Toli last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Toli

A Greek surname likely derived from the first name Tolios or a place name.

Toli, 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 Toli surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Toli in America

Toli is the 149328th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Toli surname appeared 101 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Toli.

The history of the last name Toli

The surname Toli has its origins rooted in Italy, with records dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to derive from the Latin word "tollere," which means "to lift" or "to elevate." This connection implies it may have originally been a nickname for a person of notable stature or someone held in high regard within their community.

Historically, the name Toli is associated with regions in Northern Italy, particularly in Lombardy and parts of Emilia-Romagna. Early records of the name appear in various medieval manuscripts and church registries from the 12th and 13th centuries. One of the oldest references to the surname Toli can be found in a document dating back to 1215 in the city of Milan, where a land transaction involved a certain Giovanni Toli.

Throughout history, various individuals bearing the surname Toli have made their mark across different regions and time periods. For example, Francesco Toli, born in 1452 and died in 1510, was a renowned painter in Renaissance Italy, known for his contributions to religious and portrait art. Another notable figure was Stefano Toli, a 17th-century composer born in 1620, who significantly influenced Baroque music in Rome.

In the 14th century, the Toli family name made its way into legal and civic records, often associated with members of local governing bodies in cities such as Bologna and Padua. One such figure was Lorenzo Toli, a prominent lawyer and politician born in 1387, who played a crucial role in the city's administration.

The 19th century saw individuals like Maria Toli, born in 1823 and died in 1897, who became an influential educator and advocate for women's rights in the newly unified Italy. Her work and publications gained her recognition as a pioneer of female education and an early suffragist.

Another historical reference can be traced to Giuseppe Toli, born in 1765 and died in 1830, who was a revered architect known for his contributions to the neoclassical architectural movement in Northern Italy. His distinguished designs, including several public buildings and palaces, remain notable landmarks.

While the surname Toli may not be as widely recognized today, its historical significance and the notable contributions of its bearers continue to reflect its rich legacy in Italian history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Toli

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Toli was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 71.29% 72
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 20.79% 21
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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

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

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"Toli last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 14, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/toli-surname-popularity/.

"Toli last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/toli-surname-popularity/. Accessed 14 June, 2025

Toli last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/toli-surname-popularity/.

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