Toland History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

To escape the religious and political discrimination they experienced primarily at the hands of the English, thousands of Irish left their homeland in the 19th century. These migrants typically settled in communities throughout the East Coast of North America, but also joined the wagon trains moving out to the Midwest. Ironically, when the American War of Independence began, many Irish settlers took the side of England, and at the war's conclusion moved north to Canada. These United Empire Loyalists, were granted land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula. Other Irish immigrants settled in Newfoundland, the Ottawa Valley, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, however, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America and Australia. Many of those numbers, however, did not live through the long sea passage. These Irish settlers to North America were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. Irish settlers made an inestimable contribution to the building of the New World. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Irish name Toland or a variant listed above, including:

Toland Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• John Toland, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 2
• Michael Toland, aged 41, who arrived in Missouri in 1846 2
• Barnett Toland, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1871 2
• Hugh Toland, who arrived in Arkansas in 1892 2

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Toland Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Mary Toland, aged 22, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "William" in 1834

• W. H. Toland, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Arkansas, 1936 3
• Thomas J. Toland, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Delegate to Michigan State Constitutional Convention from Monroe County, 1961 3
• Joseph C. Toland, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1972 3
• Hugh Michael Toland, American Republican politician, Merchant; Banker; Member of Missouri State House of Representatives from Caldwell County, 1927-30 3
• George Washington Toland (1796-1869), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Pennsylvania State Senate 1st District, 1834-37; U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 2nd District, 1837-43 3
• Esther Howell Toland (b. 1892), American Republican politician, Member of New Hampshire Republican State Committee, 1932-44; Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from New Hampshire, 1936; Member of Republican National Committee from New Hampshire, 1936-48 3
• Edward Dale Toland (b. 1886), American Republican politician, Member of New Hampshire State House of Representatives, 1924-26; Candidate for U.S. Representative from New Hampshire, 1934 3
• Aquilla Toland, American politician, Delegate to Whig National Convention from Ohio, 1839; Presidential Elector for Ohio, 1840 3
• Alexandra D. Toland, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1956, 1964 3
• Christopher Toland (b. 1985), American figure skater, the 2004 U.S. Junior National Champion
• ... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)