Show ContentsTobey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Tobey family

The surname Tobey was first found in Holland, where the name became noted for its many branches in the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region. The name was first recorded in Amsterdam, an ancient 13th century town held by the Lords of Amstel. Giesebrecht II built a castle there. Geisbrecht III built the dam to keep out the sea. It is first mentioned in charters of 1275 when Floris IV, the count of Holland granted its charter. It became a city of great mercantile wealth. It hold great treasures of art. In their later history the surname became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into a most influential family.

Early History of the Tobey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tobey research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1597 is included under the topic Early Tobey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tobey Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Tobis, Töbis, Tobusch, Teublitz, Thobias, Thobis, Thöbis, Thobus, Teubas and many more.

Early Notables of the Tobey family

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

Tobey Ranking

In the United States, the name Tobey is the 6,289th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1


United States Tobey migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Tobey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • James Tobey, aged 35, who landed in New York in 1812 2
  • E. Tobey, who settled in San Francisco in 1850
  • F. Tobey, who settled in San Francisco in 1851
  • F Tobey, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 2
  • John Tobey, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 2

Canada Tobey migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Tobey Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Edwin Tobey, who settled in Ontario in 1861
  • Byron Tobey, who arrived in Ontario in 1861
  • Almon Tobey, who settled in Ontario in 1861
  • Amelia Tobey, who arrived in Ontario in 1861
  • Christy A. Tobey, who arrived in Ontario in 1861
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Tobey (post 1700) +

  • Jami Tobey (b. 1974), American contemporary painter
  • Rebecca Tobey (b. 1948), American contemporary sculptor
  • Stephanie Tobey, American producer and actress, known for The Shower (2013), Stolen Innocence (2015) and Dog Park (2014)
  • William H. Tobey (1799-1878), American politician, Member of the New York State Senate (1862-1863)
  • Ray Tobey (b. 1965), American computer and video game programmer, best known for writing the first arcade-style combat flight simulator game, Skyfox (1984)
  • Mark George Tobey (1890-1976), American abstract expressionist painter
  • Kenneth Tobey (1917-2002), American stage, film, and television actor, known for Whirlybirds (1957), The Thing from Another World (1951), It Came from Beneath the Sea (1955) and many more
  • John Williams Tobey, American architect, carpenter, builder and politician, Mayor of Neenah, Wisconsin
  • Franklin W. Tobey (1844-1878), American lawyer and politician, Member of the New York State Assembly (1872-1873), Member of the New York State Senate (1874-1877)
  • Edward Silas Tobey (1813-1891), American businessman, Postmaster of Boston, president of the American Missionary Association
  • ... (Another 15 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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