TONER
The surname Toner is documented in both English and Irish historical records, offering two distinct etymological traditions.
In Ireland the name is traditionally linked to the Gaelic word tonnair, meaning “thunder.” It is thought to have arisen as a nickname for an individual with a loud or booming voice or a powerful presence. The surname is comparatively common in Ireland and has travelled to other English‑speaking countries through established patterns of Irish emigration.
The English lineage of Toner appears to date from the 12th century, originating from the Old English ton (a town or settlement) combined with the suffix -er. The resulting meaning suggests a person who originated from a farm or hamlet but worked elsewhere. Early English records include Andrew Le Toner of Pinchbeck in Suffolk in 1273, John Joners witnessed a deed at St Martin’s in the Field, Westminster, on 20 November 1706, Thomas Tooner who married Elizabeth Burnell at St Sepulchre, London, on 26 October 1714, and Fanny Sarah Tonner christened at St Mary Lambeth, London, on 7 March 1821.
The earliest known spelling of the family name in English documentation is “Hugh Tunere,” recorded in 1242 in the Court of Fees of Warwickshire during the reign of King Henry the first, known as “The Frenchman” (1216‑1272).
In a separate Irish tradition of Norse‑Viking origin, the surname derives from the personal name Tomar, the name of a 10th‑century Scandinavian king of Dublin. The Gaelicised patronymic form became O’Tomhrarr, signifying “descendant of Tomar.” In the late medieval period the consonant m seems to have been transposed to n, producing the name as Toner. Significant early figures include Patrick O’tHonyr, a priest who was excommunicated in 1435, and John Thoner, who served as Bishop of Lismore from 1554 to 1565. The clan associated with this line held substantial lands on the River Foyle.
These historical strands show that the surname Toner has both English and Irish roots, with the Irish forms further divided between a Gaelic nickname and a Norse‑Viking patronymic, each documented in credible medieval sources.
Typical given names associated with the Toner surname
Male
- David
- James
- John
- Joseph
- Michael
- Patrick
- Paul
- Peter
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Catherine
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Fiona
- Kathleen
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Mary
- Maureen
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Sharon
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Toner in...
Braille
⠞⠕⠝⠑⠗
Morse
-----...-.
Semaphore
There are approximately 2,943 people named Toner in the UK. That makes it roughly the 3,031st most common surname in Britain. Around 45 in a million people in Britain are named Toner.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Ireland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Toner
- Ciarán Toner - Northern Irish football player
- Jimmy Toner - Scottish football player (1924 to 2016)
- Willie Toner - Scottish football player and manager (1929 to 1999)
- Joe Toner - Northern Irish football player (1894 to 1954)
- Fionnuala Toner -
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.