Show ContentsTozer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Tozer family

The surname Tozer was first found in Devon, where the name was a trade or occupational name for "a comber or carder of wool." 1 2

Early Sussex records show John le Tosere as holding lands in 1249. A few years later, William le Thosers was listed in the Assize Rolls for Somerset in 1280 and later, John Tosere was recorded in Devon in 1333. William le Tesere was found in the Assize Rolls for Somerset in 1275. "The Tozers have been established in Ashburton, [Devon] for more than two centuries. Moses Tozer was an Ashburton tradesman 200 years ago: a family of the name lived there last century, and the name is still to be found there. Henry Tozar, native of North Tawton, was an eminent 17th century divine." 3

Up in Yorkshire, Johannes Tesur was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 and John Toser was listed in the Norfolk Valor Ecclesiasticus, but no date was given. 4

Early History of the Tozer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tozer research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1141, 1385, 1445, 1510, 1559, 1600, 1602, 1605, 1650, 1748, 1788, 1801, 1805, 1807, 1808, 1809, 1810, 1812 and 1854 are included under the topic Early Tozer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tozer Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Tose, Towse, Toase, Tows, Towze, Towz, Toaze, Touse and many more.

Early Notables of the Tozer family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Henry Tozer (1602-1650), an English Puritan clergyman and academic from North Tawton, Devon. He was elected to the Westminster Assembly but never sat there
  • Aaron Tozer (1788-1854), English captain in the navy, born in 1788, entered the navy in June 1801 on board the Phœbe, with Captain Thomas Baker, on the Irish station. He afterwards served in the East...


United States Tozer migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Tozer Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Richard Tozer, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1657 5
  • Henry Tozer, who arrived in Maryland in 1675-1680 5
  • Joseph Tozer, who landed in Maryland in 1680 5

Australia Tozer migration to Australia +

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

Tozer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Pinson Tozer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Navarino" in 1837 6
  • Jane Tozer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Navarino" in 1837 6
  • James Tozer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Rajasthan" in 1838 7
  • James Tozer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "City of London" in 1840 8
  • Henry Tozer, aged 57, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Duke Of Wellington" in 1849 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Tozer 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:

Tozer Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • John Tozer, aged 29, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Accrington" in 1863 10
  • Susan Tozer, aged 29, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Accrington" in 1863 10
  • H. Tozer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Tongariro" in 1888

Contemporary Notables of the name Tozer (post 1700) +

  • Elishama Tozer (1741-1790), American politician from New York, member of the New York State Senate (1779 to 1780)
  • William Louis "Bill" Tozer (1882-1955), American Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Cincinnati Reds in 1908
  • Aiden Wilson Tozer (1897-1963), American Christian pastor, preacher, author and magazine editor
  • Keith Tozer, retired American soccer player
  • William I. Tozer, American politician, Mayor of West Bay City, Michigan, 1879-80 11
  • William Tozer, American politician, Burgess of Norwood, Pennsylvania, 1960 11
  • Martin L. Tozer, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Missouri, 1956 11
  • George Tozer, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Washington, 1956 11
  • Elishama Tozer, American politician, Member of New York State Senate Eastern District, 1779-80 11
  • A. C. Tozer, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 1928 11
  • ... (Another 9 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Hood
  • Mr. Harry G H Tozer (b. 1901), English Commissioned Gunner serving for the Royal Navy from Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 12
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. James Tozer, aged 30, English Fireman/Stoker from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking 13


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
  3. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. 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)
  6. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) NAVARINO 1837. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1837Navarino.htm
  7. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) RAJASTHAN 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838Rajasthan.htm
  8. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CITY OF LONDON 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840CityOfLondon.gif
  9. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The DUKE OF WELLINGTON 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Duke%20of%20Wellington.htm
  10. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  11. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  12. 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
  13. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


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