NameCensus.

UK surname

Torok

A Hungarian surname derived from the Turkish word for "Turk," likely referring to an ancestor's ethnic origins.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, Lewisham and Waltham Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Torok is 241 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

241

2016, ranked #17,233

Peak year

2016

241 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 241 in 2016, ranked #17,233.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Torok surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Torok surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Torok 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
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1997 modern 56 #32,004
1998 modern 63 #31,639
1999 modern 64 #31,692
2000 modern 67 #31,473
2001 modern 65 #31,501
2002 modern 61 #32,286
2003 modern 60 #32,446
2004 modern 67 #31,976
2005 modern 80 #30,842
2006 modern 88 #30,160
2007 modern 100 #28,669
2008 modern 122 #25,638
2009 modern 147 #23,248
2010 modern 168 #21,733
2011 modern 163 #21,983
2012 modern 214 #18,358
2013 modern 227 #17,922
2014 modern 231 #17,813
2015 modern 231 #17,733
2016 modern 241 #17,233

Geography

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Where Toroks 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 Bradford, Lewisham, Waltham Forest, Wiltshire and Pembrokeshire. 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 Bradford 019 Bradford
2 Lewisham 003 Lewisham
3 Waltham Forest 027 Waltham Forest
4 Wiltshire 049 Wiltshire
5 Pembrokeshire 016 Pembrokeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Torok

These lists show first names that appear often with the Torok 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 Torok

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Torok 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

Torok 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

Torok falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Torok 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Torok

The surname Torok is of Hungarian origin, with its roots tracing back to the 13th century. The name is derived from the Hungarian word "török," which means "Turk" or "Turkish." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to individuals who had some connection with the Turkish people or culture.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Rationes Collectorum Papalis, a collection of papal tax records from the 14th century. This document mentions a certain "Johannes dictus Turk" from the town of Szentkirály (now in Romania) in 1332, which is likely an early variant of the surname Torok.

In the 15th century, the name appears in a document from the town of Hódmezővásárhely in southern Hungary, where a man named "Stephanus Turk" is mentioned in 1456. This spelling variation further reinforces the connection between the surname and the word "török."

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Torok became more widespread in various regions of the Kingdom of Hungary, which at the time included parts of present-day Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and Serbia. One notable bearer of the name was István Török (1551-1619), a Hungarian nobleman and military commander who played a significant role in the Long Turkish War against the Ottoman Empire.

Another prominent figure with the surname Torok was Miklós Török (1585-1632), a Hungarian nobleman and military leader who served as the Lord Lieutenant of Zemplén County in northeastern Hungary. He is remembered for his role in the Thirty Years' War and his support for the Reformation in Hungary.

In the 18th century, the surname Torok can be found in records from the town of Makó in southeastern Hungary, where a family with that name held significant landholdings. One member of this family was János Török (1727-1810), a renowned poet and translator who played a significant role in the development of Hungarian literature.

As the surname spread across Hungary and beyond, variations in spelling emerged, such as Török, Toroek, and Torok. These variations reflect the different ways the name was transcribed and pronounced in various regions and dialects.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Torok surname: questions and answers

How common is the Torok surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 241 in 2016. That gives Torok a modern rank of #17,233.

What does the Torok surname mean?

A Hungarian surname derived from the Turkish word for "Turk," likely referring to an ancestor's ethnic origins.

What does the Torok map show?

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