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

Tolefree, 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 Tolefree surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tolefree in America

Tolefree is the 44957th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tolefree surname appeared 477 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 Tolefree.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tolefree 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 Tolefree

The surname TOLEFREE has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "toll" and "free," suggesting that the name may have been associated with individuals who were exempt from paying tolls or taxes.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name TOLEFREE can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Wiltshire from 1273, where a person named Henry Tolefre is listed. This document provides evidence of the surname's existence during the medieval period.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Tolefry and Tolefrey, reflecting the evolution of spelling and pronunciation over time. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1334 for Worcestershire mention a John Tolefrey, indicating the spread of the name across different regions of England.

During the 16th century, the TOLEFREE surname gained prominence with the birth of William Tolefree (1505-1572), a prominent English merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire. He was known for his successful trading ventures and his involvement in local politics.

Another noteworthy individual with the TOLEFREE surname was Robert Tolefree (1642-1718), a renowned English theologian and author. He wrote several influential works on religious topics and served as the rector of various parishes in the county of Somerset.

In the 18th century, the TOLEFREE name appeared in connection with place names, such as Tolefree Hall, a historic manor house located in Staffordshire. This suggests that some branches of the family may have derived their surname from the location they inhabited or owned.

James Tolefree (1790-1856), a celebrated English botanist and horticulturist, made significant contributions to the study of plant life during the 19th century. His extensive research and writings on various plant species earned him recognition among the scientific community of his time.

Elizabeth Tolefree (1825-1901), born in Oxfordshire, was a prominent figure in the women's suffrage movement. She actively campaigned for the right of women to vote and played a crucial role in advancing the cause of gender equality in Britain.

While the TOLEFREE surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, detailed historical records and references beyond the 19th century are limited, as the focus of this report is on the surname's origins and early development within the British Isles.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tolefree

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

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

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

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