Tod History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Tod is derived from the Northern Middle English word "tod(de)," which meant fox.
"An archaic and provincial name of the fox. The expression "wily tod" occurs in the writings of Wickliffe, and the word is made use of by B. Jonson. Before fox-hunting became a fashionable sport, and when churchwardens, acting under the Statute of 24. Hen. VIII., were accustomed to pay "xijd. for the head of every foxe," a class of men gained a precarious livelihood by hunting foxes and lesser vermin, and obtained the designations Todhunter and Todman, both of which have become well-known surnames." 1
Early Origins of the Tod family
The surname Tod was first found in Norfolk where Hugo, Ardin Tod was first listed 1168-1175 and later again in Oxfordshire in 1225. A few years later, Richard Todd was found in Northumberland in 1231 and Richard le Todde was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1275. 2
Early History of the Tod family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tod research. Another 197 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1231, 1270, 1275, 1330, 1658, 1677, 1679, 1684, 1685, 1688, 1692, 1699, 1728 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Tod History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Tod Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Todd, Tod, Todde and others.
Early Notables of the Tod family
Notable amongst the family name during their early history was
- Hugh Todd (1658?-1728), English author, born at Blencow, Cumberland...
Migration of the Tod family to Ireland
Some of the Tod family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Tod migration to the United States +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Tod Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- Thomas Tod, who arrived in Maryland in 1638 3
- Elizabeth Tod, who arrived in Maryland in 1665 3
- Alexander Tod, who arrived in Maryland in 1666 3
Tod Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- David Tod, who landed in America in 1773 3
Tod Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- John Tod, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1828 3
Tod migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Tod Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- William Peter Tod, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Louisa Baillie" in 1849 4
- Robert Tod, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Boyne" in 1850 5
Tod 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:
Tod Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Mr. Richard Tod, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Mersey" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th June 1861 6
- Peter Tod, aged 28, a ploughman, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hudson" in 1879
Contemporary Notables of the name Tod (post 1700) +
- John Tod (1779-1830), American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania (1821-1823)
- David Tod (1805-1868), American politician, 25th Governor of Ohio
- W. J. Tod, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Kansas, 1924 7
- John Tod (1779-1830), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1810-13; Member of Pennsylvania State Senate 14th District, 1815-17; U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania, 1821-24 7
- Jay Kennedy Tod, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 1960 7
- George Tod, American politician, Member of Ohio State Senate from Trumbull County, 1804-06; Justice of Ohio State Supreme Court, 1806-10 7
- Mrs. David Tod, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Ohio, 1924 7
- David Tod (1805-1868), American politician, U.S. Minister to Brazil, 1847-51; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 1860; Governor of Ohio, 1862-64; Defeated, 1844, 1846; Presidential Elector for Ohio, 1868 7
- Lieutenant-Colonel James Tod (1782-1835), English-born officer of the British East India Company and an Oriental scholar, born at Islington, son of James Tod (b. 1745)
- John Tod (b. 1813), early Canadian fur trader assigned to the New Caledonia fur district, eponym of Mount Tod, British Columbia
- ... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
The Tod 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: Oportet vivere
Motto Translation: It behoves us to live.
Citations +
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- 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)
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The LOUISA BAILLIE 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849LouisaBaillie.htm
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The barque BOYNE 1850, 521 tons. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Boyne.htm
- 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 2016, February 3) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html