Show ContentsTave History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Tave is a local name "from the parish of Tough (Gaelic tulach, a knoll), near Alford, Aberdeenshire. The "ch" and "gh" have the guttural pronunciation of "ch" in "loch." In a roll of missing charters of David II is one to Isabel Toulch, sister to Henry Toulch, of the lands of Toulch in the sheriffdom of Abirdene " [1]

Further to the south in England, the name could have been derived from the Old French word touche, meaning thicket, and indicates that the original bearer lived near a thicket. [2] Alternatively, the name could have been a nickname for someone who was "sturdy; capable of endurance." [3] [4]

Early Origins of the Tave family

The surname Tave was first found in Aberdeenshire. "Sande Towcht in Aberdeen was ordered in 1538 to find caution for "strubbling" others. Sir James Toucht was a notary in Fife, 1549, Thomas Tucht was keeper of the inner door of Exchequer in 1561, one Touch is recorded as burgess of Dysart in 1508, and Jonn Towichte was a "baixter" in Aberdeen in 1581." [1]

In England, Cheshire was the home to many of the family. Here they claim descent from Joslin de Touche, who was granted lands by King William, the Duke of Normandy, after the Conquest. The Touches were Lords of Audley, the Earls of Castlehaven. It is generally thought that by the 14th century, many of these Norman nobles moved north to Scotland and were granted land by King David of Scotland.

Some remained in England as in Kent, we found Nicholas le Toghe in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1275 and Alicia la Towe in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in the same year. [4]

Early History of the Tave family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tave research. Another 188 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1361, 1549, 1561, 1611, 1653 and 1748 are included under the topic Early Tave History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tave Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Touch, Toulch, Tough, Tuff, Tuf, Toucht and others.

Early Notables of the Tave family

More information is included under the topic Early Tave Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Tave family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: William Tuff, who settled in Western Bay, Newfoundland, in 1794; Captain George Tuff from Dorset died in St. John's Newfoundland in 1835; John Tuff was a schoolmaster of Catalina, Newfoundland, in 1839.



  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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