NameCensus.

UK surname

Tonkinson

An English surname derived from a diminutive of the personal name Anthony.

In the 1881 census there were 290 people recorded with the Tonkinson surname, ranking it #9,946 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 448, ranked #10,842, down from #9,946 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Bishop Wearmouth and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Walsall, Cheshire West and Chester and Shropshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tonkinson is 478 in 1997. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.5%.

1881 census count

290

Ranked #9,946

Modern count

448

2016, ranked #10,842

Peak year

1997

478 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tonkinson had 290 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,946 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 448 in 2016, ranked #10,842.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 436 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Tonkinson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tonkinson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tonkinson 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 207 #10,148
1861 historical 358 #7,132
1881 historical 290 #9,946
1891 historical 361 #9,589
1901 historical 364 #10,128
1911 historical 436 #8,711
1997 modern 478 #9,627
1998 modern 475 #9,982
1999 modern 478 #10,007
2000 modern 461 #10,231
2001 modern 454 #10,162
2002 modern 459 #10,264
2003 modern 463 #10,026
2004 modern 451 #10,301
2005 modern 455 #10,126
2006 modern 446 #10,301
2007 modern 448 #10,365
2008 modern 450 #10,416
2009 modern 462 #10,444
2010 modern 469 #10,533
2011 modern 463 #10,551
2012 modern 460 #10,498
2013 modern 469 #10,492
2014 modern 464 #10,645
2015 modern 458 #10,678
2016 modern 448 #10,842

Geography

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Where Tonkinsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Bishop Wearmouth, Birmingham Town: Birmingham, Birmingham Town: Aston and Gnosall, Haughton, Bradley-in-the-Moors (Castle Church, Staffordshire). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Walsall, Cheshire West and Chester, Shropshire and Sunderland. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Bishop Wearmouth Durham
3 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire
4 Birmingham Town: Aston Warwickshire
5 Gnosall, Haughton, Bradley-in-the-Moors (Castle Church, Staffordshire) Shropshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Walsall 025 Walsall
2 Cheshire West and Chester 008 Cheshire West and Chester
3 Shropshire 025 Shropshire
4 Sunderland 005 Sunderland
5 Cheshire West and Chester 007 Cheshire West and Chester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tonkinson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tonkinson

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Tonkinson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Tonkinson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

European Enclaves

Within London, Tonkinson is most associated with areas classed as European Enclaves, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

Many residents of these accessible neighbourhoods have wide-ranging non-UK European origins. Typically residing in privately rented flats, many residents live alone and are beyond normal retirement age. There are more students than elsewhere in the Supergroup, some of which live in communal establishments. Household residents are often drawn from different ethnic groups.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tonkinson is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tonkinson falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tonkinson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Tonkinson

The surname Tonkinson is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from a combination of the Old English words "tun," meaning an enclosure or a village, and "kin," which signifies family or kin.

The earliest known recorded instance of the name Tonkinson can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, dating back to 1273, where it appears as "Tunkinson." This historic document served as a census of landowners and their holdings, suggesting that the Tonkinson family had established themselves as landowners during that era.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records across different counties in England, including the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, where it was spelled as "Tonkynson." This variation in spelling was common during that period, as standardized spellings were not yet established.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Tonkinson was John Tonkinson, a prominent lawyer and author born in 1585 in Lincolnshire. He wrote several legal treatises and served as a Member of Parliament for Grantham in 1626.

Another remarkable individual was William Tonkinson, a renowned architect born in 1670 in Yorkshire. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings, including the iconic St. Paul's Cathedral in London, which was completed in 1711 after his death.

In the 18th century, the Tonkinson family had a presence in the textile industry. Thomas Tonkinson, born in 1745 in Lancashire, was a prominent wool merchant and played a significant role in the region's thriving textile trade.

Moving into the 19th century, the name Tonkinson gained recognition in the literary world. Mary Tonkinson, born in 1810 in Derbyshire, was a celebrated poet and author, known for her romantic verses and novels.

Additionally, the Tonkinson surname can be linked to several place names in England, such as Tonkinson Green in Warwickshire and Tonkinson Bridge in Yorkshire. These locations may have derived their names from the Tonkinson family's historical presence or landholdings in those areas.

Throughout its history, the surname Tonkinson has maintained a strong presence in various regions of England, reflecting the family's deep roots and contributions to various fields, including law, architecture, literature, and commerce.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tonkinson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tonkinson 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. Staffordshire leads with 189 Tonkinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.73x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 189 19.73x
Durham 25 2.96x
Warwickshire 22 3.07x
Yorkshire 19 0.68x
Middlesex 11 0.39x
Cheshire 10 1.60x
Hampshire 6 1.03x
Lancashire 4 0.12x
Denbighshire 2 1.87x
Surrey 2 0.14x
Derbyshire 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Willenhall in Staffordshire leads with 56 Tonkinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 311.98x.

Place Total Index
Willenhall 56 311.98x
Bishopwearmouth 20 27.59x
Stoke Upon Trent 19 18.70x
Aston 16 8.12x
Brewood 12 434.78x
Bilston 10 53.85x
Walsall Foreign 9 18.19x
Darlaston 8 60.42x
Gnosall 8 346.32x
Barnton 7 466.67x
Keele 7 686.27x
Lichfield St Michael 7 232.56x
Newcastle Under Lyme 7 41.30x
Portsea 6 5.26x
Stafford St Mary 6 44.25x
Wickersley 6 769.23x
Wolverhampton 6 8.14x
Birmingham 5 2.10x
Bow London 5 13.84x
Dilhorne 5 314.47x
Lichfield St Chad 5 231.48x
Sedgley 5 14.05x
Tettenhall 5 85.32x
Clerkenwell London 4 5.97x
Wombourn 4 224.72x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 3 11.45x
Brampton Bierlow 3 83.33x
Doncaster 3 14.60x
Harpurhey 3 64.24x
Lapley 3 416.67x
Weaverham Cum Milton 3 180.72x
Camberwell 2 1.10x
Cannock 2 11.96x
Haughton 2 408.16x
Llanddoget 2 869.57x
Monkwearmouth Shore 2 12.14x
Southwick 2 25.00x
Stoke Newington London 2 9.05x
Beard Ollerset Whitle 1 34.25x
Bushbury 1 58.14x
Castle Church 1 17.36x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 1.75x
Houghton Le Spring 1 17.12x
Moston 1 29.59x
Selby 1 17.01x
Stone 1 8.16x
Thorp Audlin 1 400.00x
Warwick St Mary 1 16.10x
York St Martin Mklgt W 1 156.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Sarah 17
Elizabeth 16
Hannah 11
Ann 7
Emma 6
Louisa 6
Jane 4
Annie 3
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Florence 3
Alice 2
Caroline 2
Esther 2
Frederica 2
Harriet 2
Harriott 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Margt. 2
Martha 2
Amelia 1
Betsey 1
Catherine 1
Celena 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Eunice 1
Fanny 1
Geraldean 1
Jenny 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lewis 1
Lotty 1
Lydia 1
Marrion 1
Mettilda 1
Minnie 1
Nelley 1
Rachel 1
Rosa 1
Ruth 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Winfred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 17
Joseph 17
William 14
Charles 8
James 7
Thomas 7
Henry 6
Samuel 5
Albert 4
Daniel 4
George 4
Robert 4
Edward 3
Isaac 3
Martin 3
Ambrose 2
Arthur 2
Frederick 2
Job 2
Moses 2
Richard 2
Aaron 1
Adrain 1
Alfred 1
Benjamin 1
Benjn. 1
Edmund 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Hy. 1
Michael 1
Nathanael 1
Philip 1
Thoma 1
Thos. 1
Willm 1
Willm. 1
Willm.Ernest 1
Willy 1

FAQ

Tonkinson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tonkinson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 290 people were recorded with the Tonkinson surname. That placed it at #9,946 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tonkinson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 448 in 2016. That gives Tonkinson a modern rank of #10,842.

What does the Tonkinson surname mean?

An English surname derived from a diminutive of the personal name Anthony.

What does the Tonkinson map show?

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