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Tuohy History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Tuohy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
England

The original Gaelic versions of today's Irish names demonstrate a proud, ancient past. The original Gaelic form of the name Tuohy is Ó Tuathaigh, which is derived from tuathach, which means ruler.

Early Origins of the Tuohy family

The surname Tuohy was first found in County Galway (Irish: Gaillimh) part of the province of Connacht, located on the west coast of the Island, where they held a family seat as a clann, and their chief was known as O'Tuathaigh (meaning ruler). They were amongst the many tribes of western Ireland, septs of the Hy Niall who were descended from King Niall of the Nine Hostages. King Niall was perhaps the most famous of all Irish Kings being responsible for harassing the Roman departure from England at the foot of the Alps.

Early History of the Tuohy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tuohy research. Another 96 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1593 and 1958 are included under the topic Early Tuohy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tuohy Spelling Variations

The recording of names in Ireland during the Middle Ages was an inconsistent endeavor at best. Since the general population did not know how to read or write, they could only specify how their names should be recorded orally. Research into the name Tuohy revealed spelling variations, including Tuohy, Tuohey, Touhy, Touhey, Tooey, Tooy, Towey, Towy, Twoey, Twoy, Twohig, Toohey, Toohy,O'Tuohy, O'Tuohey, O'Touhy, O'Touhey, O'Tooey, O'Tooy, O'Towey, O'Towy, O'Twoey, O'Twoy, O'Twohig, O'Toohey and many more.

Early Notables of the Tuohy family

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

Tuohy Ranking

In the United States, the name Tuohy is the 14,726^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Tuohy migration to the United States +

Ireland became inhospitable for many native Irish families in the 19th centuries. Poverty, lack of opportunities, high rents, and discrimination forced thousands to leave the island for North America. The largest exodus of Irish settlers occurred with the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For these immigrants the journey to British North America and the United States was long and dangerous and many did not live to see the shores of those new lands. Those who did make it were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest and most powerful nations of the world. These Irish immigrants were not only important for peopling the new settlements and cities, they also provided the manpower needed for the many industrial and agricultural projects so essential to these growing nations. Immigration and passenger lists have documented the arrival of various people bearing the name Tuohy to North America:

Tuohy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Michael Tuohy, who landed in America in 1807 2

Tuohy migration to Australia +

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

Tuohy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Ann Tuohy, aged 21, Irish convict from Limerick, who was transported aboard the "Arabian" in November 22nd, 1846, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 3
Michael Tuohy, aged 38, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Sibella" 4
Denis Tuohy, aged 40, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Navarino" 5
Patrick Tuohy, aged 14, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Navarino" 5
John Tuohy, aged 27, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Utopia"
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Tuohy 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:

Tuohy Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Martin Tuohy, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Maori" in 1864
Ann Tuohy, aged 28, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Maori" in 1864
James Tuohy, aged 2, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Maori" in 1864
Mary Tuohy, aged 1, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Maori" in 1864
John Tuohy, aged 39, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Lauderdale" in 1874
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Tuohy (post 1700) +

William "Bill" Tuohy (1926-2009), American Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author
Leigh Anne Tuohy (b. 1960), American interior decorator and businesswoman featured in Michael Lewis's 2006 book, The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game
Sean Tuohy (b. 1960), American retired basketball player, current sportscaster and businessman
Liam Tuohy (1933-2016), Irish footballer and manager
Patrick Tuohy (1894-1930), Irish portrait painter
Denis Tuohy (b. 1937), Irish television broadcaster, actor, newsreader, and journalist
Dan Tuohy (b. 1985), Irish international rugby player
Thomas "Tom" Tuohy CBE (1917-2008), English general manager who put out the fire in Britain's worst nuclear accident

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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 Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Arabian voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1846 with 26 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/arabian/1846
South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SIBELLA 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/sibella1852.shtml
South Australian Register. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Navarino 1857. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/navarino1857.shtml