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

Tomey, 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 Tomey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tomey in America

Tomey is the 32365th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tomey surname appeared 711 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 Tomey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tomey 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 Tomey

The surname Tomey is of English origin and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "tun," which referred to an enclosed piece of land or a farm. The name likely evolved from someone who lived in or near a town or village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Buckinghamshire in 1197, where a certain William de Tomy is mentioned. This suggests that the surname was already established in England by the late 12th century.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there is a reference to a John Tomy, who was a resident of Oxfordshire. This record provides further evidence of the name's existence in medieval England.

During the 14th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as Tomy, Tomey, and Tomye. This variation in spelling was common in those times due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

One notable individual with the surname Tomey was Sir Robert Tomey, a knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War during the 14th century. He was known for his bravery and military prowess in battles against the French.

In the 16th century, the name Tomey was found in the parish records of several English counties, including Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. This suggests that the surname had spread across various regions of England by that time.

Another prominent figure was Richard Tomey, a wealthy merchant who lived in London during the late 16th century. He was involved in the lucrative wool trade and became a prominent member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers.

In the 17th century, the Tomey family had established roots in the county of Devon. John Tomey, born in 1621, was a respected landowner and local magistrate in the town of Tiverton.

During the 18th century, the Tomey surname appeared in various records across different parts of England, indicating its widespread distribution. One notable individual was Thomas Tomey, a renowned clockmaker from Worcestershire, who was born in 1745 and gained recognition for his intricate and innovative timepieces.

Throughout history, the Tomey surname has been associated with various professions, including agriculture, military service, trade, and craftsmanship. Its evolution and variations in spelling reflect the rich tapestry of English history and the diverse backgrounds of those who bore this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tomey

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

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

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

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