Surname Toland - Meaning and Origin

Toland: What does the surname Toland mean?

The surname Toland is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "O'Tuathalain", which means "descendant of Tuathal". Tuathal was a popular Irish personal name, composed of the elements "tuath" (people) and "gal" (valor), thus the name suggests a leader or someone known for their courage amongst people. Over time, "O'Tuathalain" evolved into different forms, including Toal, Toole, and Toland. Many Irish surnames were anglicised during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries as a result of English domination and suppression of the Irish language and culture. The surname Toland is prominent in Northern Ireland, particularly in County Donegal. Like many surnames, various branches of the Toland family have developed their own unique coat of arms and family mottos. Overall, the Toland surname offers a fascinating glimpse into Ireland's rich cultural and historical past.

Toland: Where does the name Toland come from?

The last name Toland is a fairly common name, primarily found in English-speaking countries. It is especially prevalent in the United States and Ireland, though its origin comes from Scotland, where it is one of the oldest surnames in the British Isles.

Toland is derived from the Old Gaelic surname O'Teollain, which means "descendant of the chieftain". Historically, the O'Teollain sept lived in a region in South West Scotland, now known as Galloway.

It is unknown how far the surname has spread since its initial adoption. It is likely that there are now concentrations of the Toland surname in other parts of the world, although this cannot be verified as the surnames origin is unknown.

Today, Toland is the 121,664th most common surname in the United States, where it is estimated to be held by around 15,000 people. It is also estimated that there are around 250 people in Ireland with the surname Toland.

Toland remains a popular last name in English-speaking countries today, not only providing a link to the past but also creating a unique identity and sense of belonging for those who bear the name.

Variations of the surname Toland

Toland is a surname of Irish descent, and is derived from the Irish Gaelic "O'tallain". It is pronounced toe-LOND. Other variants of the surname include:

Tolan – An old Irish name, a variant of Toland. It is also an anglicised form of the Gaelic/Irish Ó Tóolláin.

Tolentino – An old version of the surname Toland, an anglicised version of mentalidad de la habitación ó Tóolláin.

Tollin - An older variant of the surname Toland, derived from Ó Tóolláin.

Tolland – A version of the name Toland, derived from Ó Tóolláin.

Toling – A variant spelling of Tollin, derived from Ó Tóolláin.

O'Toland – An often used form of the surname Toland, an Old Irish/Gaelic form which translates to Ó Tóolláin.

O’Tollan – An older spelling of the surname O'Toland, derived from the Old Irish/Gaelic name Ó Tóolláin.

Tullen - A variant of the surname Toland, derived from the Gaelic/Irish Ó Tóolláin.

Tolanne – Another variant of the surname Toland, derived from the Gaelic/Irish Ó Tóolláin.

Tullin – A variant of the surname Toland, derived from the Gaelic/Irish Ó Tóolláin.

Tollan – A client version of the surname Toland, an anglicised form of the Irish Gaelic Ó Tóolláin.

Tollen – A variant of the name Toland, derived from Ó Tóolláin.

Tullane – An old version of the surname Toland, derived from the Old Irish/Gaelic Ó Tóolláin.

It is important to note that the spelling and pronounciation of Irish surnames had been subject to considerable variation across different parts of Ireland and also through migrations as people moved across continents. Therefore, one should keep an open mind when researching the variations of a surname in order to gain an accurate understanding of their origin.

Famous people with the name Toland

• John Toland (1670-1722), Irish philosopher and deist
• James Toland (fl. 1745), American politician
• Nancy Toland (born 1941), American actress
• Bill Toland (born 1947), American newspaper reporter and author
• Jim Toland (born 1962), American soccer player
• Amber Toland (born 1979), American music video director
• Mark Toland (born 1987), Australian entertainer
• Zola Jean Toland (1889-1968), American photographer
• John Toland (1912-2004), American novelist
• Christine Toland (born 1983), American actress

Other surnames

Tolan