NameCensus.

UK surname

Tough

A descriptive surname referring to someone with a strong, hardy, or resilient nature.

In the 1881 census there were 1,159 people recorded with the Tough surname, ranking it #3,459 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,662, ranked #3,753, down from #3,459 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Banchory-Ternan, Edinburgh and Greenock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West End South, Stockethill and Banchory-Devenick and Findon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tough is 1,711 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.4%.

1881 census count

1,159

Ranked #3,459

Modern count

1,662

2016, ranked #3,753

Peak year

2010

1,711 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tough had 1,159 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,459 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,662 in 2016, ranked #3,753.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,539 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Tough surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tough surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Tough 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 774 #3,455
1861 historical 858 #3,225
1881 historical 1,159 #3,459
1891 historical 1,223 #3,516
1901 historical 1,539 #3,346
1911 historical 393 #9,408
1997 modern 1,604 #3,694
1998 modern 1,658 #3,714
1999 modern 1,682 #3,692
2000 modern 1,675 #3,690
2001 modern 1,641 #3,688
2002 modern 1,661 #3,716
2003 modern 1,617 #3,727
2004 modern 1,637 #3,697
2005 modern 1,636 #3,662
2006 modern 1,660 #3,620
2007 modern 1,670 #3,628
2008 modern 1,693 #3,610
2009 modern 1,705 #3,655
2010 modern 1,711 #3,734
2011 modern 1,697 #3,705
2012 modern 1,601 #3,844
2013 modern 1,642 #3,826
2014 modern 1,666 #3,795
2015 modern 1,669 #3,753
2016 modern 1,662 #3,753

Geography

Back to top

Where Toughs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Banchory-Ternan, Edinburgh, Greenock, Glasgow and Belhelvie. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West End South, Stockethill, Banchory-Devenick and Findon, Inverurie North and Brechin East. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Banchory-Ternan Kincardine
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Greenock Renfrew
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Belhelvie Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West End South Aberdeen City
2 Stockethill Aberdeen City
3 Banchory-Devenick and Findon Aberdeenshire
4 Inverurie North Aberdeenshire
5 Brechin East Angus

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Tough

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Tough

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tough, 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 Tough surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Tough 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, Tough 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

Tough 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

Tough falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Tough

The surname "Tough" is believed to have originated in Scotland, where it was derived from the Old English word "toh," meaning "tenacious" or "resilient." It is thought to have first emerged as a descriptive surname in the 12th or 13th century, used to refer to individuals who were known for their strength, toughness, or perseverance.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname "Tough" can be traced back to the 16th century in various Scottish records and documents. For example, a William Tough is mentioned in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland in 1572, while a John Tough appears in the Commissariot Record of St. Andrews in 1599.

Over the centuries, the name has been found in various spellings, such as "Toughe," "Toug," and "Towch," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling that were common in earlier times. Additionally, the surname may have been influenced by place names or locations associated with the word "tough," such as the village of Tough in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Notable individuals with the surname "Tough" include Sir William Tough (1566-1635), a Scottish merchant and landowner who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1628 to 1630. Another prominent figure was John Tough (1768-1838), a Scottish minister and writer who authored several works on religious subjects.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the name "Tough" began to spread beyond Scotland as members of the family migrated to other parts of the British Isles and around the world. For instance, James Tough (1808-1892) was a Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

Other notable individuals with the surname include William Tough (1826-1904), an English architect and surveyor known for his work on various churches and public buildings in London, and John Tough (1859-1932), a Scottish-born Australian politician who served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.

Throughout its history, the surname "Tough" has maintained its association with resilience, strength, and endurance, reflecting the qualities embodied by its earliest bearers. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Scotland, the name has since spread across the globe, carried by individuals and families who have left their mark in various fields and endeavors.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Tough families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tough 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 527 Toughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 50.64x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 527 50.64x
Midlothian 62 4.12x
Angus 61 5.86x
Kincardineshire 52 38.00x
Lanarkshire 49 1.35x
Banffshire 39 16.73x
Surrey 38 0.69x
Middlesex 35 0.31x
Renfrewshire 27 3.10x
Stirlingshire 27 6.51x
Northumberland 26 1.56x
Durham 24 0.72x
Yorkshire 21 0.19x
Morayshire 20 11.45x
Fife 18 2.71x
Northamptonshire 18 1.70x
Lancashire 15 0.11x
Berwickshire 8 5.88x
Gloucestershire 8 0.36x
Caithness 7 4.55x
Dunbartonshire 7 2.32x
Kent 7 0.18x
Cheshire 6 0.24x
Hampshire 6 0.26x
Perthshire 5 0.99x
Staffordshire 5 0.13x
Berkshire 4 0.47x
Cumberland 3 0.31x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.29x
Devon 2 0.09x
East Lothian 2 1.34x
Inverness-shire 2 0.60x
Kinross-shire 2 7.04x
Warwickshire 2 0.07x
West Lothian 2 1.18x
Wigtownshire 2 1.34x
Ayrshire 1 0.12x
Derbyshire 1 0.06x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.40x
Essex 1 0.05x
Hertfordshire 1 0.13x
Nairnshire 1 2.92x
Ross-shire 1 0.32x
Roxburghshire 1 0.49x
Royal Navy 1 0.75x
Somerset 1 0.06x
Sussex 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen St Nicholas in Aberdeenshire leads with 135 Toughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 69.33x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen St Nicholas 135 69.33x
Aberdeen Old Machar 109 50.16x
Banchory Ternan 37 312.76x
Auchindoir Kearn 32 547.95x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 22 3.63x
Forgue 19 203.21x
Glasgow 18 2.79x
Bishopwearmouth 17 5.92x
Leeds 15 2.39x
Barnwell St Andrew 14 1414.14x
North Leith 14 20.09x
Dundee 13 3.34x
Govan 13 1.45x
West Greenock 12 7.68x
Forfar 11 19.51x
Keith 11 44.27x
Newhills 11 51.62x
Culsalmond 10 312.50x
Duddingston 10 33.09x
Dunipace 10 137.93x
Foveran 10 126.90x
Rothes 10 117.37x
Tullynessle Forbes 10 261.78x
Westminster St 10 24.14x
Alford 9 158.73x
Belhelvie 9 126.40x
Bermondsey 9 2.69x
Denny 9 40.82x
Drumoak 9 251.40x
Egham 9 26.77x
Insch 9 152.03x
Montrose 9 14.27x
Mortlach 9 79.09x
Premnay 9 251.40x
South Leith 9 5.31x
Kennethmont 8 206.72x
Skene 8 115.94x
Udny 8 126.78x
Banchory Devenick 7 54.77x
Barnes 7 30.22x
Cambusnethan 7 8.67x
Canisbay 7 69.31x
East Greenock 7 8.51x
Ferry Port On Craig 7 63.99x
Fordyce 7 41.74x
Holy Island 7 328.64x
Oyne 7 189.19x
Tweedmouth 7 33.57x
Aldershot 6 7.78x
Carmyllie 6 135.14x
Everton 6 1.41x
Fearn 6 491.80x
Keig 6 200.67x
Kilmalcolm 6 57.47x
Kincardine O Neil 6 80.75x
Liff Benvie 6 3.80x
St Ninians 6 14.61x
St Pancras London 6 0.66x
Washington 6 42.80x
Westbury On Trym 6 8.04x
Bromley London 5 2.02x
Clatt 5 287.36x
Fyvie 5 29.45x
Harborne 5 4.11x
Huntly 5 29.53x
Kemnay 5 79.24x
Kinellar 5 224.22x
King Edward 5 41.70x
Lambeth 5 0.51x
Lauder 5 66.49x
Logie Coldstone 5 143.27x
Mile End Old Town 5 2.82x
Peterculter 5 68.12x
Tough 5 190.11x
Elgin 4 11.78x
Maryculter 4 97.09x
Monymusk 4 89.69x
New Monkland 4 3.72x
Pendleton In Salford 4 2.52x
Walton On Thames 4 15.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 17
William 17
James 16
Alexander 9
George 7
Robert 6
David 5
Peter 4
Thomas 4
Alexr. 2
Arthur 2
Henry 2
Joseph 2
Albert 1
Alexader 1
Alix 1
Allen 1
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
Cyril 1
Douglas 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Frek. 1
Matthew 1
Richard 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Tough surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tough surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,159 people were recorded with the Tough surname. That placed it at #3,459 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tough surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,662 in 2016. That gives Tough a modern rank of #3,753.

What does the Tough surname mean?

A descriptive surname referring to someone with a strong, hardy, or resilient nature.

What does the Tough map show?

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