NameCensus.

UK surname

Tooze

A locational surname derived from a place name in England.

In the 1881 census there were 292 people recorded with the Tooze surname, ranking it #9,912 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 765, ranked #7,175, up from #9,912 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Holcombe Rogus. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Taunton Deane, Neath Port Talbot and Mid Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tooze is 810 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 162.0%.

1881 census count

292

Ranked #9,912

Modern count

765

2016, ranked #7,175

Peak year

2000

810 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tooze had 292 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,912 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 765 in 2016, ranked #7,175.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 568 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tooze surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tooze surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tooze 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 169 #11,832
1861 historical 155 #14,881
1881 historical 292 #9,912
1891 historical 334 #10,198
1901 historical 511 #7,936
1911 historical 568 #7,120
1997 modern 800 #6,538
1998 modern 786 #6,855
1999 modern 807 #6,741
2000 modern 810 #6,707
2001 modern 775 #6,815
2002 modern 792 #6,833
2003 modern 765 #6,904
2004 modern 763 #6,935
2005 modern 750 #6,960
2006 modern 730 #7,132
2007 modern 733 #7,186
2008 modern 736 #7,214
2009 modern 772 #7,081
2010 modern 796 #7,061
2011 modern 785 #7,060
2012 modern 761 #7,148
2013 modern 767 #7,209
2014 modern 774 #7,186
2015 modern 772 #7,143
2016 modern 765 #7,175

Geography

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Where Toozes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Holcombe Rogus, Lambeth and St Woollos (incl. Newport). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Taunton Deane, Neath Port Talbot, Mid Devon and East Devon. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Holcombe Rogus Somerset
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St Woollos (incl. Newport) Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Taunton Deane 013 Taunton Deane
2 Taunton Deane 012 Taunton Deane
3 Neath Port Talbot 018 Neath Port Talbot
4 Mid Devon 006 Mid Devon
5 East Devon 018 East Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tooze

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tooze

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Tooze 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

Tooze is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tooze falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Tooze

The surname Tooze is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "toze," which means "shaggy-haired" or "unkempt." It is likely that the name was initially given as a nickname to someone with a disheveled appearance or unruly hair.

The Tooze surname is believed to have emerged in the counties of Gloucestershire and Somerset in the southwest of England during the 13th century. These regions were home to some of the earliest recorded instances of the name, with various spellings such as Tooce, Toose, and Towse appearing in medieval records.

One of the earliest known references to the Tooze name can be found in the Feet of Fines records for Somerset in 1285, which mentions a William Tooce. The Feet of Fines were legal documents used to record land transactions and property disputes in medieval England.

Another notable mention of the name occurs in the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1327, where a Robert Tooce is listed as a taxpayer in the village of Painswick. These rolls were records of taxes levied on the population, providing valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of surnames in different regions.

Throughout the centuries, several individuals bearing the Tooze surname have left their mark on history. One such figure was Sir John Tooze (1564-1629), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Taunton in Somerset during the reign of King James I.

Another notable Tooze was William Tooze (1700-1774), a renowned English clockmaker from Devizes in Wiltshire. His exquisitely crafted clocks and watches were highly sought after by the nobility and gentry of his time, and some of his works can still be found in museums and private collections.

In the literary world, Amy Tooze (1854-1935) was a British writer and poet who authored several works of fiction and poetry, including "The Fairy Grotto" and "The Legend of the White Rose." Her writings often explored themes of nature and folklore, reflecting her deep connection to the English countryside.

During the 20th century, Robert Tooze (1920-2008) made significant contributions to the field of economics. A renowned economist and professor at the University of Cambridge, he published numerous influential works on international trade and economic development, shaping the discourse on global economic policies.

While the surname Tooze may not be as widespread as some others, it has a rich history deeply rooted in the counties of southwestern England. Its origins as a descriptive nickname and its presence in medieval records provide a fascinating glimpse into the lives and stories of those who bore this name throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tooze families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tooze 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. Devon leads with 83 Toozes recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.00x.

County Total Index
Devon 83 14.00x
Somerset 75 16.36x
Gloucestershire 56 10.02x
Surrey 23 1.66x
Monmouthshire 14 6.80x
Lancashire 8 0.24x
Sussex 7 1.46x
Worcestershire 7 1.88x
Dorset 6 3.21x
Cornwall 3 0.93x
Warwickshire 3 0.42x
Glamorgan 2 0.40x
Oxfordshire 2 1.14x
Berkshire 1 0.47x
Kent 1 0.10x
Middlesex 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holcombe Rogus in Devon leads with 34 Toozes recorded in 1881 and an index of 4722.22x.

Place Total Index
Holcombe Rogus 34 4722.22x
Wellington 20 321.54x
Lambeth 17 6.84x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 14 26.62x
Bristol St James In 13 158.15x
Clifton 10 35.41x
Littleham 10 230.95x
Ashbrittle 9 2432.43x
St Woollos 8 34.81x
Burlescombe 7 864.20x
Hockworthy 7 2333.33x
Salford 7 7.04x
Selsey 7 795.45x
Taunton St James 7 104.63x
Bridgewater 6 48.19x
Horfield 6 106.76x
Westbury On Trym 6 31.70x
Worcester Blockhouse 6 294.12x
Exeter St Thomas The 5 82.78x
Shilling Okeford 5 909.09x
Shobrooke 5 793.65x
West Harptree 5 1086.96x
Compton Martin 4 1000.00x
East Harptree 4 625.00x
Exeter St Edmund 4 312.50x
Trevethin 4 20.57x
Bedminster 3 6.96x
Bristol St Paul In 3 20.16x
Chard 3 54.05x
Keynsham 3 91.19x
Perranarworthal 3 277.78x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 5.23x
Taunton St Mary 3 35.63x
Wilnecote 3 145.63x
Bathwick 2 39.45x
Camberwell 2 1.10x
East Stonehouse 2 17.12x
Hempstead 2 294.12x
Kingston 2 217.39x
Risca 2 51.55x
St John Near Swansea 2 32.63x
Tiverton 2 19.59x
Bath St James 1 20.92x
Bristol St Augustine 1 11.10x
Brushford 1 312.50x
Butleigh 1 133.33x
Charlbury 1 50.76x
Ilfracombe 1 16.39x
Kenton 1 53.48x
Lifton 1 69.93x
Manchester 1 0.66x
Mortlake 1 16.16x
New Windsor 1 13.91x
Newland 1 21.32x
Newton Abbot St Mary 1 20.12x
Oxford St Thomas 1 12.18x
Paddington London 1 0.95x
Stawley 1 666.67x
Stoke Damerel 1 2.41x
Thornford 1 250.00x
Uffculme 1 56.50x
Upton Pyne 1 250.00x
Westerham 1 44.64x
Worcester St Martin 1 19.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Elizabeth 11
Emily 11
Eliza 7
Alice 6
Emma 5
Florence 5
Jane 5
Sarah 5
Annie 4
Ellen 4
Harriet 3
Jessie 3
Amelia 2
Ann 2
Bessie 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Eva 2
Laura 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Matilda 2
Aary 1
Ada 1
Amy 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Elen 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Harret 1
Hilda 1
Lillie 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Maria 1
Priscilla 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 24
John 16
Thomas 14
James 13
Alfred 7
Albert 6
Henry 6
Charles 5
Frederick 5
Samuel 5
Arthur 4
Mark 4
Edwin 3
Francis 3
Jesse 3
Richard 3
Walter 3
Edmund 2
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
George 2
Harry 2
Sidney 2
Stephen 2
Aaron 1
Antoinetta 1
Charley 1
Edwd. 1
Geo. 1
Herbert 1
Hy.T. 1
Joseph 1
Josiah 1
Michael 1
Oliver 1
Richd.J. 1
Robert 1
Samson 1
Thos. 1
Wm.James 1

FAQ

Tooze surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tooze surname in 1881?

In 1881, 292 people were recorded with the Tooze surname. That placed it at #9,912 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tooze surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 765 in 2016. That gives Tooze a modern rank of #7,175.

What does the Tooze surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in England.

What does the Tooze map show?

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