 | #36,902 |
| 2003 | modern | 8 | #37,248 |
| 2004 | modern | 7 | #37,496 |
| 2005 | modern | 8 | #37,422 |
| 2006 | modern | 10 | #37,224 |
| 2007 | modern | 12 | #37,095 |
| 2008 | modern | 14 | #36,950 |
| 2009 | modern | 19 | #36,603 |
| 2010 | modern | 18 | #36,774 |
| 2011 | modern | 18 | #36,739 |
| 2012 | modern | 18 | #36,723 |
| 2013 | modern | 15 | #37,046 |
| 2014 | modern | 15 | #37,070 |
| 2015 | modern | 13 | #37,251 |
| 2016 | modern | 13 | #37,278 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Workington (Workington), Clossocks, St Marylebone, Preston, Glasgow and Sheffield. 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 | Workington (Workington), Clossocks | Cumberland |
| 2 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Preston | Lancashire |
| 4 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| 5 | Sheffield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Tomlison 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 Tomlison, 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 Tomlison surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Tomlison 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, Tomlison 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 Tomlison is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Tomlison, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Tomlison is of English origin, derived from the medieval personal name Thomas. It emerged as an occupational name referring to the son of Thomas, or as a descriptive nickname for someone with characteristics associated with the name Thomas.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname Tomlison date back to the late 13th century. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include a reference to a Willelmus Thomasson in Oxfordshire. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 list a John Tomasson.
In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various spellings such as Thomasson, Tomasson, and Tomason. These variations reflect the regional dialects and scribal practices of the time. The modern spelling Tomlison became more standardized in the 16th century.
Historically, the surname Tomlison has been concentrated in the counties of Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire. It is believed to have originated in these regions, particularly in the areas surrounding the villages of Tomarton and Tormarton, which may have influenced the development of the surname.
Notable individuals with the surname Tomlison include:
1. John Tomlison (c. 1580-1658), an English clergyman and controversialist who served as the rector of Wickham St. Paul in Essex. 2. Ralph Tomlison (1617-1695), an English nonconformist minister and author, known for his work "The Sober Conformist's Plea for Moderation." 3. Gervase Tomlinson (c. 1639-1706), an English mathematician and astronomer who contributed to the development of calculus. 4. Thomas Tomlinson (1760-1815), a British entrepreneur and industrialist who established the Tomlinson Foundry in Birmingham, known for producing high-quality cast iron products. 5. William Tomlinson (1825-1900), a British physician and medical writer, known for his work on the treatment of diabetes and other metabolic disorders.
While the surname Tomlison is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history spanning several centuries, with its origins rooted in the medieval era and connections to various notable figures throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tomlison 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. Lanarkshire leads with 12 Tomlisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.56x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lanarkshire | 12 | 6.56x |
| Yorkshire | 10 | 1.78x |
| Lancashire | 8 | 1.19x |
| Surrey | 6 | 2.18x |
| Cambridgeshire | 4 | 11.17x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.71x |
| Nottinghamshire | 4 | 5.25x |
| Derbyshire | 3 | 3.39x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 2.10x |
| Kent | 2 | 1.04x |
| Kirkcudbrightshire | 1 | 12.21x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 1.11x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bermondsey in Surrey leads with 6 Tomlisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.63x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bermondsey | 6 | 35.63x |
| Glasgow | 6 | 18.47x |
| Govan | 6 | 13.26x |
| Skegby | 4 | 851.06x |
| St Marylebone London | 4 | 13.25x |
| Trumpington | 4 | 2222.22x |
| Aston | 3 | 7.64x |
| Belper | 3 | 174.42x |
| Haughton | 3 | 306.12x |
| Preston | 3 | 16.70x |
| Settle | 3 | 697.67x |
| Barmbrough | 2 | 952.38x |
| Brightside Bierlow | 2 | 18.20x |
| Barrow In Furness | 1 | 10.95x |
| Gillingham | 1 | 25.13x |
| Kirkpatrick Durham | 1 | 400.00x |
| Lydiate | 1 | 476.19x |
| Selby | 1 | 85.47x |
| Sheffield | 1 | 5.61x |
| Skirbeck | 1 | 196.08x |
| Skircoat | 1 | 45.25x |
| Tonbridge | 1 | 14.37x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Tomlison surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Tomlison surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Tomlison households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 8 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Annuity | 1 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Chemists Appentice | 1 |
| Civil Engineer | 1 |
| Cotton Apprentice | 1 |
| Domestic Servant Out Of Place | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Dressmaker Apprentice | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Head Teacher Public Ely School | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Lance Corporal RE | 1 |
| Mangler | 1 |
| Ostler | 1 |
| Platelayer | 1 |
| Railway Drayman | 1 |
| Scholar Orphan | 1 |
| Seamer (H&M) | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Stone Mason | 1 |
| Teachers Wife | 1 |
| Tobacconist Stationer | 1 |
| Under Clark Preston County Co... Office | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 58 people were recorded with the Tomlison surname. That placed it at #25,428 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 13 in 2016. That gives Tomlison a modern rank of #37,278.
A derivative of the given name Thomas, originally denoting a son or descendant of someone named Thomas.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Tomlison 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.