NameCensus.

UK surname

Tonkin

A toponymic surname derived from the former region of Tonkin in northern Vietnam.

In the 1881 census there were 1,445 people recorded with the Tonkin surname, ranking it #2,881 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,492, ranked #4,145, down from #2,881 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Agnes, Redruth and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tonkin is 1,850 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.3%.

1881 census count

1,445

Ranked #2,881

Modern count

1,492

2016, ranked #4,145

Peak year

1911

1,850 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tonkin had 1,445 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,881 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,492 in 2016, ranked #4,145.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,850 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Tonkin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tonkin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tonkin 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 1,311 #2,186
1861 historical 875 #3,175
1881 historical 1,445 #2,881
1891 historical 1,437 #3,046
1901 historical 1,697 #3,040
1911 historical 1,850 #2,669
1997 modern 1,565 #3,771
1998 modern 1,602 #3,837
1999 modern 1,621 #3,822
2000 modern 1,610 #3,831
2001 modern 1,593 #3,790
2002 modern 1,604 #3,841
2003 modern 1,544 #3,897
2004 modern 1,537 #3,913
2005 modern 1,517 #3,922
2006 modern 1,501 #3,961
2007 modern 1,510 #3,977
2008 modern 1,536 #3,928
2009 modern 1,549 #3,998
2010 modern 1,551 #4,075
2011 modern 1,520 #4,111
2012 modern 1,496 #4,099
2013 modern 1,527 #4,091
2014 modern 1,533 #4,102
2015 modern 1,513 #4,106
2016 modern 1,492 #4,145

Geography

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Where Tonkins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Agnes, Redruth, London parishes, Paul and Kenwyn, Tregavethan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. 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 Agnes Cornwall
2 Redruth Cornwall
3 London parishes London 3
4 Paul Cornwall
5 Kenwyn, Tregavethan Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 070 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 055 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 046 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 053 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 027 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tonkin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tonkin

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tonkin, 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 Tonkin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Tonkin 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Tonkin is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tonkin 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

Tonkin 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 Tonkin 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 Tonkin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Tonkin

The surname Tonkin originated in Cornwall, England during the medieval period. It is derived from the old Cornish place name 'Tonken', which means 'town on a hill'. This place name referred to various settlements across Cornwall, such as the village of Tonkin near St. Austell.

The Tonkin surname first appeared in official records in the late 13th century. One of the earliest known references is a document from 1275 which mentions a Richard de Tonken. Over the following centuries, variations in spelling emerged, including Tonkyn, Tonkeyn, and Tonken.

In the famous Domesday Book of 1086, which surveyed landowners in England after the Norman conquest, there are no direct references to the name Tonkin. However, the place name 'Tonken' is mentioned as part of the lands held by the Earl of Mortain in Cornwall.

One notable early bearer of the Tonkin surname was John Tonkin, a wealthy merchant from Truro who lived from around 1485 to 1550. He served as Mayor of Truro in 1524 and was involved in the local tin mining industry.

During the 17th century, Sampson Tonkin (1619-1667) was a Cornish landowner and served as a Member of Parliament for Truro in 1660. His son, also named Sampson Tonkin (1655-1718), was a renowned lawyer and held the position of Recorder of Truro.

In the 18th century, Mary Tonkin (1720-1804) was a celebrated Cornish writer and poet, known for her works in the Cornish language. Her collection of poems, 'Cornish Poetry', was published posthumously in 1811.

Another notable figure was Thomas Tonkin (1678-1742), an antiquarian and historian from Cornwall. He was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and authored several works on Cornish history and folklore, including 'Parochial History of Cornwall' (published in 1739).

Moving into the 19th century, Reverend Henry George Tonkin (1825-1892) was a prominent Cornish clergyman and author. He wrote extensively on Cornish history, language, and culture, including 'The Miner's Guide' (1858) and 'The Surnames of the West of England' (1869).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tonkin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tonkin 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. Cornwall leads with 961 Tonkins recorded in 1881 and an index of 59.93x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 961 59.93x
Devon 133 4.51x
Middlesex 73 0.52x
Kent 43 0.89x
Glamorgan 42 1.70x
Surrey 23 0.33x
Hampshire 19 0.65x
Lancashire 19 0.11x
Yorkshire 19 0.14x
Durham 15 0.36x
Cumberland 13 1.07x
Essex 11 0.39x
Somerset 9 0.39x
Gloucestershire 8 0.29x
Lanarkshire 8 0.17x
Leicestershire 7 0.45x
Warwickshire 7 0.20x
Monmouthshire 6 0.59x
Northumberland 5 0.24x
Cheshire 4 0.13x
Denbighshire 4 0.75x
Isle of Man 4 1.52x
Anglesey 3 1.20x
Royal Navy 3 1.78x
Suffolk 3 0.17x
Berkshire 2 0.19x
Wiltshire 2 0.16x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.11x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.49x
Lincolnshire 1 0.04x
Oxfordshire 1 0.11x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.22x
Sussex 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Paul in Cornwall leads with 111 Tonkins recorded in 1881 and an index of 381.05x.

Place Total Index
Paul 111 381.05x
St Agnes 87 387.36x
Madron Penzance 52 89.18x
Kenwyn 44 104.94x
Illogan 41 96.56x
Redruth 33 72.75x
St Buryan 26 392.75x
Camborne 25 37.84x
St Austell 25 45.61x
Falmouth 22 38.76x
Stoke Damerel 22 10.66x
Newlyn 21 306.57x
Tregoney St James 21 704.70x
Phillack 20 96.62x
Helston 19 113.98x
Plymouth Charles The 19 14.63x
Mawnan 18 711.46x
Padstow 18 168.86x
St Just In Penwith 18 57.86x
St Levan 18 620.69x
Penarth 17 70.54x
Sancreed 17 374.45x
Perranzabuloe 16 115.69x
St Columb Major 16 120.21x
Mullion 15 510.20x
Bodmin 14 52.77x
Tavistock 13 38.71x
St Columb Minor 12 89.15x
St Gluvias 12 133.63x
Bethnal Green London 11 1.79x
Budock 11 91.14x
Gwennap 11 36.36x
Kea 11 92.05x
Tanfield 11 21.95x
Callington 10 107.07x
Camberwell 10 1.11x
Chatham 10 7.52x
Madron 10 77.22x
Northmolton 10 568.18x
Saltash 10 80.39x
St Ewe 10 205.76x
Stoke Climsland 10 97.66x
Cardiff St Mary 9 6.63x
Ladock 9 198.24x
Shoreditch London 9 1.47x
Breage 8 54.64x
Charlton 8 24.92x
Dawlish 8 36.38x
Egremont 8 27.51x
Islington London 8 0.58x
Kennerleigh 8 1568.63x
Liskeard 8 29.82x
Michaelstow 8 740.74x
Minster In Sheppey 8 9.99x
Plymouth St Andrew 8 3.52x
Portsea 8 1.41x
Roath 8 7.14x
Scilly Islands St Mary 8 127.80x
St Clement 8 47.79x
St Ives 8 25.49x
St Marylebone London 8 1.06x
Truro St Mary 8 59.39x
Westminster St James 8 5.49x
Birmingham 7 0.59x
Constantine 7 75.03x
Lambeth 7 0.57x
Little Claybrooke 7 243.06x
Manchester 7 0.93x
Probus 7 106.54x
St Blazey 7 49.72x
St Cleer 7 50.32x
Whippingham 7 31.85x
Abergavenny 6 15.65x
Eggesford 6 674.16x
Eston 6 19.63x
Richmond 6 27.36x
Totnes 6 34.78x
Tottenham 6 2.66x
Woodford 6 18.96x
Deptford St Nicholas 5 13.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 103
Elizabeth 78
Jane 49
Annie 32
Eliza 25
Ann 24
Emily 24
Sarah 23
Ellen 16
Emma 14
Margaret 14
Maria 14
Grace 13
Alice 11
Bessie 11
Edith 10
Louisa 10
Susan 10
Anna 9
Caroline 8
Frances 8
Harriet 8
Jessie 7
Charlotte 6
Ethel 6
Julia 6
Laura 6
Martha 6
Minnie 6
Amelia 5
Clara 5
Florence 5
Isabella 5
Lucy 5
Lydia 5
Ada 4
Beatrice 4
Eleanor 4
Elizth. 4
Fanny 4
Harriett 4
Helena 4
Jemima 4
Kate 4
Catherine 3
Eliz. 3
Gertrude 3
Lavinia 3
Mabel 3
Nanny 3

Top male names

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

FAQ

Tonkin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tonkin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,445 people were recorded with the Tonkin surname. That placed it at #2,881 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tonkin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,492 in 2016. That gives Tonkin a modern rank of #4,145.

What does the Tonkin surname mean?

A toponymic surname derived from the former region of Tonkin in northern Vietnam.

What does the Tonkin map show?

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