| ![Show Contents]() Toller History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Toller family name dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. The name comes from when an early member worked as a person charged with the duty of collecting taxes. The surname Toller is derived from the Old English word tollere, which means tax-gatherer. 1 We must take a moment to explore the origin of the Coat of Arms. And to do so, we provide this interesting quotation: "I turned to Anselme's great work on the peers and nobles of France, in hopes of finding, under his account of the Sovereign Counts of Toulouse, some reference to works which might enable me to pursue the inquiry. The volume was accordingly opened which contains the history of the Counts of Toulouse, when, to my extreme astonishment, I recognized the arms of the English Tolers or Towlers at the head of the history of that great house. Their arms were the hereditary emblems of that almost kingly race in all its branches—the well-known 'Cross of Toulouse' being a cross fleury voided (i.e. in skeleton), which Enghsh heralds had described as a cross fleury surmounted by another cross. Of course all these various families of Toler, Toller, and others, bearing the Cross of Toulouse, were identified as one in origin, and as, no doubt, descendants of the princely house whose name and arms they have borne from the eleventh century." 2 Early Origins of the Toller familyThe surname Toller was first found in Cornwall and West Dorset where the name was derived from the River Toller (now named River Hooke.) Locals Toller Whelme, Toller Fratrum, and Toller Porcorum can still be found in this county today. Collectivelly, they date date back to the Domesday Survey when they were listed as Tolre. 3 "Toller is an old Celtic river-name meaning 'hollow stream.'" 4 However, the first record of the family was found in Lincolnshire where Robert Toller was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1199. Later, William and John Tollere were found in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1251 and 1255. 5 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: Willelmus Toller; and Robertus Toller as both holding lands there at that time. 6 To the north in Scotland, "Hugh Toller, Ambrose Toller, and Nicholas Toller witnessed sale of land in Glasgow, c. 1280-1290. Elene Tollare, wife of Willelmus Dubrelle in Inverkethine, is on record in 1392." 7 Early History of the Toller familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Toller research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1428, 1602, 1692, 1732, 1761, 1795, 1800, 1821 and 1827 are included under the topic Early Toller History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Toller Spelling VariationsToller has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Toller have been found, including Toler, Tolar, Toller, Tollers, Tolers, Towler and many more. Early Notables of the Toller familyNotables of this surname at this time include: - Thomas Toller (1732-1795), who succeeded his father-in-law, Samuel Lawrence, as preacher to the Presbyterian congregation in Monkwell Street, London...
Toller RankingIn the United States, the name Toller is the 17,520th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 8  Migration of the Toller family to Ireland
Some of the Toller family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 153 words (11 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Toller migration to the United States | + |
In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Tollers to arrive on North American shores:
Toller Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Marie Toller, aged 16, who settled in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Increase"
Toller Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Carl Toller, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1775
Toller Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Daniel Toller, who settled in Philadelphia in 1802
- Anna Toller, who settled in New York, NY in 1857
Toller Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Antonia Toller, who arrived in Galveston, TX in 1905
| Toller migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Toller Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Thomas N. Toller, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Aden" in 1849 9
| Contemporary Notables of the name Toller (post 1700) | + |
- Sir Samuel Toller (d. 1821), British Advocate-General of Madras, the son of Thomas Toller (1732-1795)
- Paula Toller (b. 1962), Brazilian singer and songwriter
- Ernst Toller (1893-1939), prominent dramatist and poet, and was exiled from Germany in 1933
- Toller Shalitoe Montague Cranston CM (1949-2015), Canadian figure skater and artist, the 1971-1976 Canadian national champion, inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1976, the Canadian Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1997 and the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2004
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: Regi et patriæ fidelis
Motto Translation: Faithful to king and law.
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- 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)
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Aden from London via Plymouth Adealide Arriving September 12th 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849AdenRegister.htm
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Toller migration to the United States 
Toller migration to Australia 
England
Germany
Ireland
Scotland
