NameCensus.

UK surname

Toor

A Punjabi surname derived from the Sanskrit word "Tura" meaning a hill or mountain.

In the 1881 census there were 7 people recorded with the Toor surname, ranking it #32,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 835, ranked #6,674, up from #32,765 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Derby, Hounslow and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Toor is 882 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11828.6%.

1881 census count

7

Ranked #32,765

Modern count

835

2016, ranked #6,674

Peak year

2010

882 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Toor had 7 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,765 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 835 in 2016, ranked #6,674.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 30 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Toor surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Toor surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Toor 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 30 #27,891
1861 historical 29 #30,287
1881 historical 7 #32,765
1891 historical 18 #32,706
1901 historical 30 #30,724
1911 historical 8 #32,903
1997 modern 507 #9,204
1998 modern 554 #8,876
1999 modern 596 #8,475
2000 modern 627 #8,163
2001 modern 618 #8,104
2002 modern 685 #7,643
2003 modern 727 #7,169
2004 modern 754 #6,995
2005 modern 754 #6,928
2006 modern 768 #6,857
2007 modern 797 #6,713
2008 modern 835 #6,522
2009 modern 866 #6,478
2010 modern 882 #6,500
2011 modern 881 #6,435
2012 modern 818 #6,711
2013 modern 830 #6,747
2014 modern 848 #6,672
2015 modern 847 #6,631
2016 modern 835 #6,674

Geography

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Where Toors are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Derby, Hounslow, Ealing and Wolverhampton. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Derby 022 Derby
2 Hounslow 010 Hounslow
3 Ealing 037 Ealing
4 Wolverhampton 035 Wolverhampton
5 Derby 021 Derby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Toor

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Toor

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

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Toor surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Toor household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Toor is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, 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 households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

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

Toor 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

Toor falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Toor 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
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Toor

The surname TOOR has its origins in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, where it is believed to have first emerged during the medieval era. It is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "tura," which means "swift" or "speedy," suggesting that the name may have initially been given to individuals who were known for their physical agility or swiftness.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name TOOR can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This text mentions a village named "Toor" located in the present-day state of Haryana, which may have served as the origin point for the surname.

In the 17th century, the TOOR name appears in several historical records from the Punjab region, including land ownership documents and tax records. One notable individual from this period was Bhai Toor Singh, a prominent Sikh military leader who fought against the Mughal Empire in the late 1600s.

As the centuries progressed, the TOOR surname continued to be found in various parts of the Punjab, with several notable individuals bearing the name. For example, Bhai Toor Singh Sangatpura (1786-1853) was a renowned Sikh scholar and poet, known for his contributions to Sikh literature and devotional poetry.

Another significant figure was Sardar Toor Singh Kanjla (1846-1910), a influential landowner and politician who played a crucial role in the establishment of the Khalsa College in Amritsar, one of the oldest educational institutions in the region.

In more recent history, Toor has also been a prominent name in the field of sports. Harbhajan Singh Toor (born 1994) is an Indian shot putter who has represented India in international competitions and won several medals, including a gold medal at the 2019 Asian Athletics Championships.

It is worth noting that while the TOOR surname is primarily concentrated in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan, it has also found its way to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, the historical roots and earliest documented instances of the name can be traced back to the Indian subcontinent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Toor families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Toor 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. Lancashire leads with 4 Toors recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.95x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 4 4.95x
Derbyshire 1 9.38x
Lincolnshire 1 9.19x
Middlesex 1 1.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 4 Toors recorded in 1881 and an index of 81.47x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 4 81.47x
Derby St Werburgh 1 161.29x
Great Grimsby 1 144.93x
Kensington London 1 26.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Bridget 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Benjimin 1
Edward 1
Frederick 1
John 1
W.Van 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 Toor households.

FAQ

Toor surname: questions and answers

How common was the Toor surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7 people were recorded with the Toor surname. That placed it at #32,765 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Toor surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 835 in 2016. That gives Toor a modern rank of #6,674.

What does the Toor surname mean?

A Punjabi surname derived from the Sanskrit word "Tura" meaning a hill or mountain.

What does the Toor map show?

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