Show ContentsToogood History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The earliest origins of the name Toogood date back to the time of the Anglo-Saxons. The name is derived from the baptismal name Thurgod, an ancient font name. After the Norman Conquest, the Old English naming system gradually dissolved. Old English names became less common and were replaced by popular continental European names. The earliest surnames in England were found shortly after the Norman Conquest and are of Norman French rather than native English origins.

Early Origins of the Toogood family

The surname Toogood was first found in Hertfordshire where they were descended from Turgod, "a Domesday [Book] baptismal appellation" [1] and the name has often been confounded with Toogood.

Early History of the Toogood family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Toogood research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1595, 1647, 1660, 1667, 1669, 1683, 1700, 1715 and 1792 are included under the topic Early Toogood History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Toogood Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Toogood include Thoroughgood, Throwgrood, Thorowgood, Thorogood, Toogood and many more.

Early Notables of the Toogood family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir John Thorowgood; and Richard Towgood (1595?-1683), an English Royalist clerygman, Dean of Bristol (1667-1683.)Michaijah Towgood (1700-1792), was an English dissenting minister, born at Axminster, Devonshire, and was the second son of Michaijah...
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Toogood Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Toogood migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Toogood or a variant listed above:

Toogood Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Mary Toogood, who arrived in Maryland in 1649 [2]
  • Joseph Toogood, who landed in Virginia in 1654 [2]
  • Edward Toogood, who arrived in Virginia in 1656 [2]
  • Ja Toogood, who landed in Virginia in 1657 [2]
Toogood Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • William Toogood, who arrived in New England in 1715 [2]
Toogood Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • James Toogood, who arrived in New York in 1832 [2]
  • Sarah Toogood, aged 35, who immigrated to the United States, in 1895
  • Edward Toogood, aged 20, who landed in America from Bournemth, in 1897
Toogood Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Albert Toogood, aged 40, who settled in America from London, in 1905
  • Albert James Toogood, aged 25, who immigrated to the United States from Brighton, England, in 1907
  • Edith Toogood, aged 25, who settled in America from Cleethorpe, England, in 1907
  • Philip Toogood, aged 0, who settled in America from Cleethorpe, England, in 1907
  • Johanna Toogood, aged 23, who settled in America from Brighton, England, in 1908
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Toogood migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Toogood Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Samuel Toogood, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1760
Toogood Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Thomas F. Toogood, aged 52, who settled in Alberta, Canada, in 1920

Australia Toogood migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Toogood Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Stephen Toogood, English convict who was convicted in Wiltshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Clyde" on 20th August 1830, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [3]
  • Joseph Toogood, English convict from Somerset, who was transported aboard the "Argyle" on March 5th, 1831, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia [4]

New Zealand Toogood migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Toogood Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • George Toogood, aged 34, who arrived in Hawkes Bay aboard the ship "Queen of the North" in 1874
  • Catherine Toogood, aged 28, who arrived in Hawkes Bay aboard the ship "Queen of the North" in 1874
  • Ann Toogood, aged 1, who arrived in Hawkes Bay aboard the ship "Queen of the North" in 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name Toogood (post 1700) +

  • David J. Toogood, United States Antarctic Research Program geologist at McMurdo Station, eponym of Mount Toogood, Antarctica
  • Charles Wayne "Charlie" Toogood (1927-1997), American NFL football defensive lineman
  • Giles John Toogood (b. 1961), English former cricketer
  • Jonathan Charles Toogood (b. 1971), New Zealand lead vocalist and guitarist of the New Zealand rock band Shihad
  • Selwyn Featherston Toogood QSO (1916-2001), New Zealand radio and television personality

HMS Hood
  • Mr. Leslie B Toogood (b. 1919), English Marine serving for the Royal Marine from Woodstone, Peterborough, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [5]


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  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)
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/clyde
  4. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Argyle voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1831 with 251 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/argyle/1831
  5. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm


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