NameCensus.

UK surname

Tossell

In the 1881 census there were 138 people recorded with the Tossell surname, ranking it #16,292 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 310, ranked #14,406, up from #16,292 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bratton Fleming, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bridgend, North Devon and Neath Port Talbot.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tossell is 382 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 124.6%.

1881 census count

138

Ranked #16,292

Modern count

310

2016, ranked #14,406

Peak year

1998

382 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tossell had 138 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,292 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 310 in 2016, ranked #14,406.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 338 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Tossell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tossell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tossell 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 132 #14,174
1861 historical 117 #18,635
1881 historical 138 #16,292
1891 historical 201 #14,866
1901 historical 256 #12,934
1911 historical 338 #10,521
1997 modern 356 #12,021
1998 modern 382 #11,779
1999 modern 372 #12,076
2000 modern 346 #12,670
2001 modern 341 #12,588
2002 modern 338 #12,939
2003 modern 337 #12,759
2004 modern 346 #12,544
2005 modern 344 #12,521
2006 modern 342 #12,652
2007 modern 343 #12,773
2008 modern 337 #13,068
2009 modern 349 #12,995
2010 modern 342 #13,440
2011 modern 342 #13,314
2012 modern 311 #14,173
2013 modern 319 #14,141
2014 modern 314 #14,371
2015 modern 316 #14,214
2016 modern 310 #14,406

Geography

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Where Tossells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bratton Fleming, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, London parishes, Margam and Tottenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bridgend, North Devon, Neath Port Talbot and Plymouth. 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 Bratton Fleming Devon
2 Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton Devon
3 London parishes London 3
4 Margam Glamorganshire
5 Tottenham Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bridgend 008 Bridgend
2 Bridgend 010 Bridgend
3 North Devon 012 North Devon
4 Neath Port Talbot 019 Neath Port Talbot
5 Plymouth 013 Plymouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tossell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tossell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tossell, 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 Tossell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Tossell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Tossell is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tossell 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

Tossell 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 Tossell 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 Tossell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Tossell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tossell 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 60 Tossells recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.26x.

County Total Index
Devon 60 21.26x
Middlesex 27 1.99x
Kent 16 3.46x
Glamorgan 11 4.66x
Somerset 11 5.04x
Surrey 8 1.21x
Durham 2 0.50x
Yorkshire 2 0.15x
Norfolk 1 0.48x
Royal Navy 1 6.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tottenham in Middlesex leads with 11 Tossells recorded in 1881 and an index of 50.95x.

Place Total Index
Tottenham 11 50.95x
Blagdon 10 2173.91x
Arlington 8 7272.73x
Barnstaple 7 158.01x
Bratton Fleming 7 2916.67x
Paracombe 7 3888.89x
Chislehurst 6 241.94x
Hackney London 6 7.89x
Margam 6 228.14x
Pilton 6 645.16x
Stonehouse East 6 419.58x
Marwood 5 1351.35x
Newington 5 9.98x
Coedfrank 4 243.90x
Frindsbury 4 229.89x
Kensington London 4 5.31x
Folkestone 3 33.44x
Westminster St 3 60.00x
East Hartburn 2 1176.47x
Loxhore 2 2000.00x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 9.20x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 7.33x
Swimbridge 2 350.88x
Tiverton 2 41.15x
Winkleigh 2 350.88x
Ashreigney 1 322.58x
Bexley 1 24.45x
Bideford 1 33.11x
Burrington 1 476.19x
Camberwell 1 1.15x
Clase 1 11.39x
Devonport 1 30.86x
Exeter St David 1 41.49x
Glandford Cum Bayfield 1 2000.00x
Hornsey 1 5.83x
Howden 1 109.89x
Lofthouse 1 49.75x
Mile End New Town 1 54.05x
Minster In Sheppey 1 13.05x
Plumstead 1 6.49x
Royal Navy 1 7.24x
St George Hanover 1 5.65x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Tossell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tossell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 138 people were recorded with the Tossell surname. That placed it at #16,292 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tossell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 310 in 2016. That gives Tossell a modern rank of #14,406.

What does the Tossell map show?

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