NameCensus.

UK surname

Towle

An English occupational surname for a maker or seller of towels or blankets.

In the 1881 census there were 786 people recorded with the Towle surname, ranking it #4,726 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,007, ranked #5,774, down from #4,726 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stapleford, Basford and Louth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Lincolnshire, Broxtowe and Nottingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Towle is 1,144 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.1%.

1881 census count

786

Ranked #4,726

Modern count

1,007

2016, ranked #5,774

Peak year

1998

1,144 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Towle had 786 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,726 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,007 in 2016, ranked #5,774.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,130 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Towle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Towle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Towle 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 530 #4,736
1861 historical 500 #5,234
1881 historical 786 #4,726
1891 historical 902 #4,570
1901 historical 1,044 #4,583
1911 historical 1,130 #4,120
1997 modern 1,095 #5,092
1998 modern 1,144 #5,087
1999 modern 1,132 #5,174
2000 modern 1,112 #5,223
2001 modern 1,075 #5,267
2002 modern 1,086 #5,329
2003 modern 1,080 #5,262
2004 modern 1,069 #5,310
2005 modern 1,075 #5,236
2006 modern 1,084 #5,198
2007 modern 1,080 #5,260
2008 modern 1,068 #5,342
2009 modern 1,097 #5,334
2010 modern 1,114 #5,375
2011 modern 1,085 #5,441
2012 modern 1,028 #5,610
2013 modern 1,016 #5,750
2014 modern 1,010 #5,813
2015 modern 1,001 #5,802
2016 modern 1,007 #5,774

Geography

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Where Towles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stapleford, Basford, Louth, Sawley and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Lincolnshire, Broxtowe, Nottingham and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 Stapleford Derbyshire
2 Basford Nottinghamshire
3 Louth Lincolnshire
4 Sawley Derbyshire
5 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Lincolnshire 001 North Lincolnshire
2 Broxtowe 016 Broxtowe
3 Broxtowe 004 Broxtowe
4 Nottingham 009 Nottingham
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 033 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Towle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Towle

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Towle, 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 Towle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Towle 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, Towle 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

Towle is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Towle 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 Towle 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 Towle, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Towle

The surname Towle originates from England and can be traced back to the early Middle Ages, around the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "toll," which referred to a payment or tax collected at a tollgate or bridge.

The name was initially associated with individuals who lived near a toll or worked as toll collectors. The earliest recorded example of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named Radulfus de Tola in Essex.

Over the centuries, the name underwent various spelling variations, such as Tole, Tolle, and Towell, before settling into its modern form, Towle. One of the earliest recorded instances of the Towle spelling dates back to the 13th century, when a John Towle was listed in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273.

During the medieval period, the name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Essex, Oxfordshire, and Hertfordshire, where many Towle families were landowners or involved in local trade and commerce.

One notable figure bearing the Towle surname was Sir William Towle, a wealthy merchant and alderman of the City of London in the late 16th century. He served as Lord Mayor of London in 1596 and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent individual was Thomas Towle (1608-1677), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Twickenham and wrote several religious works, including a commentary on the Book of Psalms.

In the 18th century, the Towle family established a significant presence in the American colonies, with several members settling in New England. Benjamin Towle (1712-1790), a silversmith from Massachusetts, became famous for his intricate silverware designs and contributed to the development of the American silver trade.

The 19th century saw the rise of William Towle (1809-1889), a successful industrialist and manufacturer from Massachusetts. He founded the Towle Manufacturing Company, which became renowned for producing high-quality flatware and silverware.

Lastly, John Towle (1858-1938), an English cricketer, played for the Gloucestershire County Cricket Club and was known for his exceptional batting skills. He played in several first-class matches between 1879 and 1890.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Towle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Towle 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 337 Towles recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.40x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 337 32.40x
Lincolnshire 120 9.73x
Derbyshire 111 9.19x
Yorkshire 44 0.58x
Staffordshire 34 1.31x
Lancashire 31 0.34x
Leicestershire 15 1.75x
Surrey 14 0.37x
Kent 13 0.49x
Isle of Man 12 8.37x
Middlesex 11 0.14x
Warwickshire 11 0.57x
Cheshire 9 0.53x
Northumberland 7 0.61x
Clackmannanshire 5 7.85x
Hampshire 4 0.25x
Berkshire 3 0.52x
Devon 3 0.19x
Northamptonshire 3 0.41x
Sussex 2 0.15x
Cornwall 1 0.11x
Durham 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 70 Towles recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.02x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 70 26.02x
Greasley 35 149.19x
Hucknall Torkard 35 132.73x
Stapleford 34 402.37x
Radford 32 60.57x
Louth 25 88.43x
Basford 23 47.98x
Snenton 21 51.40x
Beeston 20 167.36x
Ashton Under Lyne 19 9.49x
Litchurch 16 32.92x
Sandiacre 16 371.23x
Barrow On Humber 12 167.60x
Burton Upon Trent 12 19.69x
Derby St Werburgh 12 17.20x
Maughold 12 108.50x
Long Eaton 11 69.01x
Market Rasen 11 159.42x
Dunkirk 10 510.20x
Lenton 10 40.82x
Granby Sutton 9 857.14x
Little Cawthorpe 9 2045.45x
Radford Lenton 9 347.49x
Spondon 9 193.55x
Caistor 8 162.93x
Pilsley In Chesterfield 8 555.56x
Reigate Foreign 8 19.65x
Sculcoates 8 6.60x
Brightside Bierlow 7 4.67x
Burton Extra 7 46.89x
Nottingham St Peter 7 60.40x
Stanton By Dale 7 424.24x
Wakefield 7 11.93x
Ashby De La Zouch 6 30.26x
Great Wyrley 6 212.01x
Langton By Spilsby 6 1034.48x
Legbourne 6 476.19x
Aston 5 0.93x
Barton St Mary St Peter 5 218.34x
Derby St Peter 5 12.99x
Dollar 5 75.76x
Eastwood 5 53.76x
Ecclesfield 5 8.92x
Great Grimsby 5 6.39x
Heaton Norris 5 9.60x
Ilkeston 5 14.76x
Northallerton 5 51.23x
Quorndon 5 104.17x
South Owersby 5 2000.00x
St Marylebone London 5 1.21x
Timperley 5 84.46x
Bradford 4 2.16x
Edgbaston 4 6.63x
Edwinstowe 4 161.94x
Holdenhurst 4 9.64x
Nottingham St Nicholas 4 28.25x
Penge 4 8.12x
Southcoates 4 9.42x
Spilsby 4 102.04x
Stoke Upon Trent 4 1.45x
Winshill 4 51.95x
Appleby 3 208.33x
Chilwell 3 108.70x
Claylane 3 17.87x
Coxlodge 3 34.36x
Dukinfield 3 3.81x
Grainthorpe 3 162.16x
Hampstead London 3 2.50x
Newcastle On Tyne St 3 5.04x
Peterborough 3 5.71x
Sibthorpe 3 882.35x
South Kelsey 3 185.19x
St Mary Magdalen Lincoln 3 181.82x
St Nicholas Lincoln 3 25.45x
Wessington 3 185.19x
Wilne 3 108.30x
Ardwick 2 2.42x
Barton St Peter 2 35.40x
Castle Donnington 2 28.21x
Greenwich 2 1.63x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 55
Sarah 37
Ann 26
Elizabeth 26
Eliza 16
Annie 15
Emma 13
Hannah 13
Clara 9
Edith 8
Harriet 8
Louisa 8
Emily 7
Alice 6
Fanny 6
Jane 6
Lucy 6
Maria 6
Ada 5
Agnes 5
Caroline 5
Charlotte 5
Florence 5
Frances 5
Kate 5
Millicent 5
Amelia 4
Anne 4
Ellen 4
Margaret 3
Rosa 3
Rose 3
Susan 3
Bertha 2
Catharine 2
Drusilla 2
Elizth. 2
Esther 2
Gertrude 2
Henrietta 2
Isabella 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Lousia 2
Mabel 2
Marian 2
Martha 2
Nelly 2
Susannah 2
Elizebeth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 55
William 44
George 34
Henry 21
Joseph 17
Thomas 13
Albert 12
Arthur 11
Charles 11
Walter 11
James 10
Samuel 10
Alfred 9
Edward 8
Frederick 6
Robert 5
Benjamin 4
Fredrick 4
Harry 4
Herbert 4
Wm. 4
Allen 3
Edmund 3
Francis 3
Frank 3
Alexander 2
Algernon 2
Allan 2
Amos 2
Andrew 2
Christopher 2
Ernest 2
Levi 2
Louis 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
Robt. 2
Thos. 2
Bartholamew 1
Everard 1
Frankish 1
Fred 1
Freder.Wm. 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Hy. 1
Jeremiah 1
Jesse 1
Jno.Henry 1
Luke 1

FAQ

Towle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Towle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 786 people were recorded with the Towle surname. That placed it at #4,726 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Towle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,007 in 2016. That gives Towle a modern rank of #5,774.

What does the Towle surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a maker or seller of towels or blankets.

What does the Towle map show?

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