Toll
An occupational surname for a toll collector or gatekeeper.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,639 Americans carry the last name Toll. That puts it at #13,383 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 Toll 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
#13,383
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.3K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,276 bearers of the surname Toll in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.77 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 13383rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Toll, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Toll
The surname Toll is of Anglo-Saxon origin, arising in England during the medieval period. It is believed to derive from the Old English word "toll", which referred to a tax or payment made for goods passing through a particular area or territory. This suggests the name may have originally been an occupational surname for a toll collector or someone employed in managing tolls.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Toll can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a certain "Toli" holding lands in Warwickshire. This provides evidence that the name was in use in England by the late 11th century.
In the 13th century, records show various spellings of the name, such as "Tolle", "Tol", and "Tolle". These variations likely reflect regional dialects and the evolution of the English language over time. During this period, the name also appeared in documents related to places like Tollerton in Nottinghamshire and Tollesbury in Essex, indicating a possible connection between the surname and these locations.
Notable individuals with the surname Toll throughout history include Sir John Toll (c.1500-1568), an English merchant and member of the Company of Merchant Adventurers. Another prominent figure was Sir Jacob Toll (1685-1748), a Dutch-born British merchant and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for various constituencies.
In the 18th century, the name gained recognition in the literary world with the birth of John Toll (1711-1792), an English playwright and author best known for his works "The Victim" and "The Placid Man". A century later, John Toll (1829-1893), a British artist and engraver, gained acclaim for his intricate woodcut illustrations and engravings.
In more recent times, the name has been carried by individuals such as Sir Richard Toll (1918-2008), a British diplomat and ambassador to various countries, and Peter Toll (1935-2021), an American football player and coach who won two Super Bowl championships as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Toll
Among Census respondents with the surname Toll, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Toll 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 Toll surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.0%
- Hispanic or Latino3.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.8%
- Black or African American1.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5%
- Two or more races0.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Toll 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 | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #13,383 | #13,383 | 0.0% |
| Count | 2,276 | 2,276 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.77 | 0.77 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Toll bearers went from 2,276 to 2,276 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #13,383 to #13,383.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Toll
FAQ
Toll surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Toll?
The surname Toll holds position #13,383 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 Toll surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Toll, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.8%). 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.