NameCensus.

UK surname

Touray

A surname possibly of Gambian/Senegalese origin, derived from a village or place name.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Birmingham, Lewisham and Windsor and Maidenhead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Touray is 353 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

351

2016, ranked #13,127

Peak year

2014

353 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 351 in 2016, ranked #13,127.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Touray surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Touray surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Touray 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 2 #33,133
1861 historical 3 #33,861
1891 historical 3 #34,257
1997 modern 50 #32,658
1998 modern 56 #32,313
1999 modern 57 #32,367
2000 modern 65 #31,641
2001 modern 63 #31,693
2002 modern 94 #28,797
2003 modern 118 #25,146
2004 modern 139 #22,891
2005 modern 161 #20,799
2006 modern 190 #18,898
2007 modern 222 #17,288
2008 modern 249 #16,111
2009 modern 275 #15,349
2010 modern 296 #14,877
2011 modern 278 #15,390
2012 modern 322 #13,799
2013 modern 327 #13,868
2014 modern 353 #13,183
2015 modern 342 #13,396
2016 modern 351 #13,127

Geography

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Where Tourays 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 Birmingham, Lewisham and Windsor and Maidenhead. 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 Birmingham 043 Birmingham
2 Lewisham 003 Lewisham
3 Birmingham 049 Birmingham
4 Windsor and Maidenhead 012 Windsor and Maidenhead
5 Birmingham 047 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Touray

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

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Touray surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Touray 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Touray 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

Touray 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

Touray 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 Touray is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Black - African

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

Meaning and origin of Touray

The surname Touray is of Senegalese origin, traced back to the early 16th century in the region of Sine-Saloum, located in the west of present-day Senegal. It is derived from the Serer word "tour," meaning a large village or settlement, and the suffix "-ay," indicating a place of origin or residence. The name was initially used to identify individuals who hailed from a specific large village within the Sine-Saloum area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Touray surname appears in a 1589 document from the Kingdom of Sine, which mentions a local noble named Mbarou Touray. This document provides evidence of the surname's existence and usage during the late 16th century within the region.

In the 17th century, the name Touray surfaced in Dutch records related to trade activities along the Senegambian coast. A Dutch merchant named Jan Touray, born around 1640, is mentioned as a prominent figure in the regional trade networks, facilitating the exchange of goods between European traders and local communities.

During the 18th century, the Touray surname gained prominence with the rise of the Serer scholar and diplomat, Lat-Dior Touray (1703-1782). Lat-Dior Touray played a crucial role in fostering relations between the Kingdom of Sine and European powers, particularly the French, and is remembered for his diplomatic efforts and contributions to the preservation of Serer culture and traditions.

In the 19th century, the Touray family produced several notable figures, including Moussa Touray (1810-1885), a prominent military leader who played a significant role in the resistance against French colonial expansion in Senegal. Moussa Touray's efforts and leadership during this period have left a lasting legacy in the region's history.

Another prominent individual bearing the Touray surname was Fatima Touray (1865-1932), a respected educator and advocate for women's rights in Senegal. Fatima Touray established several schools for girls and worked tirelessly to promote education and empowerment for women in her community.

Throughout history, the Touray surname has been associated with various locations and place names within the Sine-Saloum region, such as Touray-Mbour, Touray-Sine, and Touray-Sokhor, reflecting the diverse origins and settlements of families bearing this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Touray surname: questions and answers

How common is the Touray surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 351 in 2016. That gives Touray a modern rank of #13,127.

What does the Touray surname mean?

A surname possibly of Gambian/Senegalese origin, derived from a village or place name.

What does the Touray map show?

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