NameCensus.

UK surname

Tonks

A surname likely derived from the nickname "tonx", meaning "shaven head".

In the 1881 census there were 1,576 people recorded with the Tonks surname, ranking it #2,686 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,261, ranked #2,085, up from #2,686 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Darlaston and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Warwickshire, Wakefield and South Staffordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tonks is 3,428 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 106.9%.

1881 census count

1,576

Ranked #2,686

Modern count

3,261

2016, ranked #2,085

Peak year

2002

3,428 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tonks had 1,576 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,686 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,261 in 2016, ranked #2,085.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,570 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Tonks surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tonks surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tonks 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 849 #3,203
1861 historical 823 #3,347
1881 historical 1,576 #2,686
1891 historical 1,544 #2,856
1901 historical 2,318 #2,347
1911 historical 2,570 #1,988
1997 modern 3,272 #1,969
1998 modern 3,378 #1,980
1999 modern 3,412 #1,986
2000 modern 3,389 #1,989
2001 modern 3,323 #1,984
2002 modern 3,428 #1,976
2003 modern 3,332 #1,982
2004 modern 3,335 #1,986
2005 modern 3,282 #1,986
2006 modern 3,268 #2,005
2007 modern 3,271 #2,026
2008 modern 3,279 #2,035
2009 modern 3,360 #2,037
2010 modern 3,409 #2,047
2011 modern 3,424 #2,010
2012 modern 3,295 #2,046
2013 modern 3,300 #2,077
2014 modern 3,352 #2,057
2015 modern 3,293 #2,074
2016 modern 3,261 #2,085

Geography

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Where Tonks' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Darlaston, Birmingham Town: Birmingham, Birmingham Town: Aston and West Bromwich. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Warwickshire, Wakefield, South Staffordshire, Walsall and Sandwell. 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 Darlaston Staffordshire
3 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire
4 Birmingham Town: Aston Warwickshire
5 West Bromwich Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Warwickshire 003 North Warwickshire
2 Wakefield 003 Wakefield
3 South Staffordshire 005 South Staffordshire
4 Walsall 025 Walsall
5 Sandwell 022 Sandwell

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tonks

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tonks

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Tonks surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Tonks household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Tonks 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

Tonks 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

Tonks falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tonks 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 Tonks, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Tonks

The surname Tonks is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "tunoc," which referred to a small settlement or enclosure. This suggests that the name may have initially been used to identify someone who lived in or near such a settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tonks can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and resources in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This document mentions a landowner named Tonc, which is likely an early variant of the surname.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name appeared in various records and documents, often with slight variations in spelling, such as Tonkes, Tonkes, and Tonque. These variations were common during that time due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

In the 16th century, the name Tonks began to appear more frequently in parish records and other historical documents. One notable individual from this period was John Tonks, who was born in Gloucestershire in 1557 and served as a member of the local gentry.

As the centuries progressed, the surname Tonks spread to different regions of England, and several notable individuals emerged. In the 18th century, William Tonks (1710-1792) was a renowned clockmaker from Oxfordshire, known for his intricate and highly accurate timepieces.

Another significant figure was Samuel Tonks (1838-1918), a British artist and member of the Royal Academy of Arts. He was particularly celebrated for his portraiture and genre paintings, capturing scenes from everyday life.

During the 19th century, the Tonks family played a prominent role in the development of the British steel industry. Isaac Tonks (1818-1892) was a pioneering industrialist who established successful steel mills in Yorkshire, contributing to the region's economic growth.

In more recent times, the surname Tonks has been associated with notable individuals such as Henry Tonks (1862-1937), a renowned British painter and professor of art. He was influential in shaping the teaching of art in the early 20th century.

While the surname Tonks has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, its origins can be traced back to the small settlements and enclosures of medieval England, where the name first emerged as a way to identify individuals and their place of residence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tonks families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tonks 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 573 Tonks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.05x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 573 11.05x
Warwickshire 427 11.02x
Worcestershire 107 5.33x
Shropshire 101 7.61x
Yorkshire 85 0.56x
Lancashire 59 0.32x
Middlesex 54 0.35x
Leicestershire 40 2.35x
Durham 30 0.66x
Derbyshire 22 0.91x
Cheshire 19 0.56x
Lanarkshire 6 0.12x
Northumberland 6 0.26x
Gloucestershire 5 0.17x
Hampshire 5 0.16x
Northamptonshire 5 0.35x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.24x
Sussex 5 0.19x
Kent 3 0.06x
Dorset 2 0.20x
Hertfordshire 2 0.19x
Suffolk 2 0.11x
Surrey 2 0.03x
Bedfordshire 1 0.13x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.16x
Cumberland 1 0.08x
Denbighshire 1 0.17x
Essex 1 0.03x
Flintshire 1 0.24x
Lincolnshire 1 0.04x
Monmouthshire 1 0.09x
Royal Navy 1 0.55x
Somerset 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. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 174 Tonks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.31x.

Place Total Index
Aston 174 16.31x
Birmingham 168 13.01x
West Bromwich 81 27.28x
Willenhall 73 75.15x
Oldbury 51 51.67x
Wednesfield 51 66.82x
Wolverhampton 51 12.79x
Walsall Foreign 40 14.93x
Wednesbury 38 29.32x
Sedgley 34 17.65x
Darlaston 32 44.65x
Wellington 30 40.21x
Cannock 27 29.84x
Hetton Le Hole 26 44.89x
Dawley 24 49.69x
Dudley 18 7.38x
Kingswinford 18 9.56x
Scarborough 18 13.01x
Bilston 17 16.91x
Shoreditch London 16 2.40x
Harborne 15 9.02x
Mancetter 15 134.65x
Rushall 15 49.15x
Tipton 14 8.82x
Runcorn 13 16.63x
Toxteth Park 12 1.94x
Chilvers Coton 11 69.01x
Stafford St Mary 11 14.98x
Stourbridge 11 21.31x
Aldridge 10 100.30x
Ansley 10 228.31x
Gorton 10 5.84x
Nuneaton 10 22.28x
Ratcliffe Culey 10 833.33x
Sutton Coldfield 10 24.55x
Upper Penn 10 76.98x
Lilleshall 9 44.36x
Twycross 9 473.68x
Lichfield St Mary 8 53.48x
Mile End Old Town 8 3.30x
Rawmarsh 8 14.88x
Wrockwardine 8 27.41x
Brightside Bierlow 7 2.34x
Castle Church 7 22.46x
Rotherham 7 8.16x
Staveley 7 16.39x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 6 4.23x
Bridgnorth St Leonard 6 39.87x
Edgbaston 6 4.99x
Foxton 6 327.87x
Leicester Augustin 6 1224.49x
Longbenton 6 6.20x
Methley 6 27.99x
Newton In Makerfield 6 10.75x
Shrewsbury St Mary 6 11.45x
Skipton 6 12.52x
Warwick St Mary 6 17.84x
Wombridge 6 36.61x
Belper 5 10.72x
Brighton 5 0.96x
Chelsea London 5 1.08x
Mexborough 5 16.55x
Sheepy Magna 5 228.31x
Stoke 5 65.53x
Yardley 5 9.74x
Atherstone 4 20.21x
Fairfield 4 24.86x
Handsworth 4 3.13x
Holy Trinity 4 1.09x
Kensington London 4 0.47x
Kidderminster Borough 4 3.41x
Kimberworth 4 4.73x
Kings Norton 4 2.22x
Lye 4 11.98x
Macclesfield 4 2.65x
Northampton All Sts 4 8.16x
Packwood 4 261.44x
Portsea 4 0.65x
Salford 4 0.75x
Walsall Borough 4 9.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 110
Sarah 74
Elizabeth 48
Eliza 40
Ann 34
Emma 28
Jane 26
Martha 24
Alice 23
Ellen 20
Annie 19
Hannah 18
Emily 16
Fanny 14
Harriet 14
Maria 14
Caroline 12
Ada 11
Charlotte 10
Louisa 10
Clara 9
Florence 8
Phoebe 8
Harriett 7
Lucy 7
Edith 6
Matilda 6
Sophia 6
Betsy 5
Catherine 5
Elizth. 5
Lydia 5
Susannah 5
Isabella 4
Julia 4
Rachel 4
Anne 3
Emelia 3
Esther 3
Frances 3
Henrietta 3
Lavinia 3
Minnie 3
Polly 3
Rhoda 3
Agnes 2
Margaret 2
Maud 2
Nancy 2
Pheoby 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 104
John 93
Thomas 58
Joseph 46
Samuel 45
James 40
George 34
Henry 34
Alfred 27
Richard 21
Charles 19
Arthur 15
Edward 14
Isaac 14
Benjamin 12
Albert 10
Frederick 9
Herbert 9
Edwin 8
Enoch 7
Reuben 6
Peter 5
Abraham 4
Daniel 4
Harry 4
Mark 4
Matthew 4
Noah 4
Sydney 4
Walter 4
Willm. 4
Amos 3
Cornelius 3
Eli 3
Fredrick 3
Jacob 3
Joshua 3
Robert 3
Saml. 3
Silas 3
Tom 3
Andrew 2
David 2
Edmund 2
Edwd. 2
Ernest 2
Job 2
Martin 2
Moses 2
Ralph 2

FAQ

Tonks surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tonks surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,576 people were recorded with the Tonks surname. That placed it at #2,686 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tonks surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,261 in 2016. That gives Tonks a modern rank of #2,085.

What does the Tonks surname mean?

A surname likely derived from the nickname "tonx", meaning "shaven head".

What does the Tonks map show?

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