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

Tolber, 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 Tolber surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tolber in America

Tolber is the 157234th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tolber surname appeared 103 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 Tolber.

The history of the last name Tolber

The surname Tolber is believed to have originated in the region of Lincolnshire, England, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "tol" meaning "tax" or "toll" and "burg" meaning "fort" or "fortified town." The name likely referred to someone who lived near a fortified town where tolls were collected, or someone who was employed as a toll collector.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tolber can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a Roger de Tolbur is mentioned in connection with lands in Lincolnshire. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the area by the 13th century.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in various spellings, including Tolebar, Tolbere, and Tolbure, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common during that time. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 list a John Tolbere from Lincolnshire, while the Poll Tax Returns of 1379 record a Thomas Tolbere from the same county.

The name Tolber is also associated with several place names in Lincolnshire, such as Tolbar Hill and Tolbar Gate, which further reinforces its connection to the region and the idea of a toll or tax collection point.

One notable historical figure with the surname Tolber was Sir John Tolber (c. 1420-1489), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire in the late 15th century. He was a prominent figure in the county and served as High Sheriff of Lincolnshire in 1472.

Another individual of note was William Tolber (c. 1525-1583), a Protestant clergyman and author during the Elizabethan era. He was known for his writings on religious subjects and his involvement in the English Reformation.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various records, such as the Parish Registers of Lincolnshire, where entries for births, marriages, and deaths of individuals with the surname Tolber can be found.

A later figure of significance was Edward Tolber (1699-1778), a successful merchant and landowner from Lincolnshire, who was instrumental in the development of the local wool trade.

Finally, one of the most notable individuals with the surname Tolber was Sir William Tolber (1810-1892), a prominent politician and Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire in the late 19th century. He played a significant role in the debates surrounding the Reform Act of 1867 and was a vocal advocate for agricultural reform.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tolber

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

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 Tolber 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.

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 Tolber was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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