Surname Toinby - Meaning and Origin

Toinby: What does the surname Toinby mean?

The last name Toinby generally comes from a Norse origin. It consists of two elements, "to" which means "new," and "by" which means "farm" or "settlement," put together, literally meaning "new farm" or "new settlement."

The Toinby family is widespread across the British Isles, especially in the northern regions. Notable Toinbys have their pedigree back to 13th-century Scotland, where a cut stone bears the name inscribed in ‘ancient runes’, found at the Tower of Tarbat Castle in Ross-Shire.

Members of the Toinby family were commonly found in several prominent occupations of the time, including farmers, farmers' sons, merchants, sea captains and ship-owners. Some held positions of authority in their local communities, while others moved around Scotland and other counties, giving rise to all sorts of different lineages of the Toinby family.

The Toinby name is still seen today, especially in Scotland although it has been Anglicized as "Tombay," "Tomboy" and "Tombie." It is likely that the name has also evolved over the centuries, taking on local variations such as “Toimb” and “Tewmba”. The surname is still prominent in many parts of the world and is a reminder of the Toinby family’s roots in the British Isles.

Toinby: Where does the name Toinby come from?

The Toinby surname is relatively uncommon today and is believed to be of English origin. The surname can be found throughout the United Kingdom, especially in the Midlands region. It is also found sporadically throughout Europe as well as parts of North America.

The English towns of Leicester, Loughborough, and Nottingham all have records of individuals with the Toinby surname dating back to the 15th century. There is evidence to suggest that the name was derived from a combination of the Old French word 'toine', meaning a pointed hill. This, combined with 'by', the Old Norse for farm or settlement, suggests the family was likely descended from a tenant farmer near a small hill or mound.

In the 20th century, the Toinby surname spread to countries such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Today, the surname continues to be scattered throughout the world. Despite its rarity, there are still communities with a strong connection to the Toinby name. In these areas, the name will most likely continue to be an important part of genealogical research and family histories for years to come.

Variations of the surname Toinby

The surname Toinby is a patronymic surname derived from the Forename "Toby". Patronymic surnames are names that have been passed down through generations, with each generation creating a variation on the original spelling of the name. Variations of Toinby, spellings of the same origin, and surnames of the same origin include:

Towbin, Tobin, Toobing, Tubyn, Tubin, Tubing, Tobyn, Tobing, Tobyne, Toobyn, Toobing, Tooby, Toeby, Tobey, Toebey, Towbey, Townby, Toppin, Toffin, Toopin, Topin, Toybin and Toybing.

Other variants of this surname are found internationally, given both historical immigration patterns and variations in language. In Ireland, Tobin is a well-known version of the name, while in Scotland, Toppin is a common spelling. In Germany, Tobing is found, with Dutch Tomebijn and French Tubing. In Italy, Toffin is a variation, while in Spain the spelling is Toopin.

Toinby is also an anglicized version of the Gaelic name Thobhaibh, which is close in pronunciation to this spelling. Thobhaibh features the plus sign, which is an important indicator of the historical roots of the surname. Other variants of the name Thobhaibh include: Thobie, Tobbie, MacTobie, MagTobie, MacThobie, MagThobie, MacTobbhe, MagTobbhe, Thobay, Tobey and Tobay.

Ultimately, the many variants of Toinby reflect its long history and distribution throughout the world. In addition to English, Irish and Scottish origins, Toinby is found in multiple languages and locations, attesting to its breadth of origin and history.

Famous people with the name Toinby

• Maxine Peake: English actress, best known for roles in The Theory of Everything and BBC's Silk.
• Josh Toinby: Welsh rock singer and songwriter.
• Phyllis Toinby: English actress, who was successful in the late 1940s and the 1950s.
• Joe Toinby: Professional American soccer player who played for the LA Galaxy, among other clubs.
• John Toinby: Former British and Irish Lions rugby union international.
• Jane Toinby: English cellist, who has performed with the London Symphony Orchestra.
• Henry Toinby: English composer, best known for the soundtrack to the Ridley Scott film Blade Runner.
• Michael Toinby: Australian actor, best known for his role in the soap opera, Neighbours.
• William Toinby: British politician and former MP for Worcestershire.
• Charles Toinby: Founding President of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia.

Other surnames

Toinbee