Surname Toole - Meaning and Origin

Toole: What does the surname Toole mean?

The surname Toole is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "O'Tuathail," which means "descendant of Tuathal." Tuathal has been a popular Irish given name for centuries and it means "ruler of the people" or "prince." Therefore, the surname Toole essentially connotes being from a line of rulers or leaders. The Tooles were an influential family in Irish history, especially during medieval times. It is important to note that the spelling of names often changed over centuries due to a variety of social, political, and cultural shifts. Other common variations of the name include O’Toole, Tohill, Thool, and Tohill. As Irish people migrated to different parts of the world, especially during the time of the Irish diaspora, they carried their surnames with them, leading to the worldwide presence of the Toole surname today.

Toole: Where does the name Toole come from?

The last name Toole is a common surname today in both Ireland and the United States. In Ireland, the Toole surname originated in the province of Connacht. It is one of the most numerous surnames in the province and is still a popular name in rural parts of Connacht.

The Toole name is also common in the United States. It became a prominent surname in the early twentieth century as a result of Irish immigration. Many Tooles settled in the Northeast, although the name is found in other parts of the country too. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Toole was the 1044th most popular last name in 2020 and was estimated to have accounted for around 8600 individuals in the US alone.

In 2020, the Toole surname was the seven thousandth most common surname in Ireland and had an estimated three hundred and eighty appearances in the Irish Births and Baptism registers. Today, Toole is still a prominent Irish surname, existing in hundreds of variations of spelling popular throughout the country.

Variations of the surname Toole

The surname Toole is of Irish origin, first found in Kilkenny and Wexford. It is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name O Tuathail, which means ‘descendant of Tuthal’. The Gaelic name is composed of the elements ‘tuathal’, meaning ‘people ruler’, plus the diminutive suffix ‘-ail’.

The variants of the name Toole include: O'Toole, Towll, MacO'Toole, Tawell, Tuohill, Towel, Tohill, Toolee, Tolle, Tohall, O'Tolle, Tooill, Toule, Tull, Tooill, Tolill, Towl and Tull.

Spellings of the surname Toole include: Tooill, Towll, Tolill and Tull.

Surnames related to Toole include: O'Tolle, Tooill, Toule, Tuohill, Tawell, Tolle, Towl, Tohall, Tohill, Toole, Tolill and Tull.

The Toole surname is most commonly found in the counties of Kilkenny and Wexford in Ireland, though it is also found in other parts of Ireland as well as in other parts of the world.

Famous people with the name Toole

• John Kennedy Toole: American novelist. He wrote A Confederacy of Dunces, a book which received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction posthumously in 1981.
• A.J. Toole: American film and television director, producer, and writer best known for his work on Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, The League, Silicon Valley and Shorty McShorts' Shorts.
• Sean Toole: Actor and writer from Los Angeles, known for his work in Criminal Minds and Castle.
• Ellen Toole: American dancer and actress, known for her roles in the television series Pretty Little Liars and True Detective.
• Gary Toole: American character actor, best known for his role in the movie Heat.
• Marina Toole: American filmmaker and producer, known for her documentary Sueños de Chamba and for producing the short film Poker Night.
• Chloe Toole: American cinematographer and editor, best known for her work on the documentary Unmarked: The Growing Crime of Human Trafficking.
• Chris Toole: American voice actor, best known for his work in Mater's Tall Tales, Cars Toons, and Cars 2.
• Jordan Toole: American social media personality and Instagram influencer.
• Bob Toole: English former professional cricketer who played for Northamptonshire.

Other surnames

ToolTooley