Tolar
A surname derived from a place name, possibly referring to a location where tole painting was practiced.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,639 Americans carry the last name Tolar. That puts it at #13,370 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.77 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 129,880 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Tolar surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.6K
1 in 129,880
Census rank
#13,370
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.3K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,279 bearers of the surname Tolar in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.77 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 13370th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Tolar, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.7%. The next largest groups are Black (7.6%) and Hispanic (2.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Tolar
The surname Tolar has its origins in the Czech Republic, dating back to the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Czech word "tolara," which referred to a type of silver coin that was widely circulated in Central Europe during that time.
In its early years, the name Tolar was primarily associated with individuals who were involved in the minting or trading of coins, particularly the "tolara" coin. As the name spread across different regions, it also became linked to families who worked in related professions such as goldsmiths or bankers.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tolar can be found in the archives of the city of Olomouc, located in the present-day Czech Republic. In a document dated 1367, a man named Jan Tolar was mentioned as a respected coin minter working in the city's mint.
Another notable figure bearing the name Tolar was Vaclav Tolar, a renowned goldsmith who lived in Prague during the 15th century. His intricate metalwork and jewelry were highly sought after by the nobility and wealthy merchants of the time.
In the 16th century, the name Tolar appeared in the records of the town of Stare Mesto, which was then part of the Kingdom of Bohemia. A family by the name of Tolar owned a successful banking business and played a significant role in the local economy.
As the centuries passed, the surname Tolar spread across various regions of Europe, with variations in spelling and pronunciation emerging. In Germany, for instance, the name was sometimes written as Tholer or Tohler, while in Poland it took the form of Tolar or Tolarz.
One of the most prominent figures in history with the surname Tolar was Jiri Tolar, a Czech mathematician and astronomer born in 1608. His contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and his observations of comets and other celestial bodies earned him widespread recognition.
Another noteworthy individual was Anna Tolar (1670-1745), a skilled lacemaker from the town of Vamberk in Bohemia. Her delicate lace creations were highly prized by the aristocracy and helped establish the town's reputation as a center of lace-making.
In the 19th century, the Tolar name gained prominence in the literary world with the birth of Frantisek Tolar (1819-1892), a renowned Czech writer and poet. His works, which often explored themes of national identity and the struggles of the common people, played a significant role in shaping the cultural landscape of the time.
As the surname Tolar spread across different regions, it also became associated with various occupations and professions beyond its initial connections to coinage and banking. In some areas, the name was linked to individuals involved in agriculture, particularly those who worked with crops or livestock.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Tolar
Among Census respondents with the surname Tolar, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.7%. The next largest groups are Black (7.6%) and Hispanic (2.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Tolar bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Tolar surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White86.7%
- Black or African American7.6%
- Hispanic or Latino2.2%
- Two or more races1.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Tolar surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #13,226 | #13,370 | -1.1% |
| Count | 2,117 | 2,279 | 7.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.78 | 0.77 | -1.3% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Tolar bearers went from 2,117 to 2,279 (+7.7% change). The surname moved down 144 positions in the national ranking, going from #13,226 to #13,370.
FAQ
Tolar surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Tolar?
The surname Tolar holds position #13,370 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,639 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.77 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Tolar surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Tolar, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.7%. The next largest groups are Black (7.6%) and Hispanic (2.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.