TOY
Toy
Toy is a surname of English origin. The name is derived from the Middle English word 'toi', meaning a piece of tawed leather, and was likely occupational in nature, referring to a worker in leather goods or a maker of small articles. Alternatively, it could have been a nickname for someone who was small or delicate in stature.
The first recorded instance of the surname Toy dates back to the 12th century in Essex, England. Over the centuries, bearers of the surname have been documented in various regions across the United Kingdom, particularly in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Kent.
The Toy family has been associated with a variety of professions and social classes throughout history. From artisans and craftsmen to landowners and merchants, individuals bearing the surname Toy have made contributions to diverse fields.
Notable bearers of the surname Toy include British artist and illustrator Sophie Toy, known for her intricate botanical drawings, and Thomas Toy, a prominent Victorian architect renowned for his Gothic Revival designs.
Today, the surname Toy continues to be found among families in the United Kingdom and the wider English-speaking world, carrying on the legacy of its origins and the achievements of its bearers through the ages.
There are approximately 1,181 people named Toy in the UK. That makes it roughly the 6,497th most common surname in Britain. Around 18 in a million people in Britain are named Toy.
Origin: Anglo-Saxon
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Philip
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
- Victor
- William
Female
- Alison
- Elizabeth
- Jayne
- Julie
- Kathleen
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Melanie
- Pamela
- Patricia
- Paula
- Phyllis
- Sarah
- Susan
- Victoria