NameCensus.

UK surname

Tozer

An English surname deriving from the archaic word "tozer", meaning a wool comber or carder.

In the 1881 census there were 1,773 people recorded with the Tozer surname, ranking it #2,443 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,781, ranked #3,538, down from #2,443 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Paignton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Tormoham with Torquay. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Hams, Bristol and Torbay.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tozer is 2,314 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.5%.

1881 census count

1,773

Ranked #2,443

Modern count

1,781

2016, ranked #3,538

Peak year

1911

2,314 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tozer had 1,773 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,443 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,781 in 2016, ranked #3,538.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,314 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tozer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tozer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tozer 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 1,149 #2,458
1861 historical 642 #4,178
1881 historical 1,773 #2,443
1891 historical 1,411 #3,092
1901 historical 2,180 #2,471
1911 historical 2,314 #2,196
1997 modern 1,912 #3,156
1998 modern 1,914 #3,272
1999 modern 1,959 #3,225
2000 modern 1,964 #3,212
2001 modern 1,909 #3,227
2002 modern 1,920 #3,281
2003 modern 1,857 #3,301
2004 modern 1,855 #3,307
2005 modern 1,797 #3,373
2006 modern 1,773 #3,416
2007 modern 1,766 #3,462
2008 modern 1,747 #3,522
2009 modern 1,768 #3,555
2010 modern 1,808 #3,550
2011 modern 1,817 #3,505
2012 modern 1,772 #3,521
2013 modern 1,827 #3,486
2014 modern 1,815 #3,529
2015 modern 1,786 #3,544
2016 modern 1,781 #3,538

Geography

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Where Tozers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Paignton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Tormoham with Torquay and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Hams, Bristol, Torbay and Plymouth. 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 Paignton Devon
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Hams 004 South Hams
2 South Hams 006 South Hams
3 Bristol 049 Bristol, City of
4 Torbay 003 Torbay
5 Plymouth 029 Plymouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tozer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tozer

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

Tozer 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

Tozer falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tozer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Tozer

The surname Tozer originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word 'tose' or 'tosere', which referred to a person who carded wool or prepared it for spinning. This occupation was a crucial part of the textile industry in many English towns and villages during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tozer can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Norfolk, a census-like record compiled in 1273. This document mentions a John le Toser, indicating the surname's use at that time. The addition of 'le' before the occupational name was a common practice in medieval England.

The Tozer surname is also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a William Tosere is listed as a taxpayer. This record further confirms the name's association with the wool trade and its presence in different parts of England.

During the 14th century, the Tozer surname appeared in various legal documents and records. In 1379, a John Tozer was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire. Additionally, the Poll Tax returns of 1381 recorded a Thomas Tozer in Cambridgeshire.

As the centuries progressed, variations in the spelling of the surname emerged. In the 16th century, a Thomas Towzer was recorded in the Wills and Administrations of the Archdeaconry of Suffolk in 1592. The 'Towzer' spelling likely resulted from regional dialect and pronunciation differences.

Notable individuals with the Tozer surname include:

1. Henry Tozer (1602-1668), an English clergyman and religious writer who served as the Rector of Houghton-le-Spring in County Durham.

2. John Tozer (1737-1804), a British Royal Navy officer who participated in the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolutionary Wars.

3. Alfred Tozer (1820-1888), an English Anglican clergyman and writer who served as the Principal of the Codrington College in Barbados.

4. Henry Fanshawe Tozer (1829-1916), an English classical scholar and tutor at Oxford University, known for his translations of ancient Greek texts.

5. Horace Tozer (1844-1916), a British explorer and traveler who undertook expeditions in Asia Minor and wrote several books about his travels.

The Tozer surname has a rich history rooted in the wool trade and textile industry of medieval England. Its evolution over the centuries reflects the linguistic and regional variations that shaped many English surnames during that time period.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tozer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tozer 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. Devon leads with 767 Tozers recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.05x.

County Total Index
Devon 767 21.05x
Middlesex 337 1.93x
Surrey 136 1.59x
Somerset 97 3.44x
Yorkshire 52 0.30x
Gloucestershire 49 1.43x
Kent 47 0.79x
Cornwall 41 2.07x
Sussex 32 1.08x
Essex 28 0.81x
Berkshire 26 1.98x
Glamorgan 23 0.75x
Hampshire 19 0.53x
Lancashire 18 0.09x
Royal Navy 15 7.19x
Dorset 14 1.22x
Suffolk 14 0.66x
Lincolnshire 13 0.46x
Warwickshire 10 0.23x
Hertfordshire 8 0.66x
Brecknockshire 5 1.43x
Staffordshire 5 0.08x
Cambridgeshire 4 0.36x
Durham 4 0.08x
Flintshire 4 0.85x
Monmouthshire 4 0.32x
Channel Islands 3 0.58x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.13x
Oxfordshire 3 0.28x
Wiltshire 3 0.19x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.27x
Cheshire 2 0.05x
Northamptonshire 2 0.12x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.09x
Cumberland 1 0.07x
Denbighshire 1 0.15x
Renfrewshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Damerel in Devon leads with 84 Tozers recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.95x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Damerel 84 32.95x
Tormoham 68 44.12x
Kensington London 42 4.32x
Islington London 35 2.06x
Plymouth St Andrew 34 12.12x
Paignton 33 119.05x
Chelsea London 27 5.12x
Hackney London 27 2.75x
Brighton 25 4.20x
Exeter St Thomas The 22 59.25x
Lambeth 22 1.44x
Camberwell 21 1.88x
St Pancras London 21 1.49x
Taunton St James 21 51.12x
Totnes 21 98.55x
Bedminster 20 7.56x
Paddington London 20 3.11x
Teddington London 20 50.44x
Aylesbeare 19 360.53x
Banwell 19 184.82x
St George Hanover 17 7.44x
St Stithians 17 155.68x
Wolborough 17 36.92x
Cornworthy 15 597.61x
Royal Navy 15 8.41x
Withycombe Rawleigh 15 79.03x
Bristol St George 14 8.82x
Dartmouth Townstall 14 94.34x
Ermington 14 105.66x
Plymouth Charles The 14 8.72x
Shoreditch London 14 1.85x
St Marylebone London 14 1.50x
Battersea 13 2.02x
Dartmouth St Saviour 13 124.88x
Exeter St Sidwell 13 15.58x
Honiton 13 64.48x
Ottery St Mary 13 54.39x
Bray 12 31.09x
Croydon 12 2.54x
Gillingham 12 9.75x
Littleham 12 45.06x
St Budeaux 12 105.82x
East Ogwell 11 687.50x
Lewisham 11 3.45x
Moreton Hampstead 11 116.77x
Stoke 11 74.58x
Uffculme 11 101.38x
Bermondsey 10 1.92x
Exeter St Edmund 10 127.23x
Newington 10 1.55x
St Luke London 10 3.56x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 9 22.50x
Gelligaer 9 12.93x
Horton In Bradford 9 3.32x
Ipplepen 9 181.45x
Romford 9 16.48x
St Brides Major 9 221.13x
St Clement Danes 9 31.77x
Bristol St James In 8 15.85x
Cheltenham 8 3.02x
Clee With Weelsby 8 13.06x
Dawlish 8 29.44x
Ecclesall Bierlow 8 2.27x
Hampton London 8 27.81x
Morchard Bishop 8 105.26x
Torbrian 8 655.74x
Woodford 8 20.46x
Ashburton 7 40.21x
Brixham 7 16.58x
Chiddingfold 7 87.61x
Crantock 7 339.81x
Denbury 7 353.54x
Devonport 7 16.72x
Dittisham 7 194.99x
Hemyock 7 128.91x
Holy Trinity 7 1.68x
Horsell 7 129.87x
Rockbeare 7 247.35x
West Teignmouth 7 25.12x
Westminster St James 7 3.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 109
Elizabeth 67
Sarah 59
Ellen 39
Ann 29
Eliza 29
Emma 27
Annie 23
Alice 22
Jane 21
Susan 20
Emily 19
Harriet 18
Florence 16
Fanny 15
Caroline 14
Louisa 14
Edith 12
Maria 12
Clara 11
Harriett 11
Kate 11
Lucy 11
Ada 8
Amelia 8
Bessie 8
Margaret 7
Catherine 6
Frances 6
Grace 6
Laura 6
Charlotte 5
Elizth. 5
Esther 5
Georgina 5
Hannah 5
Helen 5
Henrietta 5
Jessie 5
Matilda 5
Rebecca 5
Selina 5
Amy 4
Anna 4
Anne 4
Ethel 4
Martha 4
Maud 4
Rhoda 4
Sophia 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 117
John 100
George 58
Henry 56
Charles 51
Samuel 46
Thomas 43
James 36
Alfred 30
Robert 25
Edward 24
Richard 22
Frederick 18
Arthur 16
Albert 15
Walter 12
Frank 10
Ernest 9
Francis 8
Joseph 8
Edwin 6
Harry 6
Stephen 5
Wm. 5
Alexander 4
Elias 4
Ephraim 4
Fredrick 4
Giles 4
Percy 4
Philip 4
Willm. 4
Aaron 3
Edgar 3
Fredk. 3
Herbert 3
Hermon 3
Thos. 3
Tom 3
Augustus 2
Cornelius 2
Edmund 2
Fred. 2
Fredk.E. 2
Howard 2
Mark 2
Matthew 2
Morgan 2
Simon 2
Solomon 2

FAQ

Tozer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tozer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,773 people were recorded with the Tozer surname. That placed it at #2,443 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tozer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,781 in 2016. That gives Tozer a modern rank of #3,538.

What does the Tozer surname mean?

An English surname deriving from the archaic word "tozer", meaning a wool comber or carder.

What does the Tozer map show?

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