Explore the Family Name Tonge
The meaning of Tonge
1. English (Lancashire): habitational name, primarily from Tonge (Lancashire), but also from other places similarly named, including Tong (Yorkshire), Tonge (Kent), Tong in Headcorn (Kent), Tonge (Leicestershire), and Tong (Shropshire). Some of these places appear to be named from Middle English tong(e) ‘tongue’ (Old English tunge), and the surname may occasionally be topographic, for someone who lived on a tongue-like projection of land; others are ultimately from Old English t(w)ang(e) ‘tongs, fork (of a river)’. 2. English: nickname from Middle English tonge ‘tongs, forceps’ (Old English tang(e)), for someone who made or used tongs or forceps, or alternatively from Middle English tong(e) ‘tongue’ (Old English tunge), perhaps for a chatterer or scold. 3. German: from a short form of the personal name Anton (see Anthony).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Tonge in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Tonge has seen steady growth over the past decade. In 2000, Tonge was ranked 24,763rd in terms of popularity among all surnames, but by 2010, it had climbed to 23,804th spot, marking a rise of 3.87%. The total count of individuals with this surname also grew from 944 in 2000 to 1,062 in 2010, an increase of 12.5%. This resulted in a slight elevation in the proportion per 100,000 people, from 0.35 to 0.36.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #24,763 | #23,804 | 3.87% |
| Count | 944 | 1,062 | 12.5% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.35 | 0.36 | 2.86% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Tonge
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals some shifts over the years. The percentage of individuals identified as White and bearing the surname Tonge decreased from 52.97% in 2000 to 46.99% in 2010. Concurrently, those who identified as Black increased their presence from 39.83% to 43.13% within the same period. Interestingly, the segment identifying with two or more races saw significant growth, rising by 60% from 2.65% to 4.24%. Meanwhile, the Hispanic group experienced a modest increase of 17.78%, moving from 3.6% to 4.24%. No individuals with the surname Tonge identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native during these decades.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 52.97% | 46.99% | -11.29% |
| Black | 39.83% | 43.13% | 8.29% |
| Two or More Races | 2.65% | 4.24% | 60% |
| Hispanic | 3.6% | 4.24% | 17.78% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |