Surname Toulmin - Meaning and Origin
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Toulmin: What does the surname Toulmin mean?
The surname Toulmin is of Anglo-Saxon origin and has a couple of potential meanings. It could be derived from the Old English given name "Tolman," which means "tax man" or "tax collector." This would suggest that the Toulmins could have been tax collectors or administrators of taxes in early England. Another possible meaning comes from the Old Norse "Thor" or "Thur" + "mund," translating to "Thor's protection." Thor was the powerful Norse god of thunder and protector of humanity meaning the name might have been given to those under the protection of this deity. It is important to note, just like with most surnames, associating it with an exact meaning can be tricky due to changes and adaptations over time.
Order DNA origin analysisToulmin: Where does the name Toulmin come from?
The surname Toulmin is of English origin, first found in Worcestershire. It is most closely associated with the counties of Warwickshire and Staffordshire, but is found scattered throughout England and Wales. This surname is believed to have derived from the Old English words “toul” and “mynster”, meaning an enclosure or monastic dwelling. It is suggested that the name could have been used to distinguish a person whose family had been associated with such a place.
Today, Toulmin is most common in the United Kingdom where it is the 1568th most popular last name. It is particularly common in the West Midlands area of England, including Shropshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire. It can also be found in the higher populated urban areas such as Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton.
Toulmin is less common in the United States, where it is estimated to be the 16703rd most popular last name. It is most prominently found in the states of Oklahoma, Kansas and Louisiana in the south of the country. Additionally, there are sizeable populations of the surname in states such as Washington and California on the west coast.
Given its concentration in the eastern states of Oklahoma, Kansas and Louisiana, it is thought that the surname was brought to the United States by British migrants.
Variations of the surname Toulmin
The surname Toulmin is of English origin and is likely derived from either the place-name 'Tolman' or 'Tolmin', or from the Old English personal name 'Tolma'.
Variants and spellings of the surname Toulmin include Toleman, Tolman, Toolman, Toulman, Touleman, Tolemon, Tolemon, Toolemon, Toulemon, Toulemon, Tolin, Towlin, Tolin, Tollen, Toolin, Toalin, Toulan, Toullan, Tullin, Tullan, Tholmon, Tholman, Tholeman, Tholoman, Toulmen, Toulmins, Toulmine, Taulman, Tawnman, Talman, Tawnemin, and Talmin.
The variant surnames Tolley, Tollie, Tolie, Towley and Tolly may also have arisen from a spoken form of Toulmin, as may Talmadge.
The Toulmin surname has many variants across English-speaking countries. In the United States, Tollman, Tholman and Tally are the most commonly found variations. In England, the variants Toolan and Tolan are most common. In Jamaica, variants such as Towelm and Towellman are present.
In conclusion, there are a wide range of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Toulmin. Variants across countries, origins of the name, and influences on its forms, have added to the diversity of the surname.
Famous people with the name Toulmin
- Stephen Toulmin: Stephen Toulmin was an English philosopher who developed influential theories of argumentation known as the Toulmin Model. He was co-founder of the influential journal New Literary History and longtime professor at the University of Southern California.
- David Toulmin: David Toulmin was a British doctor and health activist who developed theories of health promotion and worked with the World Health Organization. He was a professor at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and other universities.
- Richard Toulmin: Richard Toulmin is an English mathematician known for his work on the history of mathematics. He is a professor of Mathematics and history of mathematics at the Open University.
- Horace Toulmin: Horace Toulmin was a British engineer and civil servant who served as Queen Elizabeth's Master of Ordnance, a post he held for over 30 years.
- Jane Emmet de Toulmin: Jane Emmet de Toulmin was an American sculptor and women's rights activist. She was a leader in the women's suffrage movement, as well as an early advocate for the establishment of a professional women's organization.
- Josephine Toulmin: Josephine Toulmin was a British politician and civil rights campaigner. She served as the first women's rights representative for the British Labour Party.
- Edmund Toulmin: Edmund Toulmin was a British architect and Royal Navy engineer. He was known for his designs for churches, manor houses, and public buildings.
- Eliot Toulmin: Eliot Toulmin is an English biologist and social scientist who has made major contributions to our understanding of adaptive behavior, reward-seeking behavior, and animal communication. He is a professor at the University of Cambridge.