NameCensus.

UK surname

Tosh

Derived from the Middle English word "tosche," meaning a head covering or cap, likely referring to a maker or seller of such items.

In the 1881 census there were 673 people recorded with the Tosh surname, ranking it #5,361 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,080, ranked #5,407, down from #5,361 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Forfar, Arbroath and St. Vigeans and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hilltown, The Glens and Law.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tosh is 1,112 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 60.5%.

1881 census count

673

Ranked #5,361

Modern count

1,080

2016, ranked #5,407

Peak year

1999

1,112 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tosh had 673 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,361 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,080 in 2016, ranked #5,407.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 719 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Tosh surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tosh surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tosh 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 537 #4,693
1861 historical 512 #5,112
1881 historical 673 #5,361
1891 historical 674 #5,786
1901 historical 719 #6,142
1911 historical 88 #24,041
1997 modern 1,020 #5,401
1998 modern 1,084 #5,321
1999 modern 1,112 #5,249
2000 modern 1,077 #5,351
2001 modern 1,027 #5,470
2002 modern 1,062 #5,427
2003 modern 1,037 #5,438
2004 modern 1,035 #5,456
2005 modern 1,030 #5,415
2006 modern 1,044 #5,379
2007 modern 1,035 #5,456
2008 modern 1,044 #5,454
2009 modern 1,072 #5,438
2010 modern 1,075 #5,542
2011 modern 1,082 #5,450
2012 modern 1,043 #5,527
2013 modern 1,068 #5,518
2014 modern 1,081 #5,494
2015 modern 1,083 #5,418
2016 modern 1,080 #5,407

Geography

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Where Toshs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Forfar, Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Brechin. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hilltown, The Glens, Law, Blairgowrie West and Whitfield. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Forfar Forfar
2 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Brechin Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hilltown Dundee City
2 The Glens Dundee City
3 Law Dundee City
4 Blairgowrie West Perth and Kinross
5 Whitfield Dundee City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tosh

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tosh

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Tosh surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Tosh household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Tosh is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Tosh is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tosh falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Tosh

The surname Tosh is of Scottish origin, derived from the Old English word "tocc" meaning a tuft or lock of hair. It is believed to have originated as a nickname for someone with prominent tufts of hair or an unkempt appearance.

The earliest records of the name date back to the 13th century in Scotland, particularly in the regions of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire. In the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded the names of Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England, the name appears as "Thosc" and "Tosce".

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1333, which mention a "William Thosc". Another notable early bearer of the name was John Tosh, a Scottish landowner from Ayrshire, who was recorded in the Ragman Rolls in 1296.

The name Tosh is also associated with several place names in Scotland, such as Toshawhill and Toshiemure, which may have influenced the spelling and variations of the surname over time.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Tosh. One such figure was Sir John Tosh (1537-1607), a Scottish landowner and judge who served as a Lord of Session in the Court of Session in Scotland.

Another notable bearer of the name was Robert Tosh (1751-1832), a Scottish merchant and philanthropist from Glasgow, who made significant contributions to the city's development and funded the construction of the Tosh Church.

In the literary world, Penelope Tosh (1905-1982) was a British author and poet known for her works on rural life and nature. She was born in Gloucestershire and published several collections of poetry and novels during her lifetime.

In the field of academia, John Tosh (1939-2020) was a prominent British historian and professor at the University of Cambridge. He made significant contributions to the study of gender history and masculinity studies.

Finally, in the realm of music, Peter Tosh (1944-1987) was a renowned Jamaican reggae musician and a founding member of the influential band The Wailers, alongside Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer. He had a successful solo career and was known for his socially conscious lyrics and advocacy for civil rights and the legalization of marijuana.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tosh families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tosh 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. Angus leads with 295 Toshs recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.72x.

County Total Index
Angus 295 48.72x
Aberdeenshire 95 15.69x
Renfrewshire 38 7.50x
Midlothian 36 4.11x
Lanarkshire 35 1.66x
Fife 31 8.01x
Kincardineshire 22 27.64x
Perthshire 19 6.48x
Lancashire 12 0.15x
Inverness-shire 10 5.12x
Lincolnshire 10 0.96x
Middlesex 10 0.15x
Ayrshire 9 1.84x
Caithness 8 8.94x
Clackmannanshire 7 12.97x
Stirlingshire 6 2.49x
Durham 4 0.21x
Northumberland 4 0.41x
Yorkshire 4 0.06x
West Lothian 3 3.05x
Argyllshire 2 1.10x
Dunbartonshire 2 1.14x
Kent 2 0.09x
Wigtownshire 2 2.30x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.25x
Dorset 1 0.23x
Essex 1 0.08x
Hampshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 69 Toshs recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.53x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 69 30.53x
Forfar 33 100.64x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 28 24.72x
Brechin 26 109.29x
Arbroath 23 114.60x
Liff Benvie 21 22.85x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 19 5.39x
Barony 17 3.18x
Barry 17 233.84x
East Greenock 17 35.54x
St Vigeans 16 48.96x
Eassie Nevay 14 1111.11x
Kirriemuir 14 93.71x
Fearn 13 1830.99x
Fintray 13 562.77x
Aberdeen Old Machar 11 8.70x
Barrow In Furness 10 9.48x
Govan 10 1.91x
Inverness 10 20.37x
West Greenock 10 11.00x
Logie Buchan 9 520.23x
Newhills 8 64.57x
Carmyllie 7 271.32x
Durris 7 307.02x
Dyce 7 268.20x
Lochee 7 129.63x
Scunthorpe 7 148.94x
Wick 7 24.22x
Alloa 6 22.92x
Anstruther Wester 6 397.35x
Auchtermuchty 6 115.38x
Edinburgh Canongate 6 26.93x
Inverkeillor 6 160.00x
Kilmalcolm 6 98.85x
Kirkden 6 158.31x
Perth East Church 6 21.69x
Clunie 5 384.62x
Dunfermline 5 8.40x
Logie 5 47.53x
Port Glasgow 5 20.42x
Stonehouse 5 69.74x
Bishopwearmouth 4 2.40x
Duddingston 4 22.75x
Kilrenny 4 55.87x
Maryculter 4 166.67x
North Leith 4 9.87x
Old Cumnock 4 36.73x
St Cyrus 4 120.12x
St Pancras London 4 0.76x
Strathmartine 4 149.25x
Tynemouth 4 7.68x
Bervie 3 63.56x
Burntisland 3 27.73x
Burton Upon Stather 3 225.56x
Dunnichen 3 94.04x
Falkirk 3 5.32x
Glenmuick Tullich 3 68.81x
Heeley 3 15.24x
Hornsey 3 3.63x
Huntly 3 30.46x
Tannadice 3 106.38x
Beith 2 13.70x
Ellon 2 24.04x
Forgan 2 26.99x
Glamis 2 54.79x
Glasgow 2 0.53x
Inveresk 2 8.44x
Kinghorn 2 24.36x
Manchester 2 0.57x
Montrose 2 5.45x
Queensferry 2 83.33x
Stranraer 2 25.19x
Torsay 2 800.00x
Udny 2 54.50x
Arbuthnott 1 55.25x
Careston 1 227.27x
Cupar 1 5.94x
Errol 1 18.42x
New Deer 1 9.12x
Wareham St Martin 1 60.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alice 2
Annie 2
Elizabeth 2
Isabella 2
Jane 2
Margaret 2
Mary 2
Bella 1
Betrice 1
Clara 1
Dorothy 1
Elizbth. 1
Ellen 1
Georgina 1
Georgine 1
Leonona 1
Nilian 1
Rosie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 3
James 3
William 3
Alexander 2
Alfred 2
Charles 2
David 2
Abraham 1
Andrew 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Infant 1
Joseph 1
Peter 1
Robert 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 Tosh households.

FAQ

Tosh surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tosh surname in 1881?

In 1881, 673 people were recorded with the Tosh surname. That placed it at #5,361 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tosh surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,080 in 2016. That gives Tosh a modern rank of #5,407.

What does the Tosh surname mean?

Derived from the Middle English word "tosche," meaning a head covering or cap, likely referring to a maker or seller of such items.

What does the Tosh map show?

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