NameCensus.

UK surname

Tookey

A surname derived from the Old English word "tucian" meaning to torment or mistreat.

In the 1881 census there were 392 people recorded with the Tookey surname, ranking it #8,080 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 475, ranked #10,375, down from #8,080 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841), London parishes and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Herefordshire and Mendip.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tookey is 586 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.2%.

1881 census count

392

Ranked #8,080

Modern count

475

2016, ranked #10,375

Peak year

1911

586 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tookey had 392 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,080 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 475 in 2016, ranked #10,375.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 586 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tookey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tookey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tookey 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 319 #7,273
1861 historical 238 #10,321
1881 historical 392 #8,080
1891 historical 442 #8,179
1901 historical 487 #8,208
1911 historical 586 #6,957
1997 modern 550 #8,660
1998 modern 568 #8,704
1999 modern 573 #8,702
2000 modern 559 #8,829
2001 modern 535 #8,989
2002 modern 548 #9,000
2003 modern 533 #9,050
2004 modern 517 #9,288
2005 modern 502 #9,419
2006 modern 481 #9,750
2007 modern 474 #9,948
2008 modern 471 #10,091
2009 modern 486 #10,069
2010 modern 500 #10,059
2011 modern 503 #9,908
2012 modern 482 #10,131
2013 modern 499 #10,034
2014 modern 490 #10,233
2015 modern 479 #10,327
2016 modern 475 #10,375

Geography

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Where Tookeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841), London parishes, St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Herefordshire, Mendip, Leicester and Lewes. 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 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 064 County Durham
2 Herefordshire 022 Herefordshire, County of
3 Mendip 008 Mendip
4 Leicester 026 Leicester
5 Lewes 004 Lewes

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tookey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tookey

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Tookey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Tookey 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Tookey is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tookey 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

Tookey falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Tookey

The surname Tookey is an English name that originated in the county of Somerset in the southwest of England during the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "toc," meaning a small piece of land or a toft, and the suffix "-ey," which denotes a small island or a place surrounded by marshy land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tookey can be found in the Feet of Fines for Somerset, a collection of legal documents from the 13th century, where it appears as "Toky." The name is also mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls for Somerset from 1327, where it is spelled "Tokey."

In the 16th century, the surname Tookey was prevalent in the town of Taunton, Somerset, and its surrounding areas. One notable bearer of the name during this time was John Tookey, a merchant and alderman of Taunton, who lived from around 1520 to 1590.

The surname Tookey has also been linked to the village of Durston in Somerset, which was formerly known as "Toky's Tone" or "Tokey's Town." This connection suggests that the name may have originated from a place name in the area.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the surname Tookey. One such person was Robert Tookey (1654-1717), an English painter and engraver who was known for his portraits and religious works. Another was Samuel Tookey (1673-1745), a clergyman and author who served as the rector of St. Alban's Church in Hertfordshire.

In the 19th century, James Tookey (1808-1877) was a prominent figure in the field of horticulture. He was the head gardener at the Royal Gardens in Frogmore, Windsor, and authored several books on gardening and plant cultivation.

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir Alfred Tookey (1858-1933), a British civil servant and diplomat who served as the Governor of the British Virgin Islands from 1905 to 1909.

Additionally, the surname Tookey has been associated with various place names in Somerset, such as Tookey's Green, Tookey's Farm, and Tookey's Lane, further reinforcing its regional origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tookey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tookey 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. Kent leads with 63 Tookeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.87x.

County Total Index
Kent 63 4.87x
Leicestershire 54 12.83x
Warwickshire 41 4.28x
Lancashire 39 0.87x
Middlesex 38 1.00x
Hertfordshire 23 8.79x
Essex 21 2.80x
Northamptonshire 16 4.48x
Rutland 16 57.43x
Bedfordshire 11 5.60x
Surrey 11 0.59x
Devon 9 1.14x
Dorset 9 3.61x
Lincolnshire 9 1.48x
Cambridgeshire 5 2.08x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.98x
Staffordshire 5 0.39x
Worcestershire 4 0.81x
Derbyshire 3 0.51x
Sussex 3 0.47x
Gloucestershire 2 0.27x
Yorkshire 2 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Deptford St Paul in Kent leads with 19 Tookeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.03x.

Place Total Index
Deptford St Paul 19 19.03x
Newchurch 18 48.86x
Greenwich 16 26.49x
Aston 13 4.93x
Birmingham 13 4.08x
Northampton St Sepulchre 12 66.08x
Stotfold 11 292.55x
Little Amwell 10 1098.90x
Nailstone 10 1041.67x
Chislehurst 9 129.68x
Hinckley 9 90.18x
Leicester St Margaret 9 8.77x
Low Leyton 9 1343.28x
Plymouth St Andrew 9 14.79x
Portland 9 67.21x
St Martin In Fields 9 39.61x
Barlestone 8 869.57x
Cheetham 7 20.85x
Enfield 7 28.11x
Thundersley 7 1029.41x
Tonbridge 7 14.99x
Uppingham 7 210.84x
Hugglescote 6 96.93x
St Luke London 6 9.86x
Stratford On Avon 6 112.99x
Nottingham St Mary 5 3.78x
Ratby 5 236.97x
Royston 5 224.22x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 4.06x
Barston 4 952.38x
Bulkington 4 193.24x
Earls Barton 4 131.58x
Exton 4 470.59x
Great Gonerby 4 256.41x
Oddingley 4 1538.46x
St Marylebone London 4 1.97x
Ayston 3 2142.86x
Bermondsey 3 2.66x
Handsworth 3 9.50x
Ilkeston 3 18.01x
Leicester All Sts 3 36.32x
Shoreditch London 3 1.82x
St Andrew Holborn 3 23.33x
St Andrewthe Less 3 10.93x
Wandsworth 3 8.21x
Bassingbourn 2 56.66x
East Hanningfield 2 384.62x
Faversham 2 16.19x
Harpenden 2 50.13x
Haughton 2 30.44x
Heckington 2 86.58x
Helpringham 2 163.93x
Hornsey 2 4.17x
Lambeth 2 0.60x
Litherland 2 21.25x
Lower Booths 2 24.78x
Margate St John Baptist 2 8.44x
New Romney 2 150.38x
St Albans St Stephen 2 87.34x
Stretford 2 8.07x
Tipton 2 5.10x
Wanstead 2 15.24x
Watford 2 9.86x
Woolwich 2 4.18x
Aylestone 1 30.12x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 1 22.27x
Caldecott 1 256.41x
Chelsea London 1 0.87x
Eastbourne 1 3.40x
Edgbaston 1 3.37x
Hemel Hempstead 1 8.49x
Kensington London 1 0.47x
Manfield 1 277.78x
Markfield 1 47.85x
Marshfield 1 50.25x
Ridlington 1 333.33x
Rochester St Margaret 1 7.33x
St Nicholas Lincoln 1 17.24x
St Peters 1 16.69x
Walton On Hill 1 4.10x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 29
John 22
Thomas 20
George 13
Charles 12
Joseph 10
Alfred 8
James 7
Arthur 6
Walter 6
Edward 4
Frederick 4
Herbert 3
Jno. 3
Christopher 2
Edwin 2
Harry 2
Henry 2
Noah 2
Patrick 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Elias 1
Frank 1
Fred. 1
Fredrick 1
Howard 1
Jas. 1
Job 1
Josiah 1
Martin 1
Michael 1
Richard 1
Richd. 1
Saml. 1
Stephen 1
Sydney 1
Willm.H. 1

FAQ

Tookey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tookey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 392 people were recorded with the Tookey surname. That placed it at #8,080 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tookey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 475 in 2016. That gives Tookey a modern rank of #10,375.

What does the Tookey surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English word "tucian" meaning to torment or mistreat.

What does the Tookey map show?

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