NameCensus.

UK surname

Toovey

A surname derived from the Old French word "tuvé" meaning "round hill".

In the 1881 census there were 335 people recorded with the Toovey surname, ranking it #9,016 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 411, ranked #11,654, down from #9,016 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Amersham, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochford, Portsmouth and Havant.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Toovey is 445 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.7%.

1881 census count

335

Ranked #9,016

Modern count

411

2016, ranked #11,654

Peak year

1998

445 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Toovey had 335 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,016 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 411 in 2016, ranked #11,654.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 377 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Toovey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Toovey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Toovey 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 252 #8,733
1861 historical 166 #14,039
1881 historical 335 #9,016
1891 historical 327 #10,379
1901 historical 363 #10,145
1911 historical 377 #9,719
1997 modern 417 #10,674
1998 modern 445 #10,491
1999 modern 432 #10,827
2000 modern 437 #10,684
2001 modern 423 #10,757
2002 modern 411 #11,208
2003 modern 386 #11,544
2004 modern 381 #11,700
2005 modern 372 #11,813
2006 modern 367 #12,016
2007 modern 380 #11,820
2008 modern 376 #12,039
2009 modern 385 #12,070
2010 modern 393 #12,157
2011 modern 376 #12,416
2012 modern 385 #12,061
2013 modern 397 #11,988
2014 modern 412 #11,743
2015 modern 406 #11,781
2016 modern 411 #11,654

Geography

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Where Tooveys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Amersham, London parishes, Lambeth and Hambledon. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rochford, Portsmouth and Havant. 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 Amersham Buckinghamshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Hambledon Oxfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rochford 003 Rochford
2 Portsmouth 001 Portsmouth
3 Portsmouth 002 Portsmouth
4 Havant 008 Havant
5 Portsmouth 006 Portsmouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Toovey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Toovey

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

Ageing Communities

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

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Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Toovey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Toovey 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

Toovey falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Toovey

The surname Toovey has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "tun," meaning a town or settlement, and the suffix "-ey," indicating an island or a place surrounded by water. This suggests that the name may have originated from a place name referring to a settlement or town located on an island or near water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Toovey can be found in the Parish Records of Oxfordshire in 1564, where a certain John Toovey was mentioned. The name also appears in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Wiltshire in 1624, indicating the presence of the Toovey family in that region during that period.

In the 17th century, the name was also found in various parts of Somerset, with records showing a William Toovey being mentioned in the Parish Records of Winsham in 1634. The Somerset Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1642 also contain references to individuals with the surname Toovey.

While the name does not appear to be directly referenced in major historical records like the Domesday Book, its presence in various parish records and rolls from the 16th and 17th centuries suggests that the Toovey family had established roots in different parts of southern England during that time.

Notable individuals with the surname Toovey throughout history include:

1. Richard Toovey (1736-1810), an English clockmaker and inventor from Somerset, known for his contributions to the development of chronometers and precision timekeeping.

2. James Toovey (1814-1893), a British artist and engraver, renowned for his landscape paintings and etchings depicting rural scenes of England.

3. William Toovey (1826-1898), a prominent architect from Wiltshire who designed several churches and public buildings in the Gothic Revival style.

4. Edith Toovey (1879-1964), a British educator and philanthropist who founded several schools and educational institutions in London and the surrounding areas.

5. John Toovey (1901-1980), a British army officer who served in both World War I and World War II, receiving numerous honors and awards for his bravery and leadership.

While the surname Toovey may not be among the most widespread or well-known in the English-speaking world, its origins can be traced back to the 16th century, with evidence of its presence in various regions of southern England during that period and the centuries that followed.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Toovey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Toovey 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 65 Tooveys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.99x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 65 1.99x
Buckinghamshire 61 30.88x
Surrey 36 2.26x
Hampshire 28 4.18x
Oxfordshire 26 12.88x
Berkshire 18 7.34x
Kent 17 1.52x
Staffordshire 17 1.54x
Hertfordshire 15 6.66x
Worcestershire 14 3.28x
Cheshire 8 1.11x
Devon 7 1.03x
Wiltshire 6 2.08x
Yorkshire 5 0.15x
Warwickshire 3 0.36x
Derbyshire 2 0.39x
Northamptonshire 2 0.65x
Sussex 2 0.36x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.54x
Lancashire 1 0.03x
Somerset 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Amersham in Buckinghamshire leads with 20 Tooveys recorded in 1881 and an index of 714.29x.

Place Total Index
Amersham 20 714.29x
Kensington London 19 10.46x
Hammersmith London 18 22.36x
Lambeth 14 4.91x
Reading St Mary 12 61.07x
Watlington 11 531.40x
Deptford St Paul 10 11.63x
Great Marlow 10 187.62x
Kings Langley 10 609.76x
Portsea 10 7.62x
Abbotts Ann 9 1184.21x
Newton Blossomville 9 3103.45x
Aylesbury 8 91.43x
Darlaston 8 52.49x
Hambleden 8 473.37x
Romiley 8 394.09x
Hanbury 7 608.70x
Long Sutton 7 1944.44x
Plymouth Charles The 7 23.36x
Bromsgrove 6 41.78x
Putney 6 40.30x
Shiplake 6 869.57x
St Marylebone London 6 3.44x
Rushall 5 77.04x
Salisbury St Edmund 5 107.76x
Wandsworth 5 15.89x
Westminster St James 5 14.89x
York St Giles In 5 163.93x
Battersea 4 3.33x
Croydon 4 4.53x
Tilehurst 4 80.65x
Wycombe 4 27.16x
Hemel Hempstead 3 29.56x
Orpington 3 87.98x
Pyrton 3 476.19x
South Mimms 3 66.96x
Thame 3 81.74x
Wednesbury 3 10.88x
Abbots Langley 2 59.70x
Acton 2 10.44x
Chelsea London 2 2.03x
Fulham London 2 4.22x
Greenwich 2 3.84x
Hastings Holy Trinity 2 49.26x
Hendon 2 17.01x
Kingston On Thames 2 5.23x
Leamington Priors 2 9.86x
Stokenchurch 2 110.50x
Wellingborough 2 12.95x
Aldershot 1 4.46x
Bexley 1 10.14x
Birkdale 1 10.19x
Birmingham 1 0.36x
Chesham 1 13.74x
Coleshill 1 178.57x
Cowley 1 15.87x
Derby St Werburgh 1 3.39x
Dodderhill 1 54.95x
Doveridge 1 128.21x
Easthampstead 1 76.34x
Fisherton De La Mere 1 303.03x
Great Gransden 1 140.85x
Hanwell 1 17.27x
Islington London 1 0.32x
Lewisham 1 1.68x
Newington 1 0.83x
Paddington London 1 0.83x
Reading St Lawrence 1 19.05x
Romsey Extra 1 25.13x
Shadwell London 1 10.94x
St Luke London 1 1.91x
St Pancras London 1 0.38x
Walcot 1 3.57x
Wednesfield 1 6.16x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Toovey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Toovey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 335 people were recorded with the Toovey surname. That placed it at #9,016 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Toovey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 411 in 2016. That gives Toovey a modern rank of #11,654.

What does the Toovey surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old French word "tuvé" meaning "round hill".

What does the Toovey map show?

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