Contents [hide]

Toomey History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Toomey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

While many of Irish names are quite familiar to most, their original Gaelic forms are often forgotten and mysterious. The original Gaelic form of the name Toomey is Ó Tuama.

Early Origins of the Toomey family

The surname Toomey was first found in County Cork (Irish: Corcaigh) the ancient Kingdom of Deis Muin (Desmond), located on the southwest coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from very ancient times. This ancient family name was descended from Tuaim Snama, an eighth century King of Osraigi, and were presumably of Dalcassian origin. They were descended through Mathghamhain, the brother of Brian Boru. Although this tribe of Toomey held a family seat in Cork in the 14th century, they are believed to be descended from the Dal Cais to the north.

Early History of the Toomey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Toomey research. Another 161 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1478, 1603, 1640, 1653, 1659, 1676, 1702, 1706 and 1730 are included under the topic Early Toomey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Toomey Spelling Variations

The scribes and church officials of the Middle Ages who recorded names in official documents spelled the names as they sounded. This led to the problem of one name being recorded under several different variations and thus resembling more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname Toomey that are preserved in archival documents of this era include Toomie, O'Toomie, Twomey, O'Twomey, Twomy, O'Twomy, Twony, Toomey, O'Toomey, Toomy, O'Toomy, Twomie, O'Twomie, Twome, O'Twome, Toomee, O'Toomee, Tome, O'Tome, Thomey, O'Thomey, Thoume, O'Thoume, Thomey, O'Thomey, Tumey, O'Tumey, Tumee and many more.

Early Notables of the Toomey family

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

Toomey Ranking

In the United States, the name Toomey is the 5,846^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1

Toomey migration to the United States +

Ireland experienced a dramatic decrease in its population during the late 19th century. This was in a great measure, a response to England's imperialistic policies. Hunger and disease took the lives of many Irish people and many more chose to leave their homeland to escape such hunger and disease. North America with its promise of work, freedom, and land was an extremely popular destination for Irish families. For those families that survived the journey, all three of these things were were often attained through much hard work and perseverance. Research into early immigration and passenger lists revealed many immigrants bearing the name Toomey:

Toomey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James, Daniel, Dennis, Edward, James, John, Michael, Patrick, Thomas, Timothy, and William Toomey all, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1834 and 1870
Robert Toomey, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1860 2
Cornelius Toomey, who arrived in Washington, DC in 1862 2
Thomas Toomey, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1879 2
Arthur Toomey, aged 21, who settled in America from Cork, in 1893

Toomey Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Bridget Toomey, aged 19, who immigrated to America from Limerick, in 1903
Anne Toomey, aged 36, who settled in America from Dublin, in 1904
Bridget Toomey, aged 23, who landed in America from Longford, in 1906
Alicia Toomey, aged 28, who landed in America from Belfast, Ireland, in 1907
Bridget Toomey, aged 59, who landed in America from Ireland, in 1909
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Toomey migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Toomey Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

James Toomey, aged 20, Scottish settler who landed in Red River, Canada in 1811
Mary Toomey, aged 19, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Charity" from Kinsale, Ireland
Mary Toomey, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1836
Miss. Ellen Toomey, aged 3 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Avon" departing 19th May 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 26th July 1847 but she died on board 3
Mrs. Mary Toomey, aged 30 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Avon" departing 19th May 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 26th July 1847 but she died on board 3

Toomey migration to Australia +

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

Toomey Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James Toomey, (b. 1801), aged 26, Irish farm labourer who was convicted in Limerick, Ireland for life for house breaking, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 19th July 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4
Thomas Toomey, English convict from Lancaster, who was transported aboard the "America" on April 4, 1829, settling in New South Wales, Australia 5
Mr. Thomas Toomey, (b. 1814), aged 30, Irish ploughman who was convicted in Limerick, Ireland for 10 years for highway robbery, transported aboard the "Cadet" on 9th April 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
Mr. Thomas Toomey, (b. 1864), born in Fethard, Wexford, travelling aboard the ship "Cambodia" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 4th April 1884 7

Toomey 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:

Toomey Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Mary Toomey, (b. 1845), aged 24, British general servant travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Hydaspes" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 30th September 1869 8
John Toomey, aged 21, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hermione" in 1878

Contemporary Notables of the name Toomey (post 1700) +

Sean Toomey (b. 1979), American professional ice hockey player
Pat Toomey (b. 1961), American politician, U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania 1999 to 2005
Jim Toomey (b. 1960), American syndicated cartoonist (Sherman’s Lagoon)
Bill Toomey (b. 1939), American Olympic track and field athlete
John Regis Toomey (1898-1991), American film and television actor
Jenny Toomey (b. 1968), American indie rock musician and arts activist
Patrick Joseph "Pat" Toomey (b. 1961), United States politician
Francis Toomey, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 37th District, 1920 9
Eugene Toomey, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Connecticut 2nd District, 1904 9
Daniel F. Toomey, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for New York, 1900 9
... (Another 13 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Toomey family +

RMS Titanic

Miss Ellen Mary Toomey, aged 48, American Second Class passenger from Indianapolis, Indiana who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on life boat 9 10

The Toomey Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fortis undis et armis
Motto Translation: Waves and strong arms

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 97)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 26) America voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1829 with 176 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/america/1829
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cadet/
New South Wales Government Records (retreived 8th March, 2019). Retreived from http://indexes.records.nsw.gov.au/ebook/list.aspx?Page=NRS5316/4_4809/S%20S%20Cambodia_4%20Apr%201884/4_480900078.jpg&No=16
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html