The Toy surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 5,784 people carried this name — #5,951 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 51,000 people counted. That is up 1% from 5,730 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Toy surname

As an English and Welsh surname

An early record he cites: Warin Toy, Cambridgeshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Toy and Toye.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 761 · public domain.

As a surname in the United Kingdom

Harrison explains it as ‘National Spear’.

From the Old Norse Thióðgeir, a 13th–14th-century East and North English name; or from the Irish O'Tuaith, “Descendant of Tuath”, i.e. northern.

From Henry Harrison, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary, vol. II (London: The Morland Press, 1918), p. 232 · public domain.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 61 people named Toy live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Buenos Aires Province.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Buenos Aires Province 32
Neuquén 15
La Pampa 14

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 46 people named Toy.

8 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 12 départements, most often Hautes-Pyrénées.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 8
Hautes-Pyrénées 11
Loir-et-Cher 6
Ille-et-Vilaine 4
Haut-Rhin 4
Indre-et-Loire 3
Guadeloupe 2
Gironde 2
Paris 2

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

42 people named Toy live in Switzerland.

They live in 5 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Zurich.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Zurich 19
Bern 9
Aargau 5
Fribourg 5
Lucerne 4

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In print

Toy in American newspapers,
1859–1922.

Newspaper page from Pointe Coupee Democrat carrying the name Toy
Pointe Coupee Democrat 1859-02-26
Newspaper page from The Ogden Standard-examiner carrying the name Toy
The Ogden Standard-examiner 1922-06-23
Newspaper page from Missouri Valley Times carrying the name Toy
Missouri Valley Times 1905-03-23

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 2,010 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Toy in Australian newspapers,
1830s–2000s.

20,180 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Toy. The most, 3,887, date from the 1910s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in the Northern Territory, at 2.3 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 5,925
Victoria 5,763
Queensland 3,581
Western Australia 1,949
South Australia 1,926
Tasmania 730
ACT (Canberra) 225
Northern Territory 59

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Toy.

Who carried it

People named Toy,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Crawford Howell Toy
    Crawford Howell Toy 1836–1919 · writer
  • Humfrey Toy d. 1575 · merchant
  • Jorge Arturo Toy Vergara d. 1973 · merchant
  • Joana de Toy d. 1619 · housewife
  • Joana de Toy d. 1619 · housewife
  • Willie Toy d. 2015

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Toy,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States765 records

765 records of the Toy name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 217
  • U.S. alien registration index, 1940–1955 197
  • Other U.S. records 351
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Share L. Toy

    Born 1906. Enlisted 1942 at Portland, Oregon; cook from Multnomah County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1987, buried at Willamette National Cemetery, Oregon.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Rose Toy

    Arrived at New York in 1862 aboard the Emerald Isle from Liverpool, aged 20; servant. From Donegal, Ireland.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Gerald Oscar Toy

    Born 1946; from Los Angeles, California. U.S. Army, infantryman; killed in action 1966 in South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 765 records for Toy in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia342 records

342 records of the Toy name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 156
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 77
  • Other Australian records 109
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record John Toy

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Lord Petre, sailing from London in 1843. Native of Birmingham, Warwickshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1850.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Mary Anne Toy

    Arrived in Tasmania in 1855 aboard the John Bell from Greenock. Married 1867 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 19.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Benjamin T. Toy

    Cabinet maker of Bendigo, Victoria; died 1926.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 342 records for Toy in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Canada61 records

61 records of the Toy name in Canada
  • City of Winnipeg cemetery records 25
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 16
  • Other Canadian records 20
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Chas Toy

    Came to Ontario in 1870 aboard the Tweed, landing at Quebec, bound for Weston, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Tom Toy

    Buried in 1965 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 71.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Jan Tom Toy

    Died 1965 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 61 records for Toy in Canada.

Counts: City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

France21 records

21 records of the Toy name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Victor Henri Toy

    Born 1895 in Montoire-sur-le-Loir; died 1973 in Blois (Loir-et-Cher).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Juliette Armandine Toy

    Born 1902 in Limeray (Indre-et-Loire); died 1987 in Draguignan (Var).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Raymond Maurice Toy

    Born 1914 in Paris; died 1973 in Villebéon (Seine-et-Marne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 21 records for Toy in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

New Zealand12 records

12 records of the Toy name in New Zealand Christchurch City cemetery records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Elizabeth Toy

    Died 1943, aged 83; buried at Lyttelton Public Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Martha Anne Toy

    Died 1940, aged 46; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Charles Toy

    Died 1922, aged 66; buried at Lyttelton Public Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 12 records for Toy in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

United Kingdom9 records

9 records of the Toy name in the United Kingdom War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record T. Toy

    Bombardier, King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment). Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record H. Toy

    East Lancashire Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record J. A. Toy

    Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 9 records for Toy in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Netherlands7 records

7 records of the Toy name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 4
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 3
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Alexander Toy

    Married in 1628 in Rotterdam.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Emily Diana Toy

    In the population register of Vlissingen; born 1843.

    Open Archives, Gemeentearchief Vlissingen (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Christian Toy

    Baptised in 1630 in Deventer.

    Open Archives, Collectie Overijssel, locatie Deventer (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 7 records for Toy in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Toy.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Toy is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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