Tossell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The surname Tossell is thought have originated in Normandy, France where some of the family were part of the invading force during the Norman Conquest. The Domesday Book lists Wymond de Taissel in Bedfordshire in 1080. 1

But some of the family remained in Normandy as the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae lists Richard Tosel or Tossel and Ralph Tossel in Normandy 1180-1195. The same source lists Adeliza, William, Walter de Taissel or Tessel, and the parish of St. German de Tassel, Norm. 1180-1195. 2

Alternatively the name could have been a nickname "from the Hawk [Middle English tassel (l for earlier tercel, Old French t(i)ercel, male hawk; from (with diminutive suff. -el) Old French tierce, tiers, Latin tertius, third]." 3 4

Another source notes that Tessall, Worcestershire may be a source of the name, 5 but this place seems to now be a lost village.

Early Origins of the Tossell family

The surname Tossell was first found in Bedfordshire (Old English: Bedanfordscir), where Willmund de Taissel was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. Years later, William Tasseli was found in the Curia Regis Rolls for Sussex in 1206 and Bartholomew Tassel in the Feet of Fines for Surrey 1288-1289. 4

Early History of the Tossell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tossell research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1548 and 1585 are included under the topic Early Tossell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tossell Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Tossell family name include Tassell, Tassel, Taisel, Taisell, Tasell, Tassle and others.

Early Notables of the Tossell family

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

Tossell migration to Australia +

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

Tossell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William Tossell, aged 29, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Emigrant" 6
James Tossell, aged 25, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Confiance" 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Tossell (post 1700) +

Bruce Tossell, American politician, Mayor of Kewanee, Illinois, 2007 8

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
South Australian Register Wednesday 25th October 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Emigrant 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/emigrant1854.shtml
South Australian Register Tuesday 30th November 1858. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Confiance 1858. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/confiance1858.shtml
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html