NameCensus.

UK surname

Tooley

Derived from a place name meaning "at the clearing" in Old English, or referring to a toolmaker.

In the 1881 census there were 1,035 people recorded with the Tooley surname, ranking it #3,800 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,160, ranked #5,089, down from #3,800 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Boston (incl. Boston allotments) and St John Hampstead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Teignbridge, Mid Suffolk and Allerdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tooley is 1,470 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.1%.

1881 census count

1,035

Ranked #3,800

Modern count

1,160

2016, ranked #5,089

Peak year

1911

1,470 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tooley had 1,035 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,800 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,160 in 2016, ranked #5,089.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,470 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tooley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tooley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tooley 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 685 #3,796
1861 historical 600 #4,419
1881 historical 1,035 #3,800
1891 historical 1,166 #3,668
1901 historical 1,415 #3,575
1911 historical 1,470 #3,279
1997 modern 1,200 #4,707
1998 modern 1,251 #4,715
1999 modern 1,243 #4,772
2000 modern 1,253 #4,726
2001 modern 1,223 #4,728
2002 modern 1,230 #4,800
2003 modern 1,188 #4,850
2004 modern 1,160 #4,961
2005 modern 1,165 #4,884
2006 modern 1,185 #4,822
2007 modern 1,169 #4,919
2008 modern 1,172 #4,928
2009 modern 1,216 #4,886
2010 modern 1,222 #4,960
2011 modern 1,204 #4,954
2012 modern 1,171 #5,010
2013 modern 1,188 #5,033
2014 modern 1,182 #5,089
2015 modern 1,170 #5,082
2016 modern 1,160 #5,089

Geography

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Where Tooleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Boston (incl. Boston allotments), St John Hampstead and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Teignbridge, Mid Suffolk and Allerdale. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Boston (incl. Boston allotments) Lincolnshire
4 St John Hampstead London (North Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Teignbridge 010 Teignbridge
2 Mid Suffolk 003 Mid Suffolk
3 Allerdale 010 Allerdale
4 Teignbridge 006 Teignbridge
5 Teignbridge 008 Teignbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tooley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tooley

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tooley, 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 Tooley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Tooley 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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Tooley is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tooley is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tooley falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Tooley

The surname Tooley is of English origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "toll", which referred to a payment or tax. The name likely originated in areas where toll roads or bridges were located, such as in the counties of Kent and Surrey.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tooley can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1190, which mentions a Richard de Tolly. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also contain references to individuals with the surname Tooley, including a John de Tolli and a Walter Tolli.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records, including the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield from 1315, which listed a Thomas de Tolly. The Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379 also mentioned a John Tolly.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Tooley was particularly prevalent in the county of Kent. One notable individual was Robert Tooley (1582-1667), a prominent merchant and politician from Canterbury who served as the city's mayor in 1628.

Another noteworthy figure was Sir Thomas Tooley (1608-1675), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Canterbury in the 1660s. He was also a prominent supporter of the Royalist cause during the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, the name was associated with various locations, such as Tooley Street in Southwark, London, which was named after a family of builders and craftsmen who lived in the area. John Tooley (1732-1803) was a renowned English clockmaker from Southwark who gained recognition for his exceptional timepieces.

The 19th century saw the emergence of several notable individuals with the surname Tooley, including Sarah Tooley (1805-1875), an English author and poet known for her works on domestic life and moral instruction.

Another remarkable figure was William Tooley (1823-1891), a renowned English geographer and cartographer who published numerous atlases and maps, including the highly acclaimed "Tooley's County Atlases of the British Isles".

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tooley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tooley 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 185 Tooleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.83x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 185 1.83x
Norfolk 174 11.19x
Lincolnshire 89 5.50x
Surrey 89 1.81x
Oxfordshire 80 12.81x
Lancashire 43 0.36x
Buckinghamshire 38 6.21x
Kent 37 1.07x
Cheshire 33 1.48x
Devon 28 1.33x
Hertfordshire 26 3.73x
Yorkshire 26 0.26x
Warwickshire 25 0.98x
Suffolk 22 1.79x
Leicestershire 20 1.78x
Essex 19 0.95x
Nottinghamshire 14 1.03x
Durham 12 0.40x
Cornwall 9 0.79x
Staffordshire 9 0.26x
Bedfordshire 8 1.53x
Cumberland 8 0.92x
Gloucestershire 8 0.40x
Derbyshire 7 0.44x
Worcestershire 7 0.53x
Northamptonshire 4 0.42x
Herefordshire 3 0.72x
Somerset 3 0.18x
Wiltshire 3 0.34x
Berkshire 1 0.13x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.24x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.16x
Hampshire 1 0.05x
Royal Navy 1 0.83x
Rutland 1 1.35x
Shropshire 1 0.11x
Sussex 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 36 Tooleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.67x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 36 3.67x
Great Yarmouth 31 24.06x
Boston 30 61.14x
Algarkirk 22 1222.22x
Lambeth 19 2.15x
Camberwell 17 2.63x
Hampstead London 15 9.52x
Lower Bebington 15 113.04x
Banbury 14 111.91x
Chelsea London 14 4.59x
Wootton 14 374.33x
Newington 13 3.48x
Southwark St George Martyr 13 6.39x
St Pancras London 12 1.47x
Barking 11 18.83x
Boston Hall Hills 11 402.93x
Clerkenwell London 11 4.61x
Neithrop 11 52.41x
Belaugh 10 2083.33x
Claydon 10 862.07x
Croydon 10 3.65x
Deptford St Paul 10 3.76x
Mattishall 10 321.54x
Redenhall 10 165.56x
Alby 9 1011.24x
Birmingham 9 1.06x
Cheddington 9 348.84x
Foxley 9 1184.21x
Gainsborough 9 23.60x
Harberton 9 187.50x
Wapping London 9 116.43x
Wychwood 9 1216.22x
Bury St Edmunds St James 8 24.31x
Hyde 8 12.14x
Salhouse 8 366.97x
Wymondham 8 50.31x
Buckingham 7 56.27x
Bushey 7 42.17x
Hemblington 7 853.66x
Humberstone 7 76.00x
Liverpool 7 0.96x
Lower Swell 7 496.45x
Nether Whitacre 7 344.83x
North Walsham 7 62.39x
Oldham 7 1.81x
Southwark St Saviour 7 13.46x
St Luke London 7 4.31x
St Marylebone London 7 1.30x
St Paul Walden 7 198.30x
Stoke Climsland 7 95.76x
Westoe 7 4.10x
Aylesbury 6 22.14x
Bicester Market End 6 52.31x
Finchley 6 15.47x
Forncett St Peter 6 280.37x
Higher Bebington 6 41.99x
Horninglow 6 37.31x
Pitstone 6 368.10x
Poplar London 6 3.14x
Preston Quarter 6 24.58x
Shadwell London 6 21.19x
St George In East 6 8.72x
St Lawrence 6 25.28x
Stoke Newington London 6 7.62x
Westminster St John 6 4.87x
Worsbrough 6 20.43x
Basford 5 7.96x
Brixham 5 20.49x
Clippesby 5 1162.79x
Elvenden 5 462.96x
Leighton Buzzard 5 22.19x
Norwich St Julian 5 76.34x
Plumstead 5 4.35x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 3.08x
Saxlingham Thorpe 5 1000.00x
Stretton 5 229.36x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 1.52x
Batley 4 4.20x
Edlesborough 4 71.81x
Gorton 4 3.54x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 76
John 64
George 39
James 35
Thomas 28
Henry 22
Robert 18
Charles 16
Alfred 15
Walter 13
Richard 10
Edward 9
Albert 8
Ernest 8
Joseph 8
Harry 7
Arthur 6
Herbert 5
Horace 5
Samuel 5
Thos. 5
Frederick 4
David 3
Michael 3
Abraham 2
Benjamin 2
C. 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Hugh 2
Hy. 2
J. 2
Jas. 2
Jeremiah 2
Patsy 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Rodolph 2
Stephen 2
Chas. 1
Dan 1
Danile 1
Emanuel 1
Emmanuel 1
Ephraim 1
Freddy 1
Jeffery 1
Wm.Geo. 1

FAQ

Tooley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tooley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,035 people were recorded with the Tooley surname. That placed it at #3,800 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tooley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,160 in 2016. That gives Tooley a modern rank of #5,089.

What does the Tooley surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "at the clearing" in Old English, or referring to a toolmaker.

What does the Tooley map show?

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