Surname Toby - Meaning and Origin
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Toby: What does the surname Toby mean?
Toby is a last name of French origin, believed to be derived from the personal name Tobias. The name Tobias is composed of two Hebrew elements - Tob (God is good) and yah (God).
The given name Toby was most likely brought to England in the 12th century following the Norman Conquest, and would eventually become used as a surname.
The last name Toby could also have come from the French ‘Tobie’, which is derived from the Germanic ‘Thobi’, which comes from the element ‘thob’ meaning “the people”.
The meaning of the name Toby can therefore be interpreted as “God is good to the people”, a hopeful sentiment for its original bearers.
In recent times, the surname Toby has been prominent in English literature, such as in William Makepeace Thackeray's famous Victorian novel Vanity Fair, in which the rich, lecherous character Mr. Toby Shandy appears.
In the present day, the last name Toby is popular around the world, especially in the US, the UK, France, Germany, and Canada.
People with the surname Toby may have a deep sense of justice, strength of character, and be very committed to their goals. Toby is a strong and enduring last name, bearing witness to its proud ancestry.
Order DNA origin analysisToby: Where does the name Toby come from?
The last name Toby is of Irish origin and is most commonly found in the United States and Canada. It is primarily concentrated in the Midwestern and Northeastern states such as Michigan, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
In the United States, Toby is ranked as the 2,629th most common surname in the country. That means that there were almost 4,351 people in the United States with this last name in 2020. The five states with the highest percentage of Toby in their population are Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois respectively.
In Canada, Toby is ranked as the 1,244th most common last name. That translates to about 3,609 individuals with this surname in 2020. Around 40.5% of people with this surname live in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
The name Toby, although common, is not overly saturated. This is a family name that has been passed down through the generations but still stands out among others. For those who are looking for a last name that reflects their heritage, the name Toby is worth considering.
Variations of the surname Toby
The surname Toby has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include:
Tobie: This variant originated from the English form of the biblical male name ‘Tobias’. Tobie is considered to be a chiefly American spelling of Toby.
Tobyne: Tobyne is a variant spelling of Toby found in Scotland.
Tooby: This variant of Toby is also found chiefly in the United States.
Tobey: Another chief US spelling of Toby.
Tobeyne: A surname found in Scotland.
Tobian: A variant of the Biblical name Tobias originating in France.
Tobi: A variant of Toby of Hebrew origin.
Tobeyne: A Scottish name derived from Tobias.
Tobyng: A rare English surname, derived from the Middle English word ‘Tobyn’.
Tovy: A variant of Toby found chiefly in India and Pakistan.
Tovey: A variant spelling found in England.
Tovye: Another variant spelling found in England.
Tovyne: A variant spelling found in Scotland.
Tovayne: A variant spelling found in Scotland.
Tovin: A variant spelling found in the United States.
Lastly, Toby can also be a nickname for ‘Tobias’ or ‘Tobia’, or it as a surname that is derived from a place name.
Famous people with the name Toby
- Toby Keith, American country music singer-songwriter, producer, actor and businessman
- Toby Froud, English puppeteer, artist, and filmmaker
- Toby Schmitz, Australian actor and playwright
- Toby Regbo, British actor and musician
- Toby Stephens, English stage, television and film actor
- Toby Jones, English actor
- Toby Walker, Australian-American blues musician
- Toby Mergler, American film and television actor
- Toby Gad, German songwriter and producer
- Toby Hare, British actor, comedian, director and writer
- Toby Cecchini, American food writer, bartender and restaurateur
- Toby Boyce, British television producer and director
- Toby Kebbell, English actor
- Toby Parker, English actor
- Toby Bost, American composer and saxophonist
- Toby Greene, Australian rules footballer
- Toby Huss, American actor, voice artist and comedian
- Toby Tiger, California-based natural children's clothing brand
- Toby Hemenway, American permaculture teacher, author and ecologist
- Toby Mac, American contemporary Christian music singer-songwriter, author and rapper