NameCensus.

UK surname

Tootell

An English surname derived from the Old English words "totu" meaning to project and "hyll" meaning hill.

In the 1881 census there were 380 people recorded with the Tootell surname, ranking it #8,249 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 473, ranked #10,409, down from #8,249 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to East Retford, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chorley and Bolton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tootell is 670 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.5%.

1881 census count

380

Ranked #8,249

Modern count

473

2016, ranked #10,409

Peak year

1911

670 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tootell had 380 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,249 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 473 in 2016, ranked #10,409.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 670 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Tootell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tootell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tootell 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 356 #6,636
1861 historical 278 #8,998
1881 historical 380 #8,249
1891 historical 489 #7,570
1901 historical 615 #6,942
1911 historical 670 #6,291
1997 modern 506 #9,218
1998 modern 533 #9,135
1999 modern 542 #9,079
2000 modern 530 #9,211
2001 modern 533 #9,013
2002 modern 537 #9,150
2003 modern 537 #8,997
2004 modern 533 #9,071
2005 modern 531 #9,034
2006 modern 516 #9,258
2007 modern 513 #9,393
2008 modern 492 #9,771
2009 modern 502 #9,818
2010 modern 510 #9,899
2011 modern 507 #9,854
2012 modern 496 #9,921
2013 modern 497 #10,063
2014 modern 496 #10,124
2015 modern 493 #10,100
2016 modern 473 #10,409

Geography

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Where Tootells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around East Retford, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Manchester, Preston and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chorley and Bolton. 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 East Retford Nottinghamshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Preston Lancashire
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chorley 012 Chorley
2 Chorley 006 Chorley
3 Chorley 014 Chorley
4 Chorley 010 Chorley
5 Bolton 006 Bolton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tootell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tootell

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Tootell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Tootell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Tootell is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tootell is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tootell falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tootell 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
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Tootell

The surname TOOTELL has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "tot" meaning "a look-out place" and "hyll" meaning "a hill." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone living near a hilltop vantage point or lookout.

The earliest known record of the name appears in the Rotuli Hundredorum, a census of landowners in England compiled in the years 1272-1273. Here, the name is spelled "Tothull." Other early variations of the spelling include "Toothill," "Tothyl," and "Tothill."

In the 16th century, the name TOOTELL appears in the records of Cheshire, an English county bordering Wales. This area was likely the original homeland of the family, with the name possibly referring to a specific place name or landmark.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name is John Tootell, who was born in Cheshire around 1520. He is mentioned in the parish records of Bunbury, a village in the county.

Another notable figure is Richard Tootell, a Catholic priest who lived in the 17th century during the English Reformation. He was born in Cheshire in 1594 and became a prominent figure in the Catholic mission to England, eventually being imprisoned for his religious beliefs.

In the 18th century, the name TOOTELL can be found in the records of Lancashire, a county neighboring Cheshire. One example is Thomas Tootell, a merchant who was born in Preston, Lancashire in 1728.

Moving into the 19th century, John Tootell was a notable civil engineer who was born in Lancashire in 1828. He worked on various railway projects and was involved in the construction of the Manchester Ship Canal.

Another significant figure is William Tootell, a British artist and painter who was born in Lancashire in 1867. He is known for his landscapes and portraits, with several of his works being held in public collections.

Overall, the surname TOOTELL has a long history in the north-western counties of England, particularly Cheshire and Lancashire. Its origins can be traced back to the medieval period, and it has been associated with various notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tootell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tootell 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 263 Tootells recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.01x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 263 6.01x
Nottinghamshire 39 7.85x
Devon 17 2.21x
Kent 16 1.27x
Middlesex 10 0.27x
Cheshire 7 0.86x
Sussex 6 0.97x
Yorkshire 6 0.16x
Surrey 3 0.17x
Wiltshire 3 0.92x
Dorset 2 0.83x
Hertfordshire 2 0.79x
Durham 1 0.09x
Gloucestershire 1 0.14x
Inverness-shire 1 0.91x
Worcestershire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chorley in Lancashire leads with 104 Tootells recorded in 1881 and an index of 423.63x.

Place Total Index
Chorley 104 423.63x
Accrington 27 67.87x
Great Bolton 26 44.86x
Blackburn 21 18.04x
East Retford 18 417.63x
Maidstone 9 24.02x
Carlton 8 141.09x
Little Bolton 8 14.22x
Newton 8 23.72x
Standish With Langtree 8 148.42x
Livesey 7 91.15x
Manchester 7 3.56x
Brighton 6 4.78x
Nottingham St Mary 6 4.67x
Pendleton In Salford 6 11.51x
Sevenoaks 6 58.82x
Snenton 6 30.72x
Tonge With Haulgh 6 70.42x
Adlington 5 121.95x
Breightmet 5 260.42x
Exeter Allhallows On The 5 396.83x
Halliwell 5 31.41x
Withycombe Rawleigh 5 125.00x
Castleton 4 9.15x
Halifax 4 7.46x
Northwich 4 307.69x
Paddington London 4 2.95x
Bromley London 3 3.70x
Camberwell 3 1.27x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 4.32x
Exeter St Sidwell 3 17.06x
Exeter St Thomas The 3 38.36x
Marlborough St Mary Virgin 3 130.43x
Aspull 2 19.44x
Edgware 2 194.17x
Monks Coppenhall 2 6.51x
Oswaldtwistle 2 12.94x
Preston 2 1.71x
Walton Le Dale 2 17.01x
Ardwick 1 2.53x
Berkhampstead 1 17.51x
Boleskine Abertarff 1 54.64x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 4.15x
Chetnole 1 322.58x
Doddleston 1 270.27x
Dudley 1 1.71x
Exeter St Olave 1 101.01x
Gravesend 1 9.39x
Heath Charnock 1 86.21x
Hindley 1 5.36x
Islington London 1 0.28x
Leyland 1 13.14x
Lillington 1 555.56x
Lythe 1 68.49x
Pollards Land 1 129.87x
Rumworth 1 16.00x
Sheffield 1 0.86x
Watford 1 5.07x
West Retford 1 97.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 34
Elizabeth 20
Sarah 16
Ellen 14
Ann 11
Margaret 10
Alice 7
Emma 6
Annie 5
Esther 5
Jane 5
Hannah 4
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Clara 3
Eliza 3
Ada 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Martha 2
Nancy 2
Susannah 2
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Charlotte 1
Doris 1
Ethel 1
Florance 1
Frances 1
Gartrund 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Katey 1
Katie 1
Laura 1
Lauretta 1
Letitia 1
Louisa 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Nannie 1
Olger 1
Rachel 1
Winiefred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 25
John 24
James 19
Thomas 15
Henry 12
Richard 12
Joseph 8
Charles 7
George 6
Alfred 5
Edward 5
Robert 4
Frederick 3
Francis 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Walter 2
Abram 1
Adam 1
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Ebenezer 1
Edwin 1
Enoch 1
Ernest 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Hugh 1
Israel 1
Joel 1
Lawrence 1
Mark 1
Mary 1
Matthew 1
Oscar 1
Oswald 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Ralph 1
Reuben 1
Richd.J. 1
Thos. 1
Wilfred 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Tootell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tootell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 380 people were recorded with the Tootell surname. That placed it at #8,249 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tootell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 473 in 2016. That gives Tootell a modern rank of #10,409.

What does the Tootell surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English words "totu" meaning to project and "hyll" meaning hill.

What does the Tootell map show?

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