Surname Toone - Meaning and Origin

Toone: What does the surname Toone mean?

The last name Toone is of English, Irish, or Scottish origin, and is derived from the Old English word "tun," meaning "enclosure," or "settlement." It is also a nickname for someone with a strong or loud voice. The surname can also be of Hebrew origin, derived from the biblical character Tohon, meaning "abundance."

The earliest known record of the surname dates back to 1568 when John Toone and his wife were christened in the parish of St. Margaret's, Westminster, London. The name has since spread to other countries, mainly through immigration or migration from Britain and Ireland, and is most common in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The Toone surname is of patronymic origin, meaning that it is derived from the first name of the father. The suffix "-son" or "-s" is typically added at the end of the name to show that the family belonged to the same surname. This was a common practice centuries ago when most people had only first names and a patronymic surname was used to differentiate individuals.

The Toone surname is associated with a particular type of humour known as "tooner", which originated in rural Irish communities during the 19th century. Tooner jokes typically have a touch of the absurd, and often involve a trickster-like protagonist who outwits others through wit and cunning.

The name Toone has been spelled in numerous ways over the years, with some common spellings including Tone, Toon, Tooney, Toonee, Thone, and Thowne. The spelling of names often varied depending on the country and region of origin.

Toone: Where does the name Toone come from?

The Toone surname is found predominantly in English-speaking countries. It is particularly common in the United States, where more than 40,000 individuals carry the name. Many families with the Toone name can trace their lineage back to Ireland, where records indicate the surname was in use from at least the 17th century.

In Ireland, the name is still found in several places, particularly in the counties Cork and Antrim. Other Irish counties, such as Dublin and Galway, have lower, but significant, Toone populations.

In the United States, the Toone name is most frequently found in the states of Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina. In addition, families with the Toone name are scattered throughout the country, particularly in the Midwest and Northeast, with Florida, Texas, and California having marginally lower rates of Toone populations.

The Toone surname has also spread beyond English-speaking countries with Toone families living in countries such as Canada, Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand.

Although not as common as other surnames, the Toone surname is still in use, with families bearing the name living in a variety of countries. Its prevalence in the United States, Ireland, and beyond prove that the Toone name is a timeless one unlikely to disappear in the near future.

Variations of the surname Toone

The surname Toone is derived from the Old English word tun, meaning "enclosure, an agricultural land." It is a topographic name for someone living by an enclosed piece of land. The variants and spellings for the surname are Ton, Toon, Tun, Tunn and Toun.

The surname Toone may also be an altered form of the Irish surname O Tuathain. This is derived from a Gaelic occupational name for a tribal chieftain. Variants of this name include Tuathal, Tuatha, Tuany, O’Tunney, O’Tanny, Tunney, and Tunny.

An alternative origin for the name may be the Old Gaelic name O’Tunche, meaning “son of the wolf”. Variants of this name include O’Tuane, O’Tune, Tunche, Tunch, Tunchee, and Tuns.

The surname may also be an anglicized version of the German family name Toune or Töne. This is a topographic name for someone who lived near a grove or a specific type of tree. Variants and alternate spellings of this name include Tone, Tonn, Toenn, Tohn, and Tohne.

The surname Toone is also found in the Dutch, Scandinavian, and Eastern European countries, such as the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland and Hungary. Variants of this name include Toun, Toon, Teun, Ton, Than, and Thon.

Famous people with the name Toone

• Charles William Toone (1860-1937): Canadian-born American educator and musicologist.
• David Toone (1906-1987): Canadian engineer, scientist, and academic.
• Jamie Toone (1975-present): American actor, writer, and producer.
• Jef Toone (1936-2020): American basketball player.
• Renee Toone (1934-2019): American abstract expressionist painter.
• T. Clarice Toone (1928-2002): British pulp fiction and romance writer.
• Wesley Toone (1906-1983): American jazz saxophonist and a vocalist who performed with many big bands of the 1930s and 1940s.
• Anyssa Toone (1992-Present): Canadian actress and dancer, best known for her roles in The Magicians, You Me Her, and Dead Shack.
• Ben Toone (1979-Present): South African artist, known for his unique art style focusing on blending a 3D model with traditional painting techniques.
• Faith Toone (1953-Present): Canadian-born American lawyer and author.

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