UK surname
An occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of tools or implements.
In the 1881 census there were 173 people recorded with the Tool surname, ranking it #14,112 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6, ranked #38,110, down from #14,112 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and Stockport. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tool is 260 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 96.5%.
1881 census count
173
Ranked #14,112
Modern count
6
2016, ranked #38,110
Peak year
1861
260 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Tool surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Tool surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 238 | #9,120 |
| 1861 | historical | 260 | #9,516 |
| 1881 | historical | 173 | #14,112 |
| 1891 | historical | 124 | #20,818 |
| 1901 | historical | 60 | #27,502 |
| 1911 | historical | 33 | #29,703 |
| 1997 | modern | 1 | #38,839 |
| 1998 | modern | 5 | #37,861 |
| 1999 | modern | 3 | #38,318 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 4 | #37,862 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 7 | #37,397 |
| 2004 | modern | 7 | #37,496 |
| 2005 | modern | 8 | #37,422 |
| 2006 | modern | 7 | #37,634 |
| 2007 | modern | 7 | #37,687 |
| 2008 | modern | 7 | #37,735 |
| 2009 | modern | 7 | #37,816 |
| 2010 | modern | 6 | #38,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 6 | #38,049 |
| 2014 | modern | 4 | #38,376 |
| 2015 | modern | 6 | #38,076 |
| 2016 | modern | 6 | #38,110 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Stockport, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 3 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Tool surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tool, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Tool surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Tool household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Tool is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tool is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Tool, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname TOOL is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is likely derived from the Old English word "tol," which referred to an implement, tool, or utensil used for various purposes, such as farming or craftsmanship.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Tol" or "Tole." This suggests that the name was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066, and it may have been associated with individuals who worked as tool makers or tradesmen.
During the medieval period, the name TOOL was primarily concentrated in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk in East Anglia. It is believed that the name may have originated in these regions, where various crafts and trades flourished.
In the 13th century, records show a Robert le Tole residing in Norfolk, indicating the use of the surname with the addition of the prefix "le," which was common at that time. This prefix eventually fell out of use, and the surname became simply "Tole" or "Tool."
One notable bearer of the name was John Tool, a member of the English Parliament who represented the borough of Maldon in Essex during the 16th century (born around 1520, died unknown).
Another individual worth mentioning is William Tool, a prominent merchant and ship owner from the port city of Bristol in the late 16th and early 17th centuries (born around 1560, died circa 1625).
In the 17th century, the TOOL surname can be found in various parish records across England, particularly in the counties of Kent, Somerset, and Gloucestershire, suggesting its spread and establishment in different regions.
Thomas Tool, a wealthy landowner and farmer from Dorset, lived during the late 17th and early 18th centuries (born around 1670, died circa 1740).
Moving into the 18th century, the name appears in connection with a notable figure, Sir Benjamin Tool, a successful businessman and philanthropist from London (born in 1725, died in 1803).
As the centuries progressed, the TOOL surname continued to be associated with various occupations and social classes, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and histories of those who bore this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tool surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 64 Tools recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.20x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 64 | 3.20x |
| Durham | 25 | 4.98x |
| Lanarkshire | 15 | 2.75x |
| Yorkshire | 14 | 0.84x |
| Middlesex | 9 | 0.53x |
| Essex | 8 | 2.40x |
| Cheshire | 7 | 1.88x |
| Glamorgan | 4 | 1.36x |
| Northumberland | 4 | 1.59x |
| Derbyshire | 3 | 1.14x |
| Dunbartonshire | 3 | 6.62x |
| Fife | 3 | 3.00x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 0.53x |
| Bedfordshire | 2 | 2.29x |
| Monmouthshire | 2 | 1.64x |
| Inverness-shire | 1 | 1.98x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.44x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.44x |
| Pembrokeshire | 1 | 1.86x |
| Roxburghshire | 1 | 3.27x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.24x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 0.67x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blackburn in Lancashire leads with 14 Tools recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.28x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Tool surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Tool surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Tool households.
FAQ
In 1881, 173 people were recorded with the Tool surname. That placed it at #14,112 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 6 in 2016. That gives Tool a modern rank of #38,110.
An occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of tools or implements.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Tool bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.