NameCensus.

UK surname

Tovey

A surname derived from a nickname for someone with a violent temper.

In the 1881 census there were 1,751 people recorded with the Tovey surname, ranking it #2,468 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,462, ranked #2,675, down from #2,468 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Bedminster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bath and North East Somerset, Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tovey is 2,765 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.6%.

1881 census count

1,751

Ranked #2,468

Modern count

2,462

2016, ranked #2,675

Peak year

1999

2,765 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tovey had 1,751 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,468 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,462 in 2016, ranked #2,675.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,205 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tovey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tovey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tovey 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 1,153 #2,449
1861 historical 812 #3,388
1881 historical 1,751 #2,468
1891 historical 1,484 #2,965
1901 historical 2,169 #2,482
1911 historical 2,205 #2,283
1997 modern 2,683 #2,381
1998 modern 2,706 #2,450
1999 modern 2,765 #2,415
2000 modern 2,709 #2,450
2001 modern 2,648 #2,450
2002 modern 2,697 #2,457
2003 modern 2,643 #2,453
2004 modern 2,668 #2,432
2005 modern 2,608 #2,451
2006 modern 2,569 #2,481
2007 modern 2,579 #2,491
2008 modern 2,614 #2,483
2009 modern 2,630 #2,528
2010 modern 2,667 #2,550
2011 modern 2,619 #2,562
2012 modern 2,545 #2,582
2013 modern 2,532 #2,637
2014 modern 2,500 #2,679
2015 modern 2,471 #2,686
2016 modern 2,462 #2,675

Geography

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Where Toveys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster, London parishes and Bedwelty. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bath and North East Somerset, Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Bedminster Somerset
4 London parishes London 3
5 Bedwelty Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bath and North East Somerset 020 Bath and North East Somerset
2 Bath and North East Somerset 021 Bath and North East Somerset
3 Blaenau Gwent 007 Blaenau Gwent
4 Merthyr Tydfil 006 Merthyr Tydfil
5 Blaenau Gwent 009 Blaenau Gwent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tovey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tovey

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Tovey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Tovey 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Tovey 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

Tovey is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tovey falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tovey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Tovey

The surname Tovey is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "toft," which referred to a homestead or a piece of land. The name likely originated during the medieval period in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Warwickshire, Staffordshire, and Worcestershire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tovey can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Warwickshire, dated around 1275, where it appears as "Toftey." This variation in spelling was common during that time, as standardized spelling conventions had not yet been established.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several references to places with names derived from the word "toft," such as Toftrees and Toftinghall. These place names may have influenced the development of the surname Tovey in their respective regions.

One notable figure with the surname Tovey was Sir Thomas Tovey (1418-1482), who served as a Member of Parliament for Coventry during the reign of King Edward IV. Another prominent individual was John Tovey (1638-1718), a renowned English organist and composer who served as the organist at Westminster Abbey.

In the 17th century, the Tovey family had a strong presence in the county of Worcestershire. One member, William Tovey (1672-1745), was a prosperous landowner and served as the High Sheriff of Worcestershire in 1718.

Jumping forward a few centuries, we encounter Sir John Tovey (1885-1971), a distinguished British naval officer who played a crucial role in the Battle of the Atlantic during World War II. He served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet and was later appointed as the First Sea Lord, the professional head of the Royal Navy.

Another notable figure with the Tovey surname is Donald Francis Tovey (1875-1940), a renowned British music scholar, writer, and composer. He is best known for his monumental work, "A Companion to Beethoven's Pianoforte Sonatas," which remains a highly respected reference in the field of music analysis.

While the surname Tovey is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history that spans several centuries and includes individuals who made significant contributions in various fields, including politics, music, and military service.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tovey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tovey 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. Gloucestershire leads with 398 Toveys recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.85x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 398 11.85x
Somerset 245 8.89x
Middlesex 145 0.85x
Monmouthshire 142 11.47x
Warwickshire 133 3.08x
Surrey 118 1.41x
Worcestershire 112 5.01x
Berkshire 62 4.82x
Glamorgan 60 2.01x
Kent 48 0.82x
Staffordshire 33 0.57x
Hampshire 31 0.88x
Oxfordshire 30 2.84x
Wiltshire 30 1.98x
Lancashire 22 0.11x
Essex 21 0.62x
Leicestershire 21 1.11x
Yorkshire 17 0.10x
Derbyshire 16 0.60x
Sussex 12 0.42x
Devon 11 0.31x
Cheshire 9 0.24x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.30x
Shropshire 7 0.47x
Northumberland 5 0.20x
Dorset 4 0.36x
Royal Navy 4 1.96x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.29x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.18x
Herefordshire 2 0.28x
Westmorland 2 0.53x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.06x
Durham 1 0.02x
Renfrewshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bedminster in Somerset leads with 131 Toveys recorded in 1881 and an index of 50.59x.

Place Total Index
Bedminster 131 50.59x
Frampton Cotterell 56 475.38x
Birmingham 51 3.54x
Aston 50 4.21x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 43 13.60x
Cheltenham 43 16.60x
Kidderminster Borough 32 24.46x
Bristol St George 28 18.03x
Aberystruth 26 23.83x
Bermondsey 26 5.10x
Trevethin 24 20.53x
Portishead 23 112.30x
Midsomer Norton 22 84.75x
Buscot 18 829.49x
Winchcomb 18 108.04x
Ystradyfodwg 17 6.50x
Rotherhithe 16 7.56x
Leicester St Margaret 15 3.24x
Mynyddyslwyn 15 30.73x
Westbury On Trym 15 13.19x
Llanfoist 13 151.69x
Llanover 13 30.75x
Fairford 12 133.78x
St Luke London 12 4.37x
Walcot 12 8.18x
Battersea 11 1.75x
Bristol St James St Paul 11 9.82x
Bristol St Paul In 11 12.30x
Broughton Poggs 11 1309.52x
Clifton 11 6.48x
Islington London 11 0.66x
Lechlade 11 159.65x
St Marylebone London 11 1.20x
St Woollos 11 7.96x
Stapleton 11 17.27x
Wootton Wawen 11 80.88x
Maidstone 10 5.75x
Newport 10 16.94x
Reading St Mary 10 9.72x
Bromley London 9 2.39x
Bromsgrove 9 11.96x
Cirencester 9 19.80x
Eglwysilan 9 17.40x
Leckhampton 9 43.50x
Newington 9 1.42x
Putney 9 11.53x
Stanford In Vale 9 176.47x
Waltham Holy Cross 9 28.49x
West Ham 9 1.21x
Alton 8 30.25x
Coggs 8 196.56x
Gelligaer 8 11.75x
Hackney London 8 0.83x
Mile End Old Town 8 2.96x
Nailsea 8 73.46x
Newton St Loe 8 373.83x
Plumstead 8 4.11x
Reading St Giles 8 6.35x
St George Hanover 8 3.58x
Stoke Upon Trent 8 1.31x
Undy 8 307.69x
Bedwellty 7 3.20x
Bristol St Augustine 7 12.92x
Bristol St James In 7 14.18x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 7 22.89x
Bulley 7 786.52x
Camberwell 7 0.64x
Cardiff St John 7 7.19x
Church Lench 7 308.37x
Cliffe 7 71.79x
Fulham London 7 2.82x
Long Ditton 7 51.40x
Lydney 7 40.39x
Macclesfield 7 4.17x
Milton In Gravesend 7 7.99x
Nottingham St Mary 7 1.17x
Roath 7 5.17x
St Pancras London 7 0.51x
Tewkesbury 7 23.36x
Wolverley 7 35.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 102
Sarah 70
Elizabeth 57
Eliza 38
Emma 37
Alice 36
Emily 30
Ann 28
Jane 28
Ellen 26
Martha 19
Annie 17
Florence 15
Hannah 15
Margaret 15
Caroline 14
Louisa 14
Catherine 12
Harriet 11
Elizth. 10
Fanny 10
Kate 10
Maria 10
Ada 9
Amelia 9
Charlotte 9
Clara 9
Edith 9
Esther 8
Laura 8
Matilda 8
Harriett 7
Rose 7
Anne 6
Julia 6
Lucy 6
Agnes 5
Bessie 5
Rosina 5
Sophia 5
Susan 5
Susannah 5
Ruth 4
Blanch 3
Eleanor 3
Grace 3
Helen 3
Jessie 3
Leah 3
Rebecca 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 109
George 69
John 59
Henry 50
Thomas 46
Charles 44
James 39
Albert 26
Edward 24
Frederick 23
Joseph 23
Samuel 21
Edwin 20
Alfred 19
Robert 17
Arthur 12
Frank 12
Harry 11
Richard 11
Walter 11
Benjamin 9
Daniel 8
Ernest 6
Geo. 6
Herbert 6
Isaac 6
Oliver 6
Francis 5
Sidney 5
Wm. 5
Edwd. 4
Fredrick 4
Mark 4
Philip 4
Sydney 4
Edgar 3
Eli 3
Fredk. 3
Harold 3
Job 3
Moses 3
Phillip 3
Stephen 3
Willm. 3
Duncan 2
Fred 2
Fred. 2
Louis 2
Percival 2
Stanley 2

FAQ

Tovey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tovey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,751 people were recorded with the Tovey surname. That placed it at #2,468 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tovey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,462 in 2016. That gives Tovey a modern rank of #2,675.

What does the Tovey surname mean?

A surname derived from a nickname for someone with a violent temper.

What does the Tovey map show?

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