NameCensus.

UK surname

Toward

An English locational surname referring to someone living on a path or road.

In the 1881 census there were 264 people recorded with the Toward surname, ranking it #10,655 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 436, ranked #11,062, down from #10,655 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Newcastle All Saints. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newcastle upon Tyne, County Durham and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Toward is 465 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 65.2%.

1881 census count

264

Ranked #10,655

Modern count

436

2016, ranked #11,062

Peak year

2010

465 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Toward had 264 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,655 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 436 in 2016, ranked #11,062.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 330 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Toward surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Toward surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Toward 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 222 #9,597
1861 historical 271 #9,193
1881 historical 264 #10,655
1891 historical 273 #11,918
1901 historical 306 #11,494
1911 historical 330 #10,669
1997 modern 420 #10,608
1998 modern 433 #10,718
1999 modern 435 #10,754
2000 modern 436 #10,701
2001 modern 426 #10,697
2002 modern 419 #11,059
2003 modern 417 #10,924
2004 modern 430 #10,697
2005 modern 410 #10,979
2006 modern 424 #10,748
2007 modern 430 #10,729
2008 modern 440 #10,622
2009 modern 448 #10,719
2010 modern 465 #10,618
2011 modern 459 #10,607
2012 modern 444 #10,775
2013 modern 440 #11,031
2014 modern 448 #10,946
2015 modern 442 #10,977
2016 modern 436 #11,062

Geography

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Where Towards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Newcastle All Saints, Middleton-in-Teesdale and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newcastle upon Tyne, County Durham and Northumberland. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
4 Middleton-in-Teesdale Durham
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newcastle upon Tyne 026 Newcastle upon Tyne
2 County Durham 065 County Durham
3 Newcastle upon Tyne 031 Newcastle upon Tyne
4 Newcastle upon Tyne 015 Newcastle upon Tyne
5 Northumberland 035 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Toward

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Toward

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Toward surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Toward household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Toward 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

Toward is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Toward 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 Toward is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Toward

The surname "TOWARD" is of English origin and can be traced back to the 14th century. It is believed to have originated from a place name, possibly a town or village in the southern regions of England. The name may have derived from the Old English words "tow" meaning "rope" and "ard" meaning "place or yard," suggesting a connection to a location where ropes were made or traded.

One of the earliest documented mentions of the surname "TOWARD" can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, England, dated 1327. This record lists a John Toward as a taxpayer, indicating the presence of the name in that region during the early 14th century.

In the late 15th century, the surname "TOWARD" appeared in the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence written by members of the influential Paston family in Norfolk, England. These letters provide insights into the lives and activities of the gentry class during that period.

Notable individuals with the surname "TOWARD" throughout history include:

1. William Toward (c. 1540 - 1607), an English merchant and philanthropist from London. He endowed several charitable institutions and schools in the capital city.

2. Thomas Toward (1661 - 1735), a British clergyman and academic who served as the Principal of St. Mary Hall, Oxford from 1719 until his death.

3. Elizabeth Toward (1746 - 1818), a renowned English painter known for her portraits and miniatures. She exhibited her works at the Royal Academy of Arts in London.

4. John Toward (1793 - 1868), a British architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. Michael and All Angels in Paddington.

5. Margaret Toward (1857 - 1932), a Scottish suffragette and activist who campaigned for women's rights and played a significant role in the women's suffrage movement in the early 20th century.

The surname "TOWARD" has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Toward Point in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, and Toward Farm in Berkshire, England. These place names may have influenced the spelling variations of the surname over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Toward families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Toward 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. Durham leads with 129 Towards recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.84x.

County Total Index
Durham 129 16.84x
Northumberland 61 15.92x
Lanarkshire 34 4.08x
Lancashire 10 0.33x
Surrey 9 0.72x
Yorkshire 5 0.20x
Cumberland 4 1.80x
Midlothian 3 0.87x
Ayrshire 2 1.04x
Hampshire 2 0.38x
Kent 2 0.23x
Oxfordshire 1 0.63x
Renfrewshire 1 0.50x
Sussex 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Byker in Northumberland leads with 21 Towards recorded in 1881 and an index of 110.88x.

Place Total Index
Byker 21 110.88x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 21 91.78x
Govan 17 8.25x
Gateshead 16 27.89x
Barony 14 6.64x
Healeyfield 11 3437.50x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 11 33.15x
Forest Frith 10 1492.54x
Elswick 9 29.43x
Hetton Le Hole 9 92.69x
Southwark St George Martyr 9 17.37x
Woodham 9 6923.08x
Shildon 8 129.87x
Westoe 7 16.12x
Great Crosby 6 72.03x
Stockley 6 618.56x
Waldridge 6 468.75x
Chester Le Street 5 85.03x
Lamesley 5 121.36x
Beckermet St John 4 727.27x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 8.24x
Holwick 4 1904.76x
Longbenton 4 24.65x
Newbiggin 4 740.74x
Bishopwearmouth 3 4.56x
Edinburgh Greenside 3 65.79x
Heworth 3 19.87x
Lanchester 3 212.77x
Ovington 3 638.30x
Biggar 2 106.38x
Carisbrooke 2 27.29x
Durham St Nicholas 2 106.38x
Hamsterley 2 465.12x
Helmington Row 2 56.02x
Muggleswick 2 270.27x
New Cumnock 2 59.88x
Stockton On Tees 2 5.42x
Walmer 2 52.36x
Witton Gilbert 2 66.23x
Abbey 1 3.28x
Britwell Salome 1 714.29x
Crook Billy Row 1 10.19x
Easingwold 1 55.56x
East Chevington 1 78.74x
Lanark 1 14.93x
South Gosforth 1 222.22x
Ticehurst 1 37.59x
Tynemouth 1 4.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 16
Mary 14
Margaret 10
Jane 6
Sarah 6
Isabella 5
Ann 4
Hannah 4
Margret 4
Elizth. 3
Ellen 3
Maria 3
Martha 3
Alice 2
Dorothy 2
Edith 2
Margt. 2
Abigail 1
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Catherine 1
Deborah 1
Dorthy 1
Eliza 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Henrietta 1
Jennie 1
Laura 1
Lilian 1
Mabel 1
Minnie 1
Nancy 1
Olivia 1
Rachel 1
Susanah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 18
William 15
George 13
Thomas 11
Robert 7
James 5
Ralph 5
Henry 3
Joseph 3
Albert 2
Andrew 2
Anthony 2
David 2
Jonathan 2
Walter 2
Adam 1
Ambrose 1
Arthur 1
Cornelius 1
Edward 1
Geo.N. 1
Gilbert 1
J.G. 1
Jacob 1
Louis 1
Nicholas 1
Pattison 1
Richard 1
Thos. 1
W.W. 1
Waller 1
Wm. 1
Wm.E. 1

FAQ

Toward surname: questions and answers

How common was the Toward surname in 1881?

In 1881, 264 people were recorded with the Toward surname. That placed it at #10,655 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Toward surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 436 in 2016. That gives Toward a modern rank of #11,062.

What does the Toward surname mean?

An English locational surname referring to someone living on a path or road.

What does the Toward map show?

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