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

Tooks, 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 Tooks surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tooks in America

Tooks is the 59171st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tooks surname appeared 342 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 Tooks.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tooks 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 Tooks

The surname Tooks originated in England, deriving its name from the Old English word 'toc', meaning a small settlement or hamlet. The name first appeared in the medieval period, around the 11th century, when surnames began to be adopted across England.

Records from the Domesday Book of 1086 show the name Toc existing as a place name in various counties, including Tocheles in Sussex and Tochewelle in Bedfordshire. These place names likely gave rise to the surname Tooks, as people often took their surnames from the towns or villages they inhabited.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Tooks can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1191, which mention a William de Tokes. The 'de' prefix indicates that William was from a place called Tokes, which may have been a small village or hamlet in Gloucestershire.

The surname Tooks underwent various spelling variations throughout history, including Toke, Tooke, Toukes, and Tooks. These variations were common due to the inconsistent spelling practices of the time and the influence of regional dialects.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Tooks include John Tooks (c. 1540-1610), an English clergyman and author who wrote several theological works. Another prominent figure was Sir George Tooks (1588-1651), a member of the English gentry and a Royalist supporter during the English Civil War.

In the 17th century, Sir Thomas Tooks (1608-1675) was a prominent merchant and landowner in London. He served as an alderman and Sheriff of the City of London.

The 18th century saw the birth of Benjamin Tooks (1736-1818), a renowned English engraver and printmaker who produced engravings for various publications, including works by Shakespeare and Milton.

Finally, in the 19th century, Henry Tooks (1811-1868) was a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the former Holborn Town Hall.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who carried the surname Tooks throughout history, highlighting its English origins and the various spheres of influence in which Tooks family members made their mark.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tooks

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

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

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

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