NameCensus.

UK surname

Tuohy

A surname derived from Old Gaelic meaning "territory" or "descendant of the chief or leader".

In the 1881 census there were 49 people recorded with the Tuohy surname, ranking it #26,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 604, ranked #8,674, up from #26,735 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stockport, Guildford and Sandwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tuohy is 643 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1132.7%.

1881 census count

49

Ranked #26,735

Modern count

604

2016, ranked #8,674

Peak year

2010

643 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tuohy had 49 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,735 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 604 in 2016, ranked #8,674.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 73 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Tuohy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tuohy surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tuohy 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 11 #31,309
1861 historical 33 #29,814
1881 historical 49 #26,735
1891 historical 22 #32,449
1901 historical 66 #26,794
1911 historical 73 #25,541
1997 modern 548 #8,679
1998 modern 573 #8,643
1999 modern 583 #8,605
2000 modern 586 #8,542
2001 modern 575 #8,530
2002 modern 598 #8,482
2003 modern 577 #8,555
2004 modern 565 #8,697
2005 modern 585 #8,422
2006 modern 598 #8,302
2007 modern 605 #8,297
2008 modern 611 #8,284
2009 modern 622 #8,359
2010 modern 643 #8,319
2011 modern 621 #8,458
2012 modern 620 #8,373
2013 modern 643 #8,285
2014 modern 621 #8,566
2015 modern 613 #8,592
2016 modern 604 #8,674

Geography

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Where Tuohys 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 Stockport, Guildford, Sandwell, Huntingdonshire and Harlow. 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 Stockport 008 Stockport
2 Guildford 001 Guildford
3 Sandwell 033 Sandwell
4 Huntingdonshire 012 Huntingdonshire
5 Harlow 008 Harlow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tuohy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tuohy

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Tuohy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Tuohy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Tuohy 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

Tuohy 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

Tuohy 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 Tuohy 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Tuohy

The surname Tuohy originates from Ireland, with roots dating back to the 11th century. It is an anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Tuathaigh, which means "descendant of Tuathaigh." The name Tuathaigh is derived from the old Irish word "tuath," meaning "people" or "territory."

The Tuohy family was initially concentrated in County Laois, located in the Irish Midlands. Historical records suggest that the Tuohys were a prominent clan in the region, holding significant land and influence. Some early references to the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Tuohy name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Cloyne, a medieval document from the 13th century that lists landowners and taxpayers in the area. Several individuals with the surname Tuohy are mentioned, indicating their presence and importance in the region during that time.

The surname Tuohy has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Tuohysbeg and Tuohysmoneen, both located in County Laois. These place names likely derived from the Tuohy family's landholdings or settlements in those areas.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Tuohy. One of the earliest was John Tuohy (c. 1595-1675), an Irish Catholic priest and author who wrote extensively on religious topics. Another prominent figure was Patrick Tuohy (1703-1782), an Irish-born merchant and landowner who settled in Virginia, USA, and played a significant role in the colonial economy.

In the 19th century, James Tuohy (1823-1900) was a prominent Irish politician and journalist who served as a member of the British Parliament and advocated for Irish independence. Michael Tuohy (1837-1923), a Catholic priest and educator, founded several schools and educational institutions in Ireland and the United States.

More recently, Brendan Tuohy (1918-1988) was an Irish actor and writer who appeared in numerous films and television shows, and Tom Tuohy (born 1965) is an American sports journalist and author best known for his work on the book "The Billion Dollar Club."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tuohy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tuohy 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. Lancashire leads with 15 Tuohys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.64x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 15 2.64x
Durham 6 4.22x
Hampshire 6 6.12x
Surrey 6 2.58x
Argyllshire 5 37.59x
Middlesex 5 1.05x
Cheshire 4 3.79x
Yorkshire 2 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 7 Tuohys recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.45x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 7 27.45x
Much Woolton 6 779.22x
Portsmouth 6 265.49x
Willington 6 731.71x
Kilmore Kilbride 5 595.24x
Richmond 5 153.37x
Birkenhead 4 47.56x
Chorley 2 62.89x
Sheffield 2 13.26x
St Pancras London 2 5.20x
Clerkenwell London 1 8.87x
Kingston On Thames 1 17.89x
Paddington London 1 5.69x
St Paul Covent Garden 1 208.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 6
William 4
George 2
James 2
Patrick 2
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Hugh 1
Martin 1
Thomas 1
Timothy 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 Tuohy households.

FAQ

Tuohy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tuohy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 49 people were recorded with the Tuohy surname. That placed it at #26,735 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tuohy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 604 in 2016. That gives Tuohy a modern rank of #8,674.

What does the Tuohy surname mean?

A surname derived from Old Gaelic meaning "territory" or "descendant of the chief or leader".

What does the Tuohy map show?

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