Show ContentsTodd History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Todd Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Todd

What does the name Todd mean?

The name Todd is derived from the Northern Middle English word "tod(de)," which meant fox. 1

"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. " 2

Early Origins of the Todd family

The surname Todd was first found in Berwickshire an ancient county of Scotland, presently part of the Scottish Borders Council Area, located in the eastern part of the Borders Region of Scotland where they held a family seat from early times.

"With two or three exceptions the second "d" appears to be no older than the eighteenth century. Baldwin Tod held land in Lambirtoun, c. 1270, and the croft of Robert Tod in the vill of Gordune is mentioned, c. 1280. " 3

Early History of the Todd family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Todd research. Another 335 words (24 lines of text) covering the years 1231, 1270, 1275, 1330, 1339, 1361, 1403, 1483, 1491, 1571, 1658, 1728 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Todd History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Todd Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Todd, Tod, Todde and others.

Early Notables of the Todd family

  • Hugh Todd (1658?-1728), English author, born at Blencow, Cumberland...
  • Thomas Todd, rector of Hutton in the Forest in the same county, who was ejected by Cromwell's sequestrators and imprisoned at Carlisle4...

Todd World Ranking

the United States, the name Todd is the 368th most popular surname with an estimated 74,610 people with that name. 5 However, in Canada, the name Todd is ranked the 778th most popular surname with an estimated 6,905 people with that name. 6 And in Australia, the name Todd is the 411st popular surname with an estimated 9,034 people with that name. 7 New Zealand ranks Todd as 184th with 2,989 people. 8 The United Kingdom ranks Todd as 256th with 23,465 people. 9

Migration of the Todd family to Ireland

Some of the Todd family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Todd migration to the United States +



Todd Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Robart Todd, aged 20, who landed in Virginia in 1622 aboard the ship "Hopewell" 11
  • Christopher Todd, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1637 11
  • Joshua Todd, who arrived in New England in 1639 11
  • Mathew Todd, who landed in Virginia in 1646 11
  • Geo Todd, who arrived in Virginia in 1650 11
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Todd Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Elizabeth Todd, who arrived in New England in 1719 11
  • Alexander Todd, who arrived in New England in 1720 11
  • Jean Todd, who arrived in South Carolina in 1772 11
  • Archibald Todd, who landed in South Carolina in 1772 11
Todd Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Adam, Andrew, Charles, Daniel, David, George, James, John, Patrick, Robert, and William Todd all, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1800 and 1870
  • James Todd, aged 20, who landed in Delaware in 1803 11
  • Michael Todd, who arrived in New York in 1812 11
  • Samuel Todd, aged 26, who arrived in New York in 1812 11
  • Isaac Todd, aged 66, who landed in New York in 1812 11
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Todd Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Robert Todd, aged 59, Scottish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cynosure" in 1863
  • Mr. Robert Todd, aged 17, Scottish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cynosure" in 1863
  • Mr. Robert Todd, aged 44, Scottish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cynosure" in 1863

Todd migration to Canada +

Todd Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Nicholas Todd, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
Todd Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mary Todd, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1836
  • Rebecca Todd, aged 19, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Condor" in 1838
  • William Todd, who arrived in Esquimalt, British Columbia in 1862

Todd migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet, Second Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet
  • Mr. Henry Todd, (1747 - 1807), aged 42, British settler convicted at Middlesex, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for stealing ducks, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 10
Second Fleet
  • Miss Martha Todd, (d. 1793), British settler convicted in London, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Mary Ann" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 11
Third Fleet
  • Mr. Nicholas Todd, (b. 1764), aged 23, English settler convicted in London on 21st April 1784, sentenced for 7 years for stealing clothing, transported aboard the ship "Scarborough" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 11
  • Mr. William Todd, British private on the Navy support ship for the First Fleet the "HMAT Supply" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788
Following the First, Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Todd Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Todd 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:

Todd Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Robert Todd, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Success" in 1839
  • Mr. A. Todd, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" arriving in Port Nicholson, (Wellington Harbour), New Zealand on 20th February 1840 16
  • Dr. Graham Todd, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" arriving in Port Nicholson, (Wellington Harbour), New Zealand on 20th February 1840 16
  • Robert Todd, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Success
  • Arch Todd, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Bengal Merchant 17
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Todd (post 1700) +

  • Thelma Alice Todd (1906-1935), American actress and businesswoman, nicknamed "The Ice Cream Blonde" and "Hot Toddy" who appeared in over 120 feature films and shorts between 1926 and 1935, best known for her comedic roles with Marx Brothers, Buster Keaton and Jimmy Durante
  • James Richard "Jim" Todd Jr. (1947-2025), American Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1974 to 1979 for the Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, and Seattle Mariners
  • John Todd (1818-1894), U.S. Congregationalist minister, conductor on the Underground Railroad to Canada
  • David Todd (1915-2008), American architect, best known for designing the Manhattan Plaza
  • Charles Burr Todd (1849-1928), American historian
  • Beverly Todd (b. 1946), American actress, producer and writer
  • David Peck Todd (1855-1939), American astronomer
  • Michael Todd (1909-1958), American theatre and film producer, best known for his 1956 production of "Around the World in Eighty Days", which won an Academy Award for Best Picture
  • Thomas Todd (1765-1826), American Supreme Court justice from 1807-1826
  • ... (Another 131 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
HMS Hood
  • Mr. William C Todd (b. 1906), English Stoker 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Norwich, Norfolk, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 18
  • Mr. Andrew Todd, British captain of the ship "HMS Queen Charlotte" off the coast of Capraia, Italy when she caught fire on the 17th March 1800, listed as lost but he managed to write accounts of what happened and pass to a survivor
  • Mr. Arthur J Todd, British Stoker 2ne Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking, but was killed in action in 1942 19
  • Gilbert Todd (1920-1939), British Telegraphist with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 20
  • Bryan Todd (1957-1971), Scottish football supporter, from Fife who was at the Ibrox disaster on 2nd January 1971 when a human crush among the crowd killed 66 and injured 200 people he died of his injuries 21
  • ... (Another 7 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Suggested Readings for the name Todd +

  • A Todd Family History and Genealogy, 1749-1987 by Frederick Becker.
  • My Family; The Young-Todd Genealogy, 1754-1972 by Lois Young.
  • Todds in Early Lawrence and Monroe Counties, Indiana by Nancie Todd Weber.
  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  7. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  8. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  9. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  10. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  11. 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)
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/exmouth
  15. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) NAVARINO 1837. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1837Navarino.htm
  16. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  17. Shadow Time Settlers (Retrieved 5th November 2010), retrieved from http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/settlers.html
  18. 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
  19. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  20. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  21. Bradford City Football Club In memory (retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/club/in-memoriam/

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