Find out how popular the last name Tofte is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Tofte.

Tofte, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Tofte surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tofte in America

Tofte is the 31960th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tofte surname appeared 722 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Tofte.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tofte to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Tofte

The surname "Tofte" is of English origin, derived from an Old English word "toft," which referred to a homestead or a piece of land where a house once stood. The name first emerged in the northern counties of England, particularly in Yorkshire, during the medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book mentions several individuals with the surname "Tofte" or variations such as "Toftes" and "Tofti," indicating that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the name was Robert de Tofte, a landowner and nobleman from Yorkshire. Historical records show that he held significant estates in the village of Tofte, which is likely the place from which the surname originated.

During the 14th century, the name appears in various records from the region, including the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where several individuals with the surname "Tofte" are listed. This suggests that the name had become more widespread by this time.

One of the most prominent individuals with the surname "Tofte" was Sir William Tofte (1555-1626), an English politician and member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire and was knighted in 1603.

Another notable figure was John Tofte (1575-1620), an English poet and playwright. He is best known for his works "Arion's Dolors" and "The Blazon of Jealousie," published in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

In the 18th century, a significant individual was Reverend Robert Tofte (1713-1787), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Olave's Church in Southwark, London. He published several religious works and sermons during his lifetime.

The surname "Tofte" has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Tofte Manor in Shropshire, Tofte Hill in Northumberland, and Tofte Green in Yorkshire, further reinforcing its connection to the Old English word "toft" and its origins as a place-based surname.

Throughout its history, the surname "Tofte" has been spelled in various ways, including "Toft," "Tofte," "Toftes," and "Tofti," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and regional dialects across different parts of England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tofte

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Tofte.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Tofte was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Tofte has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Tofte was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Tofte, please contact us.

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