NameCensus.

UK surname

Tony

A French surname derived from the nickname for Anthony.

In the 1881 census there were 24 people recorded with the Tony surname, ranking it #30,215 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 154, ranked #23,293, up from #30,215 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kempston, St Pancras and Greenock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Haringey, Richmond upon Thames and Newham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tony is 154 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 541.7%.

1881 census count

24

Ranked #30,215

Modern count

154

2016, ranked #23,293

Peak year

2016

154 bearers

Map years

2

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tony had 24 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,215 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 154 in 2016, ranked #23,293.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 140 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Tony surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tony surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Tony 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 48 #24,615
1861 historical 140 #16,169
1881 historical 24 #30,215
1891 historical 46 #30,657
1901 historical 17 #32,146
1911 historical 25 #30,654
1997 modern 21 #35,692
1998 modern 19 #36,009
1999 modern 21 #35,810
2000 modern 24 #35,498
2001 modern 17 #36,053
2002 modern 18 #36,067
2003 modern 20 #35,915
2004 modern 23 #35,786
2005 modern 39 #34,652
2006 modern 46 #34,415
2007 modern 52 #34,195
2008 modern 67 #33,135
2009 modern 56 #34,278
2010 modern 83 #32,396
2011 modern 92 #31,301
2012 modern 101 #30,078
2013 modern 119 #27,541
2014 modern 129 #26,352
2015 modern 148 #23,934
2016 modern 154 #23,293

Geography

Back to top

Where Tonys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kempston, St Pancras, Greenock, Birmingham Town: Aston and Dunkirk. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Haringey, Richmond upon Thames, Newham and Southwark. 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 Kempston Bedfordshire
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 Greenock Renfrew
4 Birmingham Town: Aston Warwickshire
5 Dunkirk Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Haringey 025 Haringey
2 Richmond upon Thames 017 Richmond upon Thames
3 Haringey 004 Haringey
4 Newham 004 Newham
5 Southwark 019 Southwark

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Tony

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Tony

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Tony surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Tony 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Tony is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Tony 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

Tony falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tony is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Tony

The surname Tony has its origins in Italy and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Italian personal name Antonio, which itself is a variant of the Roman family name Antonius. The name Antonius is believed to have originated from the ancient Roman praenomen Antō, meaning "priceless" or "invaluable."

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Tony can be found in medieval Italian documents and records. One notable example is a mention of a Guglielmo Tony in a Florentine registry from the 13th century. The name was particularly prevalent in the regions of Tuscany and Lazio, where variations such as Toni and Tonni were also common.

In the 14th century, the surname Tony is documented in the historic Florentine tax records known as the Estimo. This suggests that families bearing this name had established themselves as landowners and citizens of considerable means within the city-state of Florence.

As the Italian Renaissance unfolded, the surname Tony gained prominence through various notable individuals. One such figure was Giovanni Battista Tony (1493-1554), a celebrated painter and architect from the city of Siena. His works can be found adorning churches and palaces throughout Tuscany.

Another important figure was the scholar and philosopher Pietro Antonio Tony (1642-1708), who was born in Naples and authored several influential treatises on natural philosophy and metaphysics. He was a member of the Accademia degli Investiganti, a prestigious learned society of the time.

During the 18th century, the surname Tony spread beyond Italy as Italian immigrants and merchants settled in other parts of Europe and the Americas. Notable bearers of the name during this period include the French composer and violinist Giuseppe Antonio Tony (1725-1799), who served as the music director at the court of King Louis XVI.

As the centuries progressed, the surname Tony continued to be carried by individuals of Italian descent who made significant contributions in various fields. These include the 19th-century Italian mathematician and physicist Giovanni Antonio Tony (1805-1874), who made important discoveries in the realm of electromagnetism, and the 20th-century Italian-American architect and designer Mario Tony (1909-1999), known for his influential modernist designs.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Tony families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tony 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 6 Tonys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.11x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 6 4.11x
Sussex 3 12.18x
Kent 2 4.01x
Surrey 2 2.81x
Cornwall 1 6.05x
Yorkshire 1 0.69x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 5 Tonys recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.52x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 5 42.52x
Subdeanary 3 4285.71x
Camberwell 2 21.44x
Bow London 1 53.76x
Erith 1 204.08x
Illogan 1 227.27x
Leeds 1 12.24x
Sutton Valence 1 1666.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emma 2
Kate 2
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Esther 1
Mary 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 2
Ambrose 1
Frank 1
Henry 1
John 1

Top occupations

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 Tony households.

FAQ

Tony surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tony surname in 1881?

In 1881, 24 people were recorded with the Tony surname. That placed it at #30,215 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tony surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 154 in 2016. That gives Tony a modern rank of #23,293.

What does the Tony surname mean?

A French surname derived from the nickname for Anthony.

What does the Tony map show?

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