Surname Tolley - Meaning and Origin
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A Journey into the Past: Exploring Tolley Lineage with iGENEA DNA Test
Embarking on an adventure into genetic history, I discovered a fresh perspective on my familial heritage through the iGENEA DNA test. The process divulged intricate details about the Tolley line, revealed surprising ethnicities and fostered international connections.
O. Tolley
read moreTolley: What does the surname Tolley mean?
The surname Tolley is of both English and Irish origin. The English version is an occupational name, derived from an agent noun from Middle English 'toll' meaning tax. Hence, it likely referred to someone who was a toll gatherer, one who collects taxes, tolls, or duties on roads and bridges.
On the other hand, the Irish version of the surname Tolley is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name O'Taithligh, which means "descendant of Taithleach". The personal name Taithleach is an old Gaelic name, the meaning of which is uncertain but could possibly mean "peaceable". It is a regional name from the province of Connacht.
Therefore, the meaning of the surname Tolley could refer to someone's profession (a toll gatherer), or denote a descendent of the Gaelic person named Taithleach. As with most surnames, it would ultimately depend on individual families and their ancestral history to determine the precise origin.
Order DNA origin analysisTolley: Where does the name Tolley come from?
The last name Tolley is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. In 2018, it was the 4,528th most popular name in the UK, with 6,242 people given the name across Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In England and Wales, Tolley is the 6,226th most popular name, with 5,544 people given the name. In Scotland, it was the 12,250th most common name, with 315 people given the name. It is much less common in other parts of the world.
In the United States, the last name Tolley is much less common than the UK. In 2018, it was the 22,936th most popular last name in the US, with 4,561 people bearing the name. It is particularly common in the south, especially in Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia.
In the past two centuries, many people with the last name Tolley have immigrated to the United States, particularly from England. In some parts of the world, such as Australia, Tolley is pronounced more like Tolley instead of Talee.
The last name Tolley is most-associated today with Britain, but can be found in the US, and parts of Australia, amongst those of British origin.
Variations of the surname Tolley
Tolley is an English surname, derived from a pre-7th century Anglo-Saxon nickname meaning one of the toll-men or collectors of dues. This surname can be spelled in multiple ways, including Tolly, Tally, Tallye, Tallye, Tallyer, and Tollyer. It can also be found in a variety of spellings and variant forms in Europe, ranging from Thole, Tohl, Tollen, Tollenbach, and Toelle in Germany, to Tolf, Tolo, Tolotti, and Tolotti in Italy. The Tolley surname is also found in America, with variants such as Tolay, Tolleys, Tolli, Tolly, and Tollah among others.
Additionally, other variants of the Tolley surname exist, such as Dulley, Hullby, Tillby, and Willbey in England and Wohle in Germany. The variation of the spelling may be due to the mishearing of a person’s name, dialectal variation in the language, and mistakes made when recording in official documents and accounts in the pre-modern period. It is also possible that older generations of the family adopted variant spelling and surnames for personal reasons, perhaps to distinguish themselves from other family members, or to adopt the name of a home region.
Famous people with the name Tolley
- Andrew Tolley: British Conservative MP
- Bill Tolley: American Heavy Metal Music Drummer
- Bruce Tolley: Founding member of The Buccaneers
- Hayden Tolley: British Olympic kayaker
- Jack Tolley: American Footballer
- Melissa Tolley: American Artist
- Peter Tolley: British Footballer and Patriotic League Member
- Patricia Tolley: American Boxer
- Reginald Tolley: British Politician and Chairman of the Conservative Party
- Richard Tolley: British Revolutionary and Politician
- Roy Tolley: British Footballer
- Stephen Tolley: British Entomologist
- Susan Tolley: Award-Winning Contemporary American Painter
- Thomas Tolley: American Actor and Singer
- William Tolley: American Cinematographer and Film Producer