NameCensus.

UK surname

Toussaint

A French surname referring to someone born on All Saints' Day (November 1st) or living near a church.

In the 1881 census there were 28 people recorded with the Toussaint surname, ranking it #29,646 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 362, ranked #12,810, up from #29,646 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Merton, Brent and Hackney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Toussaint is 393 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1192.9%.

1881 census count

28

Ranked #29,646

Modern count

362

2016, ranked #12,810

Peak year

2010

393 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Toussaint had 28 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,646 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 362 in 2016, ranked #12,810.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 48 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Toussaint surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Toussaint surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Toussaint 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 15 #30,614
1861 historical 38 #29,216
1881 historical 28 #29,646
1891 historical 43 #30,933
1901 historical 48 #28,808
1911 historical 45 #28,332
1997 modern 302 #13,459
1998 modern 308 #13,661
1999 modern 308 #13,722
2000 modern 301 #13,873
2001 modern 295 #13,867
2002 modern 298 #14,048
2003 modern 301 #13,785
2004 modern 317 #13,400
2005 modern 320 #13,243
2006 modern 326 #13,128
2007 modern 325 #13,291
2008 modern 329 #13,286
2009 modern 368 #12,476
2010 modern 393 #12,157
2011 modern 360 #12,832
2012 modern 337 #13,345
2013 modern 343 #13,372
2014 modern 356 #13,098
2015 modern 351 #13,135
2016 modern 362 #12,810

Geography

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Where Toussaints 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 Merton, Brent, Hackney, Swale and Suffolk Coastal. 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 Merton 010 Merton
2 Brent 031 Brent
3 Hackney 024 Hackney
4 Swale 004 Swale
5 Suffolk Coastal 003 Suffolk Coastal

Forenames

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First names often paired with Toussaint

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Toussaint

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

Toussaint 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

Toussaint falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Toussaint 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
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Toussaint

The surname Toussaint originated in France and is derived from the French phrase "tous les saints", meaning "all the saints". This suggests that the name may have been given to someone born on All Saints' Day or who lived near a church dedicated to all saints.

The earliest known record of the name Toussaint dates back to the 12th century in the region of Normandy, France. It was likely used as a descriptive surname to identify individuals associated with a particular church, village, or area connected to All Saints' Day.

During the Middle Ages, the name Toussaint appeared in various records and manuscripts throughout France. One notable example is the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented landowners and tenants in England following the Norman Conquest. The name Toussaint was listed among those who held land in the county of Lincolnshire.

In the 13th century, a French noble named Geoffroy Toussaint was a prominent figure in the court of King Louis IX. He was known for his military prowess and served as a knight during the Seventh Crusade.

In the 15th century, a French scholar and theologian named Pierre Toussaint gained recognition for his work on the philosophy of religion. He was born in 1409 in the town of Reims and died in 1475.

During the 16th century, the name Toussaint became associated with the French aristocracy. One notable figure was François Toussaint, a nobleman and diplomat who served as the French ambassador to the Holy Roman Empire in the late 1500s.

In the 17th century, a French artist named Jacques Toussaint gained fame for his intricate engravings and etchings. He was born in Paris in 1618 and died in 1690.

Another notable individual with the surname Toussaint was Pierre Toussaint, a former slave who became a renowned philanthropist and Catholic lay leader in New York City during the early 19th century. Born in modern-day Haiti in 1766, he dedicated his life to serving the poor and sick after gaining his freedom.

Over the centuries, the surname Toussaint has been found in various places throughout France, with slight variations in spelling, such as Toussain, Toussainct, and Toussayn. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remain rooted in the French phrase "tous les saints".

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Toussaint families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Toussaint 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. Middlesex leads with 17 Toussaints recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.84x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 17 4.84x
Channel Islands 8 76.85x
Surrey 8 4.68x
Hampshire 1 1.39x
Hertfordshire 1 4.13x
Sussex 1 1.69x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 7 Toussaints recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.21x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 7 31.21x
Islington London 5 14.69x
St Anne 5 2631.58x
St Clement Danes 4 701.75x
St Martin 3 468.75x
St George Martyr 2 338.98x
Westminster St James 2 55.40x
Willesden 2 60.42x
Bethnal Green London 1 6.56x
Brighton 1 8.38x
Lambeth 1 3.27x
Southampton St Mary 1 22.08x
St George Hanover 1 21.83x
Watford 1 53.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Charles 2
James 2
Thos. 2
Adolphus 1
Benj. 1
Edward 1
Ferrand 1
Francis 1
Horace 1
Jonathon 1
Joseph 1
Louis 1
Thomas 1
Victor 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 Toussaint households.

FAQ

Toussaint surname: questions and answers

How common was the Toussaint surname in 1881?

In 1881, 28 people were recorded with the Toussaint surname. That placed it at #29,646 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Toussaint surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 362 in 2016. That gives Toussaint a modern rank of #12,810.

What does the Toussaint surname mean?

A French surname referring to someone born on All Saints' Day (November 1st) or living near a church.

What does the Toussaint map show?

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