Surname Toynbie - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'T'
Toynbie: What does the surname Toynbie mean?
The last name Toynbee is an English patronymic last name, originally derived from the name of a person's father. It is derived from the Middle English name "Touin", meaning "big stream".
The name has been featured in literature since at least the 15th century, when it was used as a first name and surname for members of a John Touin/Touinbee family. Since that time, the name has been spelled variously, including Toynbee, Toynbbee, Toynbie, Toynibee, and Toynebee.
Toynbee is a variant of the more common surname Tawney, which has similar origins. Both surnames originated as English compound surnames, as the first part of the name consistently referred to the father. The prefix "toyn" derived from the Middle English touin meaning "big stream" and was used as a nickname for a person who lived near a large river or stream. The ending "bee", on the other hand, derives from the Old English word bēn, "bench", which described a bench raised in a meadow or marsh. This ending indicated that the original bearer of the name was a local landowner or a professional such as a lawyer.
The Toynbee family is still present today in several countries, including England, Canada, and the United States. As members of the Toynbee family moved around the world, they often changed the spelling of their name. It is possible to trace the roots of Toynbees from different countries to a suggested common ancestor. Although the modern Toynbee family is scattered around the world, they may all share a common ancestor who lived centuries ago.
Order DNA origin analysisToynbie: Where does the name Toynbie come from?
The Toynbee surname is primarily associated with England and Wales. It is a locational name that originated from various places named Toynbee in Somerset, Warwickshire, Yorkshire, and Lancashire. Families with this surname are believed to have descended from someone who was Lord of the Manor of one of these Toynbee settlements.
The Toynbee name can be found in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. The countries where this surname is the most common today include England, Wales, Canada, and Australia.
In England, the Toynbee surname is most commonly found in the south of the country, particularly London. The majority of those bearing this surname are concentrated in the southeast of the country, including Kent, Hampshire, Surrey, and London. London is home to the largest population of Toynbee’s, with nearly one thousand households bearing the name.
In Canada, the Toynbee name can be found primarily in New Brunswick, Ontario, and British Columbia. In the United States, it is most common in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, and North Dakota.
In Australia, the Toynbee surname is most concentrated in New South Wales, with a small number living in Victoria. It is estimated that over 500 Toynbees currently live in Australia.
The Toynbee surname is not particularly common in any country. However, it is still found in sizable numbers in England, the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Variations of the surname Toynbie
The Toynbee surname has many variant spellings that vary according to geographic region. Some common variations include Toinbee, Toinbi, Toinbey, Toinby, and Toenby. In North American countries, these variations are often pronounced differently, sometimes as TOW-n-bee, TOWN-bee, or TOON-bee.
In the United Kingdom, the surname can also be spelledTouinbee, Towinbee, Towinby, and Touinby. In the US, the surname is usually spelled Toynbee but has other variants found in Scotland and Ireland, such as Toinbee and Toinbey.
Other variations of the surname include Tunnybee, Tounybee, Tounybi, Tounby, and Tounbee. In Australia, one variant of the surname is Toenby, which is derived from the Irish O’Tunnibhuidhe, meaning “son of the bear”.
The Toynbee surname is believed to have derived from a place name in England, derived from the Old English ‘Tani’, or ‘Tunna’, meaning ‘enclosure’ and ‘bi’, meaning ‘dwelling’.
The surname is shared by many related families and can also be found as Tinby, Tanby, Tinneybee, Tenneybee, Tennybee, Tonbee, Tunbee, and Tonnebee. Other surnames that have similar origins include Tynnebe, Tunnybe, Tennabee, Tennibee, Thonbey, and Tinniby.
Finally, the surnames Townbee, Tawnby, Teemby, Toothbee, and Toothby are derived from the nickname "Toot," which is a term of endearment for a small or short person.
Famous people with the name Toynbie
- Arnold Toynbee: Arnold Toynbee was a British historian and philosopher of the twentieth century. He is best known for his 12-volume study entitled A Study of History which argued for the cyclical nature of human societies.
- Arnold Toynbee Jr.: Arnold Toynbee Jr. was the son of Arnold Toynbee and was also a noted philosopher and author. He wrote a book called The Worldrahmastja and was a board member for the Center for Advanced Studies.
- Sarah Toynbee: Sarah Toynbee is the daughter of Arnold Toynbee and an English historian and academic. She serves as a professor of History and English at the University of York.
- Peter Toynbee: Peter Toynbee is the son of Arnold Toynbee and is an English journalist and author. He was a former editor of The Times and his writing has appeared in numerous publications.
- Phoebe Toynbee: Phoebe Toynbee is the great-granddaughter of Arnold Toynbee and is an English stage, television, and film actress.
- Charles Toynbee: Charles Toynbee was a British historian and sociologist. He wrote educational texts for children and wrote for The Saturday Review and The Nation.