Tovell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England

Etymology of Tovell

The vast movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 brought the Tovell family name to the British Isles. Tovell comes from the Norman personal name Tofig.

Early Origins of the Tovell family

Early History of the Tovell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tovell research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1692 and 1745 are included under the topic Early Tovell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tovell Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Tovey, Tovy and others.

Early Notables of the Tovell family

Another 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Tovell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Tovell family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Tovell or a variant listed above: Benjamin and Richard Tovey settled in Barbados in 1679 with their servants; Nathanial and John Tovey settled in Virginia in 1663.