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

Tozer, 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 Tozer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tozer in America

Tozer is the 21868th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tozer surname appeared 1,188 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 Tozer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tozer 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 Tozer

The surname Tozer originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word 'tose' or 'tosere', which referred to a person who carded wool or prepared it for spinning. This occupation was a crucial part of the textile industry in many English towns and villages during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tozer can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Norfolk, a census-like record compiled in 1273. This document mentions a John le Toser, indicating the surname's use at that time. The addition of 'le' before the occupational name was a common practice in medieval England.

The Tozer surname is also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a William Tosere is listed as a taxpayer. This record further confirms the name's association with the wool trade and its presence in different parts of England.

During the 14th century, the Tozer surname appeared in various legal documents and records. In 1379, a John Tozer was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire. Additionally, the Poll Tax returns of 1381 recorded a Thomas Tozer in Cambridgeshire.

As the centuries progressed, variations in the spelling of the surname emerged. In the 16th century, a Thomas Towzer was recorded in the Wills and Administrations of the Archdeaconry of Suffolk in 1592. The 'Towzer' spelling likely resulted from regional dialect and pronunciation differences.

Notable individuals with the Tozer surname include:

1. Henry Tozer (1602-1668), an English clergyman and religious writer who served as the Rector of Houghton-le-Spring in County Durham.

2. John Tozer (1737-1804), a British Royal Navy officer who participated in the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolutionary Wars.

3. Alfred Tozer (1820-1888), an English Anglican clergyman and writer who served as the Principal of the Codrington College in Barbados.

4. Henry Fanshawe Tozer (1829-1916), an English classical scholar and tutor at Oxford University, known for his translations of ancient Greek texts.

5. Horace Tozer (1844-1916), a British explorer and traveler who undertook expeditions in Asia Minor and wrote several books about his travels.

The Tozer surname has a rich history rooted in the wool trade and textile industry of medieval England. Its evolution over the centuries reflects the linguistic and regional variations that shaped many English surnames during that time period.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tozer

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

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

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

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