Surname Tool - Meaning and Origin
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Tool: What does the surname Tool mean?
The last name Tool is of Irish origin, derived from the old Gaelic name O'Tuathail. This surname is used by a sept (a clan or similar kinship group among the Irish) who were the principal chiefs in County Kildare before the Anglo-Norman invasion in the 12th century. The Gaelic word 'Tuathal' means "ruler of the people," or "mighty people," thus highlighting the significant status that the bearers of the name held within the community. It's worth noting that many Irish surnames, including Tool, have often undergone changes in their phonetic spelling when translated to English, resulting in a wide range of variations. Thus, over time, O'Tuathail evolved into the more simplified versions like Toole, Tohill, and Tool.
Order DNA origin analysisTool: Where does the name Tool come from?
The surname Tool is of German origin, although today it is most commonly found in the United States. Specifically, the largest cluster of the surname Tool is found in Texas, followed by other states like Ohio, Georgia, and Virginia. In the U.S., 97% of the population with this name live in America, which indicates the presence of a long history of descent from German immigrants to the America.
The surname Tool is also present in Germany, where more than 400 people with the name live in various cities and towns. In Germany, Tool is usually found in the East of the country, though a small percent can be found in the South and West as well. Furthermore, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, both countries with a long history of immigration from German people, also present a notable number of people with the surname Tool.
The etymology of the name Tool remains uncertain. Some theories cite a direct origin from the German/Dutch words “tohlen” or “toel” which may have referred to a worker or a tool-maker. In addition, some think that the name originated from a place named Tool, which is found in the English county of Buckinghamshire. However, the true origin of the Tool surname remains a mystery.
Variations of the surname Tool
The surname Tool has a few variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most popular spelling is Tool, but it can also be spelled as Tulse, Toul, Tuel, Toole, Tol, Tooll, Twol or twoll. The variants of the name include Tule, Tuil, Twill and Tyrl.
The earliest known occurrence of Tool as a surname can be traced back to the mid-13th century in England and Scotland. The surname generally originrates from the Old English word “tol”, which was the name of a small village or settlement evenly spaced as part of a larger estate. In Ireland, the surname is found in counties such as Antrim and Armagh, where it is an anglicized spelling of the Gaelic O’Tuathail.
Tool is also a variant of the names Tull, Tulles, Towll and Tolles. This form is likely to have originated from an Anglo-Saxon personal name, Tolle, or from a number of place names derived from this personal name such as Tol, Toles, Tolls and Tolleys.
Tolle is a medieval English nickname for a person who had a specially large head or was bald. The surname Tulles is an old surname of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin. It is a variant of the Old English name Tull, derived from ‘toele’, meaning a round hill.
Other variants of Tool include the German Toelle, the Dutch Tolle, and the French Toullier. This surname is also found in the Hispanic region of Mexico and is known as Tule, as well as localized forms such as Tol, Tuil, Twill and Tyrl. It is also occasionally found in Polish records as Turl, Tole and Tule.
Famous people with the name Tool
- Maynard James Keenan: Lead singer of the popular American rock band Tool.
- Aaron Tool: Professional photographer and musician.
- Morris H. Tool: Former United States Representative from California.
- Jaquel Tool: Professional basketball player.
- Miranda Tool: American basketball player on the Paterson Lady Pacers.
- Silas Tool: Retired J.D. of the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Abi Tool: Singer and songwriter from England.
- innocence Reine Tool: CEO of a tech startup.
- Paul Tool: Award-winning author.
- Journell Tool: Prankster and comedic personality.
- Darrick Tool: Musician and producer.
- Kimberly Tool: Canadian aerobatics pilot.
- AJ Tool: Musician, singer and songwriter.
- Aramy Tool: Music producer in Toronto.
- Vani Tool: British supervising sound editor.