Explore the Family Name Tone
The meaning of Tone
1. English: variant of Town. This form of the surname has been established in Ireland since the 16th century. 2. Japanese (pronounced as two syllables): variously written, usually either 刀根 ‘sword’ and ‘root’ or 利根 ‘benefit’ and ‘root’, the latter version being the name of the Tone River, which was formerly the boundary between the provinces of Musashi (now Tokyo and Saitama prefecture) and Shimōsa (now Chiba prefecture), until it was diverted in early modern times to become the northern boundary of Chiba. Some families may have taken their name from the name of the river. Some characteristic forenames: Japanese Fumihiro, Hideo, Hideshi, Kiyoshi, Masayo, Toshio, Yozo.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Tone in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Tone saw a slight decrease in popularity from 2000 to 2010, moving from rank 19,629 to 20,434. This represents a 4.1% drop in its ranking. However, the number of people with this surname increased by 2.28% during the same period, growing from 1,271 to 1,300 individuals. The proportion of individuals with the surname Tone per 100,000 people also decreased by 6.38%, going down from 0.47 to 0.44.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #19,629 | #20,434 | -4.1% |
| Count | 1,271 | 1,300 | 2.28% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.47 | 0.44 | -6.38% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Tone
Regarding ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data indicates that the majority of individuals with the surname Tone identify as White, although this group's share decreased slightly from 79.62% in 2000 to 77.92% in 2010. The groups identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and Two or more races also saw minor decreases. Notably, there were significant increases in those who identify as Hispanic and American Indian and Alaskan Native, with their shares increasing by 68.02% and 71.43%, respectively. The proportion of individuals identifying as Black remained relatively stable, rising marginally from 7.63% to 7.85%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 79.62% | 77.92% | -2.14% |
| Black | 7.63% | 7.85% | 2.88% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 7.71% | 7.62% | -1.17% |
| Hispanic | 1.97% | 3.31% | 68.02% |
| Two or More Races | 2.44% | 2.23% | -8.61% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.63% | 1.08% | 71.43% |